WORLD ANIMAL WELFARE DAY
"Anyone who says that life matters less to animals than it does to us has not held in his hands an animal fighting for its life. The whole of the being of the animal is thrown into that fight without reserve.”
– J. M. Coetzee
World Animal Day is a day of action recognised worldwide for animal rights as well as welfare. It is celebrated on 4 October, Francis of Assisi feast day, the animals’ patron saint. Francis of Assisi saw around him with painful eyes about the misery of animals. He understood their plight and wanted to heal their pain. In this regard, he spoke to people about not harming animals. He went around propagating messages of love and care for the welfare of animals. He took up various initiatives to help people understand the need to care for animals. He strived to share his love and concern for them and was a prominent champion cum patron of animal welfare during his time. World Animal Day is celebrated in commemoration of Francis of Assisi’s birthday.
World Animal Day was established by Heinrich Zimmermann, a cynologist, in 1925. He organized the event at the Sport Palace in Berlin. World Animal Day is a global movement that aims to raise the status of animals worldwide in order to improve the welfare standards in the world. To achieve this, individuals, groups, and organizations are urged to organize events to celebrate the day. The event was originally moved to October 4 in 1929. He found a following in various countries such as Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. In 1931, a universal declaration was adopted by the international congress. World Animal Day was established in 1931 by a conference of scientists in Italy to raise awareness of the plight of endangered species. It falls on October 4 every year.
As a small charity that only has a limited budget, the Naturewatch Foundation is always in need of support for World Animal Day. This year, I took on the initiative to ensure that it reaches its full potential. The first step in taking World Animal Day global was launching the Ambassador programme. By enlisting the help and support of ambassadors around the world. Throughout history, various social movements have been used to stimulate social justice and improve the lives of others. Some of these movements, such as World Animal Day, have been successful in challenging injustice and promoting democracy. According to a USDA report, nearly 160 million cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, and lambs were slaughtered for food in the United States in 2019. According to a separate USDA report, the United States murdered almost 9 billion chickens, turkeys, and ducks in the same year. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),estimated that about 100 million animals are killed in the United States each year for various scientific purposes. Because rats and mice, as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, aren't covered by the Animal Welfare Act, the numbers are impossible to estimate. Around 100 million animals are produced and butchered in fur farms dedicated to feeding the fashion industry, according to Humane Society International. According to estimates, 50% of these animals are grown and murdered for fur trimming.
While exact statistics from shelters and rescue groups is difficult to come by due to the lack of a single, centralised reporting system, the Humane Society of the United States believes that over 3 million cats and dogs are euthanised in US shelters each year. 12 This number excludes cats and dogs murdered in animal cruelty instances, as well as injured and abandoned animals who died later.
However, there is reason for optimism, according to a September 2019 New York Times report. According to data collected from municipal shelters in the country's 20 major cities, euthanasia rates have decreased by 75% since 2009. The decrease can be attributed to two factors: a decrease in intakes as a result of improved public awareness and implementation of spay/neuter, and a significant increase in shelter adoptions as opposed to acquiring dogs and cats from private breeders or pet stores. As with all mass actions, members of the animal welfare movement are people from all walks of life. They are those who make the decision to care for animals and those who work for them. It is therefore essential that animal welfare is prioritised and translated into effective social justice.
Objective of World Animal Welfare Day
The objective of World animal welfare day is to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. To unite the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. It’s celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.
Conclusion
Animal welfare is not an isolated issue that should be ignored only on a single day. It can be observed through various activities that can be done to raise awareness about it. Give back to the animal welfare organizations by volunteering to work with them. This will help in uplifting the image of animals and making them feel cared for. If you are a veterinarian, try attending career fairs to get in touch with various career opportunities in this field. Conduct debate competitions at work and schools to highlight different opinions on animal welfare and animal rights. This can create awareness among the public. Create a social media impact by spreading awareness about the cruelty shown to animals through various media platforms.
Written by-- Tirtha Ajith, 2nd Year
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