World Animal Day: solidarity and intervention to help the less fortunate.

The 4th of October is an important date for all those that care greatly about animal rights and for those that dedicate themselves daily to improving the conditions of the less fortunate.
Today is in fact World Animal Day, an internationally recognised day dedicated totally to actions with the aim of improving the conditions of animals in difficulty, without home or mistreated. In brief, a day to raise awareness and increase solidarity.
World Animal Day has been an event since 1931 thanks to a conference held by ecologists in Florence, while the 4th of October was chosen as it falls on the same date as celebrations for Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
The whole day has been dedicated to every living animal species ever since, from its role in the world, its ability to interact with man and the benefits it brings whether it be psychological, therapeutic and importance in daily life. However more than anything, it’s a day of thanks for their existence and every country marks the occasion in different ways.
The mission is to progressively improve the conditions and the consideration for animals in society through individual, group or entire organisational actions. In October 2003 Naturewatch Foundation made this day an official celebration and the number of participants has grown year by year. This year for example the “People for Animals Ghaziabad“ project in India was rewarded for its work. The project seeks to tackle the exploitation of bovine animals that are dying in large numbers because of the stress and toils of carrying excessive weight loads.
The representatives from the organisation intervene directly at the source of the problem, checking the conditions and the detention of the animals at the markets and the work sites where they are exploited. The representatives hand out informative leaflets and CDs on animal health and correct living conditions, provide provisions for their diet and even go so far as intervening to cure possible injuries.
In India large numbers rely on these animals in the workplace, but the conditions in which they are kept are often unsuitable and cruel. They’re forced to carry staggering weight loads, hit, malnourished and tied to ropes causing injuries and abrasions to the skin.
There is also another project seeking to educate about animal well-being but this time in elementary schools in Pancevo, Serbia. The children will be shown the basic needs of domestic animals, how to protect them and the right way of interacting with them by professional tutors. That’s not all from Pancevo. The community is also active in building shelters for abandoned animals. With winter on the way, it means stray cats and dogs will have the chance to take shelter from the cold and the bad weather.
http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk
http://naturewatch.org/campaign/world-animal-day
As for Italy, the main activity is supplying meals to the less fortunate through the purchase of foods from brands that have signed up to the initiative. Each one of us can contribute to supplying food to dogs and cats in need across Italy.
http://www.worldanimalday.it