Dogtown

Through a fictional lens, Dogtown brings attention to animal rights and welfare in the United States, highlighting the positive and negative roles that humans play in animals’ lives. Legislation regarding the treatment of animals dates back to the colonial era, when Massachusetts prohibited “cruelty” toward domesticated animals. In the 19th century, the first state Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) emerged, concerned about issues ranging from the experimental vivisection of animals, to the exploitation of animal labor, to the staging of animal fights (Davis, Janet M. “The History of Animal Protection in the United States.” Organization of American Historians). These groups were often closely associated with abolitionism and other social reform movements—a notable detail given Dogtown’s interest in The Dangers of Inequality. The first major national breakthrough came with the 1966 Animal Welfare Act, which was inspired by concerns about pets being stolen and used for medical research. Today, the law guarantees protections for pets, zoo animals, and animals used in research, though it does not ban the latter (indeed, many of the amendments to the law center on which animals can be used for research purposes and how they can be treated). Notably, it also does not cover animals raised for food (Hettinger, James. “How the Animal Welfare Act Has Evolved Over the Decades and What Still Needs to Be Done.” The Humane Society of the United States, 6 Sep. 2024). Groups such as the Humane Society thus continue to lobby for animal welfare (the fair treatment of animals) and animal rights (the complete end of animals for human use).

The Dogtown establishment represents the important role that animal shelters play in communities and for pets. While Chance’s perspective sometimes paints Dogtown in a negative light, shelters play a vital role in caring for unwanted or injured animals, as well as keeping animals off the streets for both animal and human safety. Like Dogtown, many shelters are staffed by volunteers, and the resources that shelters possess vary from community to community, leading to the implementation of practices such as Dogtown’s “List”—a list of dogs slated for euthanasia. The acceptability of euthanizing healthy animals to make space is among the most contentious topics involving contemporary animal shelters. Close to 1 million shelter animals, virtually all of them cats and dogs, are euthanized in the US each year (“Pet Statistics.” ASPCA).