To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. It's celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.
Celebrate World Animal Day - 4 October
MISSION: TO RAISE THE STATUS OF ANIMALS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE WELFARE STANDARDS AROUND THE GLOBE
To achieve this, we encourage animal welfare organisations, community groups, youth and children’s clubs, businesses and individuals to organise events in celebration of World Animal Day. Involvement is growing at an astonishing rate and it's now widely accepted and celebrated in a variety of different ways in many countries, with no regard to nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.
Events are organised under the World Animal Day Umbrella by being publicised on this website and advertised using the World Animal Day brand and logo. Global branding effectively ties all events together and, over the years we have found this approach to be particularly helpful to grass roots groups who struggle to attract media attention in order to raise awareness of their work and fundraise. This draws attention to animal issues and makes them front page news – a vital catalyst for change. Each year the logo becomes more widely recognised as a global brand for animals. A brand that unites the animal welfare movement - firmly establishing itself as a platform for raising the status of animals. Having a central platform for promoting animal welfare issues facilitates and greatly improves progress being made.
Participation in World Animal Day will continue to grow until it reaches and connects animal advocates in all corners of the world. It's something that everyone can join in with, whether they are part of an organisation, group, or an individual. We regulary receive wonderfully inspiring messages about World Animal Day from animal advocates around the world. For example:“Thank you once again for your inspiration and support towards this auspicious World Animal Day that continues to make a huge difference for animals in Africa and the world at large.” Josphat Ngonyo, Executive Director, Africa Network for Animal Welfare, and "What World Animal Day is doing for animals is truly influencing all of us in amazing ways."
Why celebrate World Animal Day?
Building the celebration of World Animal Day mobilises people for action now for a better future for animals.
Throughout history, social movements (mass actions) like World Animal Day, have always been a major vehicle for ordinary people’s participation in politics, and key in fighting for social justice and reform. The lives of animals are profoundly affected by the actions of individuals, businesses, and nations. It’s therefore essential that, as sentient beings, their rightful status as recipients of social justice is established and translated into effective animal protection. Through increased awareness and education, we can help develop a compassionate culture which feeds into legal reform and social progress to make this world a fairer place for all living creatures. A world where animals are recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.
There are other days linked to animals such as: World Day for Laboratory Animals on 24 April and World Wildlife Day on 3 March, and these are important too. However, World Animal Day is the one day of the year that embraces all animals and the unique concerns of each, in every country. It’s a special opportunity to commemorate our love and respect for animals by doing something special to highlight their importance in the world. It unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force for change. Participation in celebrating World Animal Day grows each year, with a huge variety of inspiring events being held in an increasing number of countries. In 2003, we recorded 44 events being held in 13 countries and this has now grown to an estimated 1000 events in around 100 countries. YOU can help enhance the visibility of World Animal Day.
Types of events held:
- awareness & educational events;
- shelter open days & pet adoption events;
- Increased awareness, combined with better education for both adults and children, is slowly swaying the attitudes of people towards treating animals in a humane and compassionate way. conferences & workshops;
- animal blessing services;
- fundraising events such as concerts and sponsored walks through to gala balls;
- school events to educate the younger generation such as animal-related competitions, concerts & film shows;
- workshops to educate the owners of working animals;
- spay & neuter marathons and veterinary treatment camps;
- rabies prevention awareness and vaccination;
- radio & TV interviews to raise awareness of animal issues & World Animal Day and its mission
- peaceful protest marches to either raise awareness of a specific animal welfare issue or to encourage governments to introduce animal protection legislation.
Origin of World Animal Day
After several weeks of research which involved going through 300 magazines 1924-1936 at the Berlin library and copying every article related to World Animal Day, research at the Holocaust museum in Washington DC, transporting heavy volumes of books across continents, writing to numerous organizations and individuals and reading through hundreds of articles in German and Italian, we have a pretty clear picture about the origin of World Animal Day and the reliable information sources to support it. Click here to read a summary of the findings.
If you care about animals, don’t miss this special opportunity to help make animal welfare issues front page news around the globe – a vital catalyst for change!
