World Animal Day 2024: Friday, 4 October 2024
How many of us have had a pet that we were absolutely in love with as a child? It could have been a puppy, a cat, a rabbit or even a fish! Or there could be many of us who lived near a farm or had access to farm animals such as cows or horses. Studies have shown that children who grow up with access to animals are often far more rounded human beings, because animals tend to teach humans important traits such as compassion, honesty, companionship and of course a lot towards nature.
When you have an animal as a friend, they will love you, as long as you give them love – they are not worried about how much money you have or if you wear expensive clothes; they are only concerned about the time that you spend with them and the love and care you give to them. Animals tend to remember the love and care given to them for as long as they live – if you met a dog when it’s a puppy, even if you meet it after several years, it will recognise you and wag its tail. Animals also tend to understand the emotions of the people they are most constantly with – have you ever noticed how your kitten will come cuddle up with you, when you are feeling down or your horse will try to nuzzle you, when you are close to it.
If you are an animal lover, you must have most certainly considered picking up animal paintings for sale, but how many people know that there is actually a World Animal Day too!
When did World Animal Day come into existence:
In 1925, a cynologist (someone who studies dogs and canine species) named Heinrich Zimmermann requested that one day a year be dedicated to celebrate the animals of the planet. The same year, on March 24th, he organised the very first World Animal Day at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. The actual idea was to celebrate the day on October 4th as that was the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology; however, since the venue was not available on that particular day, it was celebrated in March.In 1929, the event was moved to October – in the beginning, it was accepted only by countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia. Zimmermann continued to work hard to get this day recognised and in May 1931, at a congress of the International Animal Protection Congress in Florence, Italy, this day was accepted and a resolution was passed for the same. From that day, World Animal Day began to be celebrated and to celebrate this day, several people choose to buy animal figurines online as well as paintings and wall décor items from eCraftIndia. All across the world, World Animal Day is now being directed and sponsored by Naturewatch Foundation, an animal welfare charity that is based out of the United Kingdom.
What were the ideas behind having such a day:
Did you know that more than 400 species from the animal world have gone extinct in the past 100 years? Did you know that close to 40% of all the species currently existent in the world are at risk of extinction? While you might really like the cow and calf statue that you have in your home, did you know that there are over 60 billion farm animals in the world and many of them are not treated fairly? It was bring to light all such problems and find solutions for the plight of all animals that the idea of such a day was created.The main mission behind this day is to improve overall welfare standards of animals, both domestic and wild. The effort needs to be made towards making the world a better place for all animals – by celebrating a day like this, awareness could be raised regarding the importance of animals and the need to take care of them. It is essential to remember that we share this planet with animals and their existence is intrinsically tied to our own, which is why it is our need and responsibility to take care of them.
Why is there a need to celebrate a World Animal Day:
There are those who would love to buy more than just one of the horses paintings from eCraftIndia, but they would also wonder why there is a need to celebrate such a day. The same way that people and countries have fought for their independence, rights and freedom, there is a need to do the same for those who can’t speak for themselves too. We have to play advocates for animals, ensuring that they have a place on this planet too and a chance to thrive. Actions of people, businesses and nations have a profound effect on animals – social justice is needed for them too.World Animal Day celebrates the need for the development of a compassionate culture that has its arms in not only social justice, but also legal reforms for a better world of animals. All over the world, this day is being used to do good for the animal world and here are just some examples:
- Studies have been conducted regarding the use of animals in education – for research purposes and lab tests – and now there is an increase in understanding how these animals are used. More importantly, there are new laws and regulations related to how these animals can be used and need to be treated.
- In Nepal, the Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust has gotten involved with better treatment of livestock animals.
- The World Animal Day has led to announcement of several other days such as World Day for Laboratory Animals on 24 April and World Wildlife Day on 3 March.
How can you celebrate World Animal Day:
While a really good idea would be to buy animal paintings or elephant statues from eCraftIndia, there are also several things that you can do to celebrate this day. Some of them include:- Choose not to buy products that have been tested on animals or look for labels that offer proof that they have been created without cruelty to animals.
- Volunteer your time and efforts at any local animal shelter or animal welfare location.
- If you are unable to volunteer time, you would probably donate in terms of money or items that might be needed at such locations.
- Take part in or conduct sessions/seminars to educate your society on the need to protect animals and their importance in the ecological cycle.
- If you have pets at home, give them a day of pampering and love – take them to the groomer, take them for a drive, treat them to something they enjoy.