Perhaps you aren’t aware that 4 October is World Animal Day. Yet World Animal Day is celebrated around the world by organisations, groups, clubs, schools, places of worship and individual, animal‐loving members of the public.
World Animal Day celebrates humankind’s unique relationship with the animal kingdom, and acknowledges the numerous ways in which animals enrich our lives.
You don’t have to be involved in animal welfare in any way at all; you just have to care about animals. www.worldanimalday.org.uk is full of ideas of ways you can get involved in World Animal Day. Here are a few of the fabulous events that took place around the world recently:
- Schools in Tanzania, Morocco, Cameroon, Hong Kong, Philippines, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Armenia, Romania, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala, UK and the USA undertook special topics on pet care and held art and craft competitions, often later exhibiting the children’s work to the public.
- In 2007, many African countries including Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, held educational events to raise public awareness of animal welfare, with an emphasis on farm animals, and the importance of conservation.
- In Asia, events took place involving individuals, through small, grass‐roots groups through to international organisations. In Palawan, Philippines, even the animals sported World Animal Day T‐shirts when joining in a colourful World Animal Day procession. In Cambodia, an animal art competition was held for 250 orphans and vulnerable children in Phnom Penh with 50 winners being taken on a day trip to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.
- Music often plays a part in World Animal Day. In 2007, in Australia and the USA fabulous black tie gala balls and concerts raised much‐needed funds.
- Throughout the world, information stalls in shopping areas are a popular way of raising awareness of animal welfare issues.
- Fund‐raising events, such as sponsored dog walks or pet shows, take place in many countries.
- Many animal shelters around the world hold open days or adoption days.
- In 2007, the SPOTS Foundation in Holland, with the help of a large group of children, broke the Guinness world record for the ‘Longest Painting by Numbers’ ‐ an animal painting of course!
World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
It is intended as a day of celebration for anyone in the world who cares about animals. It is not restricted to any one nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology.
Launched in the UK on 4 October 2003. Organizations, groups, animal shelters, places of worship, schools, clubs and individuals who participated in what was to become an annual event, quite simply, helped make history.
Since the official World Animal Day website was launched in 2003, the number of World Animal Day events taking place throughout the world has increased year upon year and with your help we can ensure the trend continues.
This is the aim of the World Animal Day's website, to encourage everybody to use this special day to commemorate their love and respect for animals by doing something special to highlight the importance of animals in the world.
We are sure you will agree that, building the World Animal Day initiative is a wonderful way to unite the animal welfare movement and something that everyone can join in with whether they are part of an organisation, group, or as an individual.
World Animal Day is not linked to any one individual, organisation or campaign, but belongs to everyone.
The Propose of World Animal Day is to:
- To celebrate animal life in all its forms
- To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom
- To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives
- To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives
Please get involved and show animals you care. Visit World Animal Day.
by Local Green Circle, October, 2009.