World Animal Day

World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4. The day has become an international celebration for animal rights and welfare. The aim of World Animal Day is “to raise awareness about improving the welfare standards of the animals across the globe.” The World Animal Day started modestly almost 100 years ago, but today, the movement is a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

World Animal Day History

• World Animal Day was originated by cynologist Heinrich Zimmermann. He organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. Over 5,000 people attended this first event.
• The event was originally scheduled for 4 October, to align with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology. The feast day is the customary day for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals.
• The event was moved to 4 October for the first time in 1929. Initially he found a following only in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia.
• Every year Zimmermann worked tirelessly on the promotion of World Animal Day.
• Finally, in May 1931 at a congress of the International Animal Protection Congress in Florence Italy, his proposal to make 4 October “World Animal Day” universal was unanimously accepted and adopted as a resolution.

Significance of World Animal day
The significance of World Animal Day is a reminder to appreciate and respect all living things that are parts of our ecosystem. World Animal Day is celebrated every year on October 4th to raise awareness about improving the welfare standards of the animals across the globe. The day is celebrated in different ways in different countries. Various awareness and educational events are organized, pet adoption events, conferences and workshops, animal blessing services, launching of animal welfare campaigns, opening of rescue shelters for the animals, fund raising events, school events to educate the younger generation about animals etc.

God has given life equally to all the creatures as it is to us. They also want a life full of happiness and no pain. On this World Animal Day, let us all take a pledge to become more responsible towards animals.