Charles Rowland Johns (8 March 1882 – 29 March 1961) was a Welsh animal welfare activist, journalist and writer. He was secretary of the National Canine Defence League and authored many books on dogs.
Career
Johns was born in Holyhead.[1] He was secretary of the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) from 1909 to 1946. He was awarded the Argus Medal from the League in 1947.[1] He was honorary consultant on dogs and road safety to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 1947. In the 1950s he was a campaign director to the NCDL and a trustee.[1][2]
His 1922 book Mind You, or, Lewys Lad and his Friend Shadrach was positively reviewed by journalist J. Cuming Walters.[3] Johns was a British Delegate to the American Humane Convention in San Francisco in 1932, Washington, D.C. in 1935 and St. Louis in 1938.[1] He was honorary vice-president of the American Humane Education Society.[1] In the 1930s he was editor of NCDL's Dog Bulletin. In 1936, Johns was awarded the Silver Meritorious Service medal of the RSPCA in recognition of his services for animal welfare.[4]
Ethel Douglas Hume described Johns as "an expert business man, as well as a staunch humanitarian and delightful writer".[5] During World War II, he campaigned to protect dogs from poison gas by sharing leaflets giving directions for the construction of a simple home-made gas resisting box.[6] Johns recognized that dogs played an important role on the home front, offering consolation to women whose
husbands were at war.[7]
Personal life
Johns resided at Bognor Regis.[1] He married Jessie Harvey in 1909; they had two children. His son R. Harvey Johns succeeded him as secretary of the Canine Defence League but was dismissed from the League in 1959.[8] His son established a rival organization, the World Dog Defence Campaign.[8] Johns died on 29 March 1961.[9]
Selected publications
Johns was the editor of Our Friend the Dog Series (38 books) from 1932 to 1959.[1] He also authored:
