Jules Ruhl
Jules Ruhl (1864 – 31 December 1936) was a Belgian animal welfare activist. During his life he was known as an apostle of animal protection.[1]
Career
[edit]Ruhl who worked in Anderlecht founded the Brussels Society Against Cruelty to Animals in 1897.[1] In 1908 he founded Veeweyde, the first shelter for lost and abandoned animals in Belgium.[2] He was the editor of the magazine Nos Meilleurs Amis (Our Best Friends).[2] He proposed Belgium's first animal protection law which was implemented in 1929.[1]
Ruhl was a vegetarian in his personal life but was supportive of humane slaughter.[1] He campaigned for the use of anaesthetics and humane killers in slaughterhouses as well as improving working conditions.[1] He invented a humane pistol for killing livestock.[3] He was a vice-president of the International Humanitarian Bureau from 1936 to 1938, an organization connected to the Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society.[4]
Death
[edit]Jules Ruhl died in 1936 on a platform at the Gare du Midi, during an accident from transporting horses to Paris.[2]
Legacy
[edit]A statue was erected in Astridplein to honour Ruhl's animal welfare work.[1] Jules Ruhl Street in Anderlecht is named in his honour.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Foket, Lise (2020). "In de herinnering van de grootste dierenvriend van België: Jules Rühl (1864-1936)". Scriptiebank. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Our History". Veeweyde. 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024.
- ^ "Jules Ruhl". Reflex City. 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024.
- ^ "The International Humanitarian Bureau". Lonsea. 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024.
- ^ "Rue Jules Ruhl". Inventaire du patrimoine. 2019. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024.
