Dutch children's drawing competition on the occasion of World Animal Day 1969
World Animal Day, was originated by cynologist Heinrich Zimmermann. He organized the first World Animal Day on March 24, 1925, at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. Over 5,000 people attended this first event.[2] The activity was originally scheduled for October 4, to align with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. However, the venue was not available on that day. The event was then moved to October 4 for the first time in 1929. 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 October 4 as World Animal Day universal was unanimously accepted and adopted as a resolution.
It is sometimes cited, incorrectly, that World Animal Day started in 1931 at the convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy, who wished to highlight the plight of endangered species.[3][4]
In 1948, Australian celebrations were organised by the RSPCA. According to The Examiner, the construction of a boarding home for dogs was scheduled and a donation had been received from the L.G.R.C.[5] Since 2002, The Finnish Association of Animal Protection Associations (SEY) has organized various events during the Animal Week and distributed material to schools.[6] On October 27, 2006, the Polish parliament adopted a resolution on the establishment of 4 October as Animal Day.[7]
In Argentina, this day has been observed on April 29 since 1908, promoted by Ignacio Lucas Albarracín, president of the Animal Protection Association of Buenos Aires. Coincidentally Albarracín would die on the same date in 1926, making it a day to also pay tribute to him for pioneering the animal's rights movement in the country.[8]
Since 2003, World Animal Day has been coordinated by UK based animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation with a new World Animal Day website launched for the 2023 celebration.
Many countries such as Bolivia, Bahamas, China, and Colombia have community driven annual events to promote the global celebration.[9]
Annual Themes
Starting in 2018, Naturewatch Foundation has included specific themes in the day's celebration.[10]
Year
Theme
2018
Celebrating human relationship with the bigger and better animal kingdom
2019
Life below water bodies: for the people and the planet
2020
Man and Dog
2021
Forest and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet
^SEY Finnish Animal Protection Federation. "Eläinten viikko" [Earlier animal week campaigns] (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
