Every year on October 4th, World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated. Remember that it is held only once a year – which is why you shouldn’t miss, to dedicate all the attention to animals’ rights and well-being.
Thanks to Heinrich Zimmermann, a German writer and publisher of the magazine Mensch und Hund/Man and Dog, who came up with the idea for this day.
Initially, he established the first World Animal Day in Berlin on March 24, 1925, and moved it to October 4th in 1929. At first, he only had a following in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia. Yet, Zimmermann worked tirelessly on World Animal Day promotion every year.
Finally, in May 1931, at a meeting of the world’s animal protection organisations in Florence, Italy, his proposal to establish 4 October as World Animal Day was accepted.
The purpose of the celebration is to provide a decent life for animals and to raise awareness about animal welfare standards of living.
Admittedly humans always forgot the fact that we and the animals coexisted on this planet. Nevertheless, we continue to exploit non-human, non-living things for our needs; as a result, it comes with a price of destruction of many animals and their living habitat. Just to satisfy our needs.
That is why, it is not only one’s responsibility, but everyone’s responsibility, to make the world a better place for animals to live.
Need Some Tips? Here are fun ways to celebrate this World Animal Day
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First thing first, visit the World Animal Day website at www.worldanimalday.org.uk., it’s full of suggestions and tips on how to participate and make it a meaningful day for yourself and your friends. Because, there may be some online events that you can support. Plus, you could even organise your own event and post it on the website so that others can participate as well.
It doesn’t have to be something big. Instead of buying a simple Starbucks cappuccino this morning, you could raise funds for a local animal shelter or charity.
Or you could make a donation to an animal charity near your home. Since many animal shelters will appreciate both pet food and financial donations, check with them to see what would be most beneficial.
Volunteer at an animal shelter or sanctuary in your area
Working in an animal shelter is a good way to show some love for animals that have been abandoned or abused by their owners and are looking for a new home.
Check out if animal sanctuaries near you are set up to accept volunteers, they often are. And if they do and you have kids under the age of 18, it’s an excellent opportunity for them to develop an understanding and love for animals – and if your child is already passionate about animals, he or she will want nothing better than volunteering at an animal shelter.
Volunteers at animal shelters will perform a variety of tasks such as attending to the animals’ most basic needs – cleaning, feeding, walking – but also, and this may be of special interest to those among us who feel a deep empathy with animals, assisting in the rehabilitation of traumatised animals.
Bottom line, this is never wasted time. During the time you will spend at a cat and dog rescue centre, you will find that you are helping in the overall, broader society goal to help to control the overpopulation of stray animals and rather than kill them or ignore the problem, actively welcome them, groom them back to a happy and healthy life, in short, help make them feel like home.
Start from your garden
If you don’t see as many birds and bugs as you’d like in your garden. It’s the right time to make it more wildlife-friendly and restore a healthy ecosystem. Use pollinator-friendly plants such as buddleja and lavender, as well as berry-bearing plants such as hawthorn and ivy, to attract birds or install a pond, a bird feeder, and a bug hotel.
Pick up some trash
All those litters suck because not only it causes the eyesore to us, but also harms the animals. There have been numerous reports of dead animals discovered with plastic in their stomachs or strangled by plastic bags and other littered garbage.
Although some of us may already be aware of how dangerous plastic is to sea animals and how it has killed millions of marine life, it is also harmful to land animals.
This could simply be done for someone who cherishes walking or hiking. Bring a trash bag and some sturdy gloves and pick up litter, such as plastic bags and broken glass, that is hazardous to both wild and domestic animals.
Don’t forget to give your pets some treats
To celebrate World Animal Day, give your pet a treat. Take them on their favourite walk, prepare a special meal for them, or purchase a new pet toy. But, remember to find eco-friendly ones, so you won’t take any of your pennies for granted. Still no idea where to find those?
With Impakter Eco Marketplace, there are lots of pet treats. You can actually purchase some pet treats or new plushies that would not only satisfy your fluffy friends, but also our beloved planet.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com— Featured Photo: Fox. Photo Credits: Ray Henessey.
