The Great Cat and Dog Massacre

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-great-cat-and-dog-massacre

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote The Great Cat and Dog Massacre?Examination of people's feelings about pets and wartime psychology
2. What is the book publication date?2017
3. What is the publisher?University of Chicago Press
4. What happened during the Great Cat and Dog Massacre?In 1939, Britain had to put many cats and dogs to sleep because people were scared of war and worried food would run out. It was a very sad and difficult decision.
5. Why did people decide to euthanize so many pets?They feared air attacks and thought fewer animals would mean more food for people. It was a hard choice made during a time of great fear.

Preemptive Euthanasia: The act of ending animal lives in anticipation of future suffering or scarcity.
Wartime Psychology: The study of how individuals and groups behave and think under the conditions of war.
Resource Scarcity: A state where the demand for a resource exceeds its availability.
Human-Animal Bond: The strong emotional connection and reciprocal relationship between humans and animals.