This Day in History: 1907-12-10

Brown dog riots One thousand “anti-dogger” medical students take to the streets of London on this day in 1907 to oppose animal rights groups who, they feel, are opposed to science and progress. The animal rights groups (“doggers”), on the other hand, are incensed that dogs are dissected while living (“vivisection”) in the medical students’ anatomy classes. One incident in particular has led to libel suits and a statute commemorating a small brown dog with the phrase “Men and women of England, how long shall these Things be?” The statue becomes the focal point of frequent conflicts, and the “anti-vivisection” debate is the central point of tension in a broader debate about ethical treatment of animals. During the Brown Dog riots, the animal rights groups are joined by suffragettes (women who demanded the vote) and some labor unions. The riots lead to only minor injuries but show some of the social divisions of the day and the problems involved in the maturing of humanity.