The king of Prussia Frederick II the Great and his sparrows

On the History of Animal Protection

Abstract

The wave of bourgeois ideas on animal protection, which originated in the German speaking lands, reached the territory of Slovenia in the 19th century. Partly owing to the support given it by the state autorities, the movement quickly took roots amongst the Slovene middle class and the teachers who upheld its morals. The first society for the protection of animals on Slovene territory was established in Gorica in 1845 and the publication "Compassion For Animals" by J. Bleiweis also reflected the general enthusiasm for this cause. The first societies for the protection of animals vigilantly ensured that the so-called "animal laws" were also put into practice. Particular attention was paid to the treament of domestic animals and especially birds deemed "useful to the economy", which moved the more sensitive members of these societies to pity, as these creatures had to jump around without the protection of coats - even in the severest of winters.