World Animal Day Is October 4. Here’s How You Can Participate.

Many around the world fight to protect the rights and needs of animals every day. However, the treatment of animals, both wild and domestic, is not on the radar for most, unless a particularly egregious case of cruelty is reported. This is why World Animal Day was created: to put a spotlight on the needs of animals worldwide.

World Animal Day is October 4. The theme this year is “Save Animals, Save the Planet.” For those who want to participate, organizations both around the country and the world will be hosting events to give a voice to those who do not have one. Whether through financial support or active participation, there are ways to help animals gain rights, especially since so many currently have none

What Is World Animal Day?

World Animal Day is an annual event that has been taking place since 1925. The goal of the day is to highlight the importance of animals having rights and why their welfare should be a priority. Over the years, this priority has often been forgotten. Wild animals have been brought into captivity without receiving the proper care and treatment they need. Domesticated animals raised for food are frequently kept in inhumane conditions, with little regard for their mental or physical well-being.

The fact that the needs of animals were recognized at least 100 years ago speaks volumes about the treatment creatures of all sizes have received at the hands of man. Instead of recognizing that animals have thoughts, feelings, and distinct personalities, they were often viewed as unintelligent creatures, and their treatment was considered of no concern. This is why World Animal Day was created, so that the suffering of animals worldwide would come to an end.

World Animal Day highlights the daily issues faced by animals. For wild animals, broader topics such as climate change, extinction, and deforestation are all interconnected with their welfare. For domestic animals, things such as sustainable practices become a topic of conversation.

Animals are not often considered when it comes to the health and safety of people. Animals contribute to biodiverse habitats and healthier environments, help combat disease, and even provide mental health benefits to people. If the animals that inhabit the planet were no longer here, the health of the Earth would plummet. This is why the health of animals, large and small, wild and domestic, is essential and why World Animal Day highlights these facts and more.

The Origins of World Animal Day

The first celebration of World Animal Day took place in 1925. This event was initiated by Heinrich Zimmermann, a German cynologist, or animal trainer, who sought to bring animal rights to the forefront of humanity’s attention, if only for one day.

World Animal Day was first celebrated on March 24, 1925, with a reported 5,000 attendees in Germany. The goal was to have it on October 4, but logistically, there was no place to hold the event. Consequently, it was not until several years later, in 1929, that the October 4 date was solidified as World Animal Day.

Zimmermann was not only passionate about animals on World Animal Day. Outside of being a cynologist, he was also an author. Zimmermann wrote several books and published a magazine, Mensch und Hund or Man and Dog, where articles were written about why animals should be treated with respect and dignity, versus cruel and inhumane conditions that many animals at the time lived in.

In 1931, the International Animal Protection Congress was approached by Zimmerman to make World Animal Day an international event. IAPC approved the proposal, and World Animal Day was officially established around the world.

Why World Animal Day Is Held on October 4

Try as he might in 1925, Zimmerman was not able to have World Animal Day held on October 4. It was not until 1929 that World Animal Day could finally be held, as a suitable venue had been found for attendees. But why was October 4 chosen as the date for World Animal Day? Why could it not be held annually in March, as it had been the first year?

The reason Zimmermann was so adamant about World Animal Day being held on October 4 was that October 4 is the day that Saint Francis of Assisi is recognized for his care and concern for animals. Saint Francis of Assisi believed that all of God’s creatures were his “brothers” and “sisters.” Some stories say he would give sermons not only to people but also to the birds. Saint Francis of Assisi was also said to have had a conversation with a wolf, in which the wolf agreed not to attack people in town or eat their livestock if the people would agree to feed the wolf.

With stories like this, it is no surprise that Saint Francis of Assisi was canonized as the patron saint of animals and ecology. Therefore, it seemed fitting to have a day to celebrate all creatures around the world, coinciding with Francis’s Feast Day, on October 4 each year.

Why This Year Marks a Special Milestone for World Animal Day

Every year, World Animal Day grows larger with events that educate and celebrate animals around the world. This year is anticipated to have one of the largest turnouts, as it marks 100 years since the first World Animal Day event was held in 1925.

From the 5,000 attendees Zimmermann had in 1925 to the 90 ambassadors in 70 countries who advocate for the rights, care, and safety of animals worldwide, the World Animal Day organization has grown exponentially. This is important, given that phenomena such as habitat loss, climate change, and the decline of keystone animal species are impacting not only the animal kingdom but also the Earth itself.

It is not only wild animals for which World Animal Day is intended. The rights of domestic animals are also at the forefront of the organization and the World Animal Day events. Organizers of local events work tirelessly to ensure that cats, dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, horses, and many other animals have a voice and that their rights are recognized, rather than ignored as they have been for the past 100 years and, in many places, still are today.

Ways to Get Involved

If there is ever a day to raise awareness about animals around the world and the obstacles they face in simply surviving, it is World Animal Day. While it may be challenging to get involved in global events, local events also bring awareness to the plight of animals. Participating in events closer to home makes a difference for the organizations dedicated to the welfare of animals and for each of the animals they have pledged to save.

There are many ways to get involved and make a difference on World Animal Day. Some of those ways to get involved locally include:

• Volunteer at an animal shelter or animal rescue
• Adopting a pet
• Foster an animal
• Donate to local rescues or animal shelters
• Have your dog or cat donate blood at a veterinary blood bank
• Gather blankets and towels that are no longer being used and donate them to a local shelter or animal rescue
• Participate in a walk or run for an animal-based organization
• Use your social media platform to inform others about World Animal Day
• Spend quality time with a pet

As the theme of this year’s World Animal Day makes clear, animals play a crucial role in the health of the planet. If the animals are not being cared for, the earth is not either. Unfortunately, not everyone sees the connection, and animals are dying at unprecedented rates around the world.

World Animal Day brings global attention to animal welfare for one day. Perhaps this spotlight will shine brightly enough to inspire ongoing awareness, so that animals and their habitats are cared for in a way that allows people and all of Earth’s creatures to live together peacefully.