World Animal Day is an annual event that raises awareness about animal rights and welfare. It started in 1925, thanks to Heinrich Zimmermann, a German writer and animal welfare activist. The day is for everyone—animal lovers, activists, and anyone who cares about animals—to show their support and take action to protect them.
World Animal Day is celebrated every year on October 4th, which is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
This day is important because it highlights the issues animals face, like cruelty and habitat destruction, and encourages people to help. People celebrate it in various ways, such as organizing events, hosting adoption drives, or spreading awareness online. Some also volunteer or donate to animal welfare organizations.
Today, World Animal Day is largely organized and promoted by the World Animal Day organization, which is a part of the Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based animal welfare charity. Below, you can see their video about World Animal Day from 2017.
The organization works to unite animal welfare movements around the world and encourages individuals, groups, and organizations to participate in various activities and events on October 4th to raise awareness and take action for animal welfare. Through their efforts, World Animal Day has grown into a global movement with participation from people and organizations in many countries.
When Is World Animal Day Celebrated?
World Animal Day is celebrated on October 4th because it coincides with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Below, you’ll find a table with the dates and days of the week for every World Animal Day. We hope this helps you plan events, spread the word, or just remember when it’s happening each year.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | October 4, Friday |
| 2025 | October 4, Saturday |
| 2026 | October 4, Sunday |
| 2027 | October 4, Monday |
| 2028 | October 4, Wednesday |
| 2029 | October 4, Thursday |
| 2030 | October 4, Friday |
How to Celebrate World Animal Day
If you’re wondering how to make a difference on World Animal Day, here are a few ideas inspired by the organizers of the event. These suggestions are simple ways to show your support for animal welfare and get involved at home, in your community, or online. For example, you might consider adopting a pet from a shelter instead of buying from a breeder, which can save a life and reduce the number of animals in shelters. You could also host an awareness event to educate others about animal welfare, such as a small gathering in your community or an online discussion. Volunteering at a local animal shelter is another great way to help out—walking dogs, playing with cats, or assisting with daily tasks can make a big difference.
Don’t forget to spread the word online too; sharing facts, photos, or stories on social media using the hashtag #WorldAnimalDay helps raise awareness and encourages others to get involved. If you’re able, consider making a donation to a trusted animal welfare organization, as even a small contribution can support their important work. You can also check out the events listed on the official World Animal Day website at worldanimalday.org.uk to find local activities or global events you can participate in. By taking part in these activities, you can help spread awareness and contribute to the protection and care of animals.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
