Los
Angeles County
Biographies
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY
To Mrs. Fannie Thompson Kessler due
credit must be given for the beautiful home of the San Gabriel Valley Humane
Society at San Gabriel, California.
World famous for its unique animal shelter it offers memberships to the
public for the first time in its history of more than six years, during which
its president and founder, Mrs. Fannie Thompson Kessler spent her money and
time to make possible this shelter for dumb animals,--strayed, abandoned, and
for those whose owners seek to alleviate the sufferings of their pets and are
willing to pay and also seek the most satisfactory surroundings. A description of the premises will give the
reader some idea of the thoughtful consideration of the woman who has devoted
many years of her life to humane work.
Southern California is the home of
many out-of-door lovers and most of them turn more or less to dumb animals for
companions or pets. Loving
pets as if members of her family prompted Mrs. Kessler to have erected at
927-929 East Grand Avenue, San Gabriel, an animal shelter that is second to
none in its appointments. Upon
entering the garden the first things noticeable are the well-kept grounds, the
substantial modern buildings and the general business-like air of the
establishment. As we enter the building
we are met by Fred Knoblock, secretary-treasurer and
resident manager, who inaugurated the splendid system now in vogue and who
greets one with the same gentle courtesy where he might have a sick animal for
charity treatment, or be on an inspection tour.
We find that cleanliness and sanitation are evidenced everywhere, the
kennels of modern construction and perfectly groomed dogs that perhaps were
waifs of the alley, lost, strayed or deserted.
Here they have been taken by a sympathetic society, fed, groomed and
brought back to health and happiness.
Many of the animals are taken out from the shelter to become pets in
homes, which are personally investigated as to their worthiness before the
animals are released into them. No
animals are sold. In the kitchen we find
meats and vegetables are scientifically prepared under the most modern
conditions. The same conditions are
found in every ward and are the plans formulated by the president, Mrs.
Kessler, who has brought about this wonderful shelter for dumb animals.
In the San Gabriel Valley Humane
Society home there were a total of 7,271 animals registered from January 1 to
August 1, 1932. Of this number, 1,711
were treated at the free clinic ably conducted by Dr. G. W. Closson,
who has a hospital adjoining the property.
During the year, up to July 1, 1933, there have been
treated in this shelter dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, monkeys and mules. Sick animals are segregated in the
observation ward and every effort is made to bring them back to normalcy. If it has been proven that an animal will not
recover, or if its injuries are such that it will never be able to walk, it is
put to sleep in the most humane manner known to science. The society also takes boarders to help
defray the expenses, but the same food and care are given the strays as to
those that have owners. There is a large
enclosure where the animals are given their daily exercise; in fact nothing is
overlooked that spells for comfort for the dumb animals.
The expenses of this society are met
by boarding animals, by money paid for doctoring sick and injured, and
principally from the purse of Mrs. Kessler.
For the first time in its history a call for assistance has been made
and that by offering yearly memberships in the society for two dollars, and
junior memberships for one dollar.
There are two auto ambulances, and a
trailer for large animals, in use by the society. Dr. G. W. Closson,
a skilled veterinarian is in attendance and conducts a free clinic daily from
10 A. M. to 12 A. M. for pet owners who cannot afford to pay for treatment. One thousand animals are cared for every
month as a general thing. Clipping,
bathing and other attention is now done for owners who desire this service.
Mrs. Kessler purchased an adjoining
lot to the society property to provide for the extension of the kennels. Thus it is that from a well formulated idea
created in the mind and brain of Mrs. Fannie Thompson Kessler has grown the
present holdings of the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society, its personnel and
its staff of officers. This particular
society is known all over the world.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 167-169, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES