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World Animal Day

Mission of World Animal Day

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.

World Animal Day has been celebrated for over 90 years. It encourages animal welfare organisations, community groups, youth and children’s clubs, businesses and individuals to organise events in celebration of World Animal Day around the globe. Involvement is growing at an astonishing rate, with today, 4 October, being widely 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 and are publicised on their website, advertised using the World Animal Day brand and logo. This global branding effectively ties all events together and, over the years they have found this approach to be particularly helpful to grassroots groups who struggle to attract media attention in order to raise awareness of their work and fundraise. Their brand logo is widely recognised, uniting the animal welfare movement which has established itself as a platform for raising the status of animals.

Although there are no events hosted in Zambia this year, participation in World Animal Day continues to grow across the African continent. It is something that everyone can join in with, whether you are part of an organisation, group, or an individual.

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 like World Animal Day, have always been a major vehicle for ordinary people’s participation in reform. The lives of animals are profoundly affected by the actions of humans and businesses. It is therefore essential that, as sentient beings, their rightful status as recipients is established and translated into effective animal protection.

World Animal Day embraces all animals and the unique concerns of each, in every country. Through increased awareness and education, we can all help develop a compassionate culture to make our world a fairer place for all living creatures. They have already brought about a significant and lasting contribution towards advancing animal welfare standards and their influence will only continue to grow.

Types of events held

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

  • awareness & educational events
  • shelter open days & pet adoption events
  • conferences & workshops
  • animal blessing services
  • fundraising events such as concerts and sponsored walks
  • 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

Find out more

Check out www.worldanimalday.org to find out about the events taking place across the globe, their latest news and how you can get involved. Why not start thinking about how you can celebrate next year, then register your event and join in the celebration of our animals.