Guest post by Ruth Riley
How to Celebrate the Life of Animals in World Animal Day?
On World Animal Day 2021, are you ready to remember lions, tigers, and even pleasing fungus beetles? This year, we’ll celebrate the world’s estimated 8.7 animal species on October 4.
Suppose you can’t get to a local zoo or take a safari trip. Don’t worry. You can celebrate World Animal Day with your pet or through a local animal rescue shelter.
It’s critical to stay connected through social media platforms to contact nonprofit organizations about how you can improve an animal’s life. Other pet and animal lovers even go to great lengths to enhance an animal’s well-being, such as exploring the combination of conventional wellness practices and alternative methods.
World Animal Day happens on October 4 because it’s the “feast day” of the Italian friar Francis of Assisi. He was born in the late 1100s and today is known as the patron saint of animals.
Here are some events, venues, and ways to get involved in showing you care about animals on their special day:
Shelter Open Days
World Animal Day is an outstanding opportunity for animal shelters to schedule an open day. At the same time, it’s an option you can consider supporting as an animal lover.
If you’re visiting an animal shelter for the day, you have a few main options. They include volunteering to care for animals that day.
Another option is to adopt a pet to provide a “forever home” for an animal that needs one. Owning a rescue pet can be quite a rewarding experience.
Supporting Nonprofits
This special day highlights all the amazing organizations working to improve the lives of animals. Show your support by going to every.org/animals and donating towards an organization you love.
Educational School Events
Kids need to learn to treat animals humanely, as well as their importance to the Earth.
If you have a child in elementary school, for example, you can plan various events. They include film shows, live concerts, and competitions. Not only can your kiddos participate in World Animal Day but so can their classmates
Pet Adoption Events
It’s estimated that 6.3 million “companion animals” yearly enter animal shelters in the United States alone. World Animal Day may help.
On this day in early October, nonprofits can increase awareness of the need for such pets to find a home. In truth, not every household can adopt a pet right now.
Meanwhile, on this special day, rescue shelters and other organizations can get the word out to increase awareness about such animals in need of a home.
Animal Health Camps
Kids love camps. A veterinary treatment camp is an excellent way for kids and their parents to learn how to treat Fluffy or Fido better.
While these camps can be educational, they can also be fun. For instance, children can enjoy playtime with puppies or kittens. This experience can help instill a love for animals that lasts a lifetime.
Rabies Prevention: Awareness and Vaccination
The good news about rabies is that it’s preventable. The viral disease is most common among wild animals such as bats, raccoons, and foxes. Domesticated animals like household pets, however, can also get rabies.
It’s important to vaccinate animals to protect them in case a rabid animal bites or scratches them. Dog bites are often one of the most common causes of rabies.
Thus, it’s critical to get your pets an anti-rabies vaccination. The process is simple. It can also help protect an animal’s central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain.
You can contact a nonprofit organization that helps provide rabies vaccinations to animals like dogs, cats, and ferrets. Keeping animals indoors and supervised can also help prevent the virus’s transmission.
Expert Interviews: Radio, TV, and Podcasts
Media outlets offer an excellent way for people to learn about how they can improve the plight of animals. What’s the big deal?
The public knows about animal shelters. On the other hand, let’s say you share expert interviews. This step can shed light on how critical the need to help animals is on World Animal Day and other days of the year.
Another big benefit of such interviews is that watchers or listeners can learn how they can help animals. Pet adoption is a well-known option. You can also use media events to provide expert advice about how people can help.
Conclusion
World Animal Day has become a global event after the inaugural one in 1925 (Berlin, Germany). This special event continues to grow as it connects animal lovers throughout the world.
Suppose you own or are employed by a nonprofit, World Animal Day is then the day to celebrate creatures big and small. These animals can range from gigantic elephants to tiny ants. With all these efforts, the bottom line is that a better future for animals is a better future for us.
References
1. Biodiversity https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biodiversity/
2. Pet statistics https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
3. The origin of world animal day https://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/img/resource/Origin%20of%20World%20Animal%20Day.pdf
4. St. Francis of Assisi https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Francis-of-Assisi
The views and opinions expressed in this blog belong solely to the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other organization including Every.org.