Jules Rühl
Jules Rühl (1864 – 31 December 1936) was a Belgian animal welfare activist. During his life he was known as an apostle of animal protection.{{Cite web|author=Foket, Lise|date=2020|title=In de herinnering van de grootste dierenvriend van België: Jules Rühl (1864-1936)|url=https://scriptiebank.be/scriptie/2020/ethica-activisme-en-netwerken-van-de-dierenbeschermers-tijdens-het-fin-de-siecle-de|website=Scriptiebank|language=en-GB|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530132838/https://scriptiebank.be/scriptie/2020/ethica-activisme-en-netwerken-van-de-dierenbeschermers-tijdens-het-fin-de-siecle-de|url-status=live}}
Career
Rühl who worked in Anderlecht founded the Brussels Society Against Cruelty to Animals in 1897. In 1908 he founded Veeweyde, the first shelter for lost and abandoned animals in Belgium.{{Cite web|date=2024|title=Our History|url=https://www.veeweyde.be/en/our-history/|website=Veeweyde|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128212526/https://www.veeweyde.be/en/our-history/|url-status=live}} He was the editor of the magazine Nos Meilleurs Amis (Our Best Friends). He proposed Belgium's first animal protection law which was implemented in 1929.
Rühl was a vegetarian in his personal life but was supportive of humane slaughter. He campaigned for the use of anaesthetics and humane killers in slaughterhouses as well as improving working conditions. He invented a humane pistol for killing livestock.{{Cite web|date=2024|title=Jules Ruhl|url=https://www.reflexcity.net/bruxelles/personnes-celebres/divers/jules-ruhl|website=Reflex City|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128222348/https://www.reflexcity.net/bruxelles/personnes-celebres/divers/jules-ruhl|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2024|title=The International Humanitarian Bureau|url=http://www.lonsea.de/pub/org/780|website=Lonsea|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128213351/http://www.lonsea.de/pub/org/780|url-status=live}}
Death
Legacy
A statue was erected in Astridplein to honour Ruhl's animal welfare work. Jules RühlStreet in Anderlecht is named in his honour.{{Cite web|date=2019|title=Rue Jules Ruhl|url=https://monument.heritage.brussels/fr/Anderlecht/Rue_Jules_Ruhl/10700252|website=Inventaire du patrimoine|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128223352/https://monument.heritage.brussels/fr/Anderlecht/Rue_Jules_Ruhl/10700252|url-status=live}}
Pierre Theunis made a sculptor of Jules Rühlwith an inscription on the front: "Jules Rühl protector of the humble and the weak, defender of mistreated animals".{{Cite web|date=2024|title=Pierre Theunis (Anvers 1883 - Bruxelles 1950)|url=https://www.lanczgallery.be/Artistes-208-Pierre_Theunis|website=Lancz Gallery|language=en-GB|archive-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725123119/https://www.lanczgallery.be/Artistes-208-Pierre_Theunis|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2016|title=City Guide 2016: A Typical Borough of Brussels: An Insider's Guide to Anderlecht |url=https://www.anderlecht.be/sites/default/files/medias/Files/tourisme/balade-en.pdf|website= Tourist Information Service Anderlecht|language=en-GB|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518031359/https://www.anderlecht.be/sites/default/files/medias/Files/tourisme/balade-en.pdf|url-status=live}}
References
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