World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4, the feast day of Francis, the patron saint of animals. The mission of World Animal Day, according to the official World Animal Day website is "To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites 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. World Animal Day was originated by Heinrich Zimmermann, the German writer and publisher of the magazine Mensch und Hund/Man and Dog. He organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. Over 5,000 people attended this first event. The event was originally scheduled for 4 October, to align with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, however the venue was not available on that day. The event was moved to 4 October for the first time in 1929. Initially he found a following only in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia. 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 4 October World Animal Day universal, was unanimously accepted and adopted as a resolution.[2] It is sometimes cited 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] Today, World Animal Day is a global event uniting the animal protection movement, led and sponsored by UK-based animal welfare charity, Nature watch Foundation since 2003 Each year 4 October is World Animal Day! These 24 hours are the chance to give back and celebrate animal life in all its shapes and sizes, from mice to elephants, and recognise the positive influence they have on our lives. This special day was established in 1931 by ecologists in Florence in Italy and has now spread around the world, celebrating not just endangered and rare species, but all kinds of animal life. And the date 4 October is no coincidence - it is the same day as the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. There are lots of ways to get involved on World Animal Day, like donating tins of cat and dog food to local shelters or adopt an animal. Schools can organise trips to shelters and farms, and in the workplace, why not try a Bring Your Dog to Work Day? You could even organise an animal related quiz night to raise money for animal charities. Along with the rest of the World , on this Day the 4th Oct 2016 we are carrying out vaccination in animals in Nagaland under the aegis of Animal Welfare Advisory Board and Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Nagaland Kohima in collaboration of Municipal council and Town Council. Dr I P Khala Member Secretary Sawab-n Director of Animal Husbandry & Vety services, Nagaland Kohima
