This original 1938 American Humane Association poster by Morgan Dennis has a wonderfully odd mix of sweetness, humor, and graphic punch. Against a vivid red background, a shaggy dog stands upright before an old-fashioned microphone beneath the message “Be KIND to ANIMALS,” while jagged lettering announces that he is “CALLING ALL HUMANS.” Lightning-bolt graphics radiating from the microphone give the whole thing the feel of an urgent radio broadcast, which makes the earnest message surprisingly playful.
The illustration is signed Morgan Dennis and the lower margin is marked “© 1938 A.H.A.,” along with “Published by the American Humane Association, Albany, New York” and “Litho’d in U.S.A.” Measuring 21 3/4 by 16 3/4 inches, the poster shows some expected age and handling to the paper, including light toning and scattered spotting, but the colors remain remarkably strong. It is displayed in a custom wood frame with Tru Vue Optium Museum Acrylic for high clarity and added protection.
Morgan Dennis (1892–1960) was an American illustrator particularly known for his drawings of dogs. Working during the golden age of American magazine and advertising illustration, he developed an easygoing, immediately recognizable style that gave dogs distinctly individual personalities without turning them completely into cartoons.
Humane organizations had been using posters, school programs, pamphlets, and public campaigns since the late 19th century to encourage better treatment of animals. By the 1930s, these messages increasingly borrowed the visual language of commercial advertising: bold colors, memorable slogans, humor, and illustrations designed to stop people in their tracks.
The American Humane Association, founded in 1877, was an important part of that movement. Posters like this were meant to make animal welfare approachable rather than grim. Dennis was particularly well suited to the job. His dog doesn’t lecture the viewer. Instead, he looks as though he has commandeered the radio station for one very important announcement.
This original 1938 American Humane Association poster by Morgan Dennis has a wonderfully odd mix of sweetness, humor, and graphic punch. Against a vivid red background, a shaggy dog stands upright before an old-fashioned microphone beneath the message “Be KIND to ANIMALS,” while jagged lettering announces that he is “CALLING ALL HUMANS.” Lightning-bolt graphics radiating from the microphone give the whole thing the feel of an urgent radio broadcast, which makes the earnest message surprisingly playful.
The illustration is signed Morgan Dennis and the lower margin is marked “© 1938 A.H.A.,” along with “Published by the American Humane Association, Albany, New York” and “Litho’d in U.S.A.” Measuring 21 3/4 by 16 3/4 inches, the poster shows some expected age and handling to the paper, including light toning and scattered spotting, but the colors remain remarkably strong. It is displayed in a custom wood frame with Tru Vue Optium Museum Acrylic for high clarity and added protection.
Morgan Dennis (1892–1960) was an American illustrator particularly known for his drawings of dogs. Working during the golden age of American magazine and advertising illustration, he developed an easygoing, immediately recognizable style that gave dogs distinctly individual personalities without turning them completely into cartoons.
Humane organizations had been using posters, school programs, pamphlets, and public campaigns since the late 19th century to encourage better treatment of animals. By the 1930s, these messages increasingly borrowed the visual language of commercial advertising: bold colors, memorable slogans, humor, and illustrations designed to stop people in their tracks.
The American Humane Association, founded in 1877, was an important part of that movement. Posters like this were meant to make animal welfare approachable rather than grim. Dennis was particularly well suited to the job. His dog doesn’t lecture the viewer. Instead, he looks as though he has commandeered the radio station for one very important announcement.
