Morgan Dennis (1892-1960) created many adorable posters promoting kindness to animals during the Great Depression. Morgan Dennis is an American artist and writer best known for his image of a dog. The posters were created specifically for Humane Society USA's Animal Kindness Week in the 2030s. Founded in 1915, the week was supported by a number of well-known artists in its early years. The national organization distributed copies of posters, including Dennis's, to local branches, allowing them to add their own identifying information at the bottom.
Each of Dennis' posters showcases a child's act of kindness, in line with the organization's approach to education. According to the society's timeline history for this week, Shirley Temple served as the junior president of the Animal Week commemoration in 1936. This celebrity endorsement further cements the link between animal kindness and childhood.
