World Animal Day
Today is World Animal Day!
World Animal Day is an international day of action to raise the status of animals and improve their welfare. World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilizing 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 recognized as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.
History of World Animal Day
The first World Animal Day took place on March 24, 1925, in the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. More than 5,000 people attended the first event. It was founded by writer and animal activist Heinrich Zimmermann, author of Mensch und Hund (Man and Dog). In 1929, World Animal Day was celebrated for the first time on October 4, the day it was originally intended to be (in 1925, the Sport Palace was unavailable that day).
The day is a means of drawing attention to animal welfare issues across the globe by encouraging businesses, schools, clubs and others to organize and participate in various World Animal Day events, with the goal of improving the lives of all animals through recognition and awareness. Today the yearly global celebration of animals is spearheaded by UK-based animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation. 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. Its therefore essential that, as sentient beings, their rightful status as recipients of social justice is established and translated into effective animal protection.
Since Naturewatch Foundation launched the World Animal Day movement in 2003, it has grown in strength each year with an ever-increasing number of events taking place. It’s now widely accepted and celebrated in a variety of different ways in many countries, making it a key platform for raising the status of animals around the globe. It’s something that everyone can join in with, whether they are a member of an organization or group, or an individual.
What you can do for World Animal Day
Host your own event! Doesn’t have to be big, every event counts.
Share World Animal Day’s post on social media, or use the hashtag #WorldAnimalDay.
Volunteer with community groups, youth groups, running clubs, animal welfare organizations, etc.
Donate to Naturewatch Foundation.