Australia
In Australia, WSPA supporters organised a variety of fundraising events for
World Animal Week, which started on World Animal Day.
A cat show took place at Narrabundah, ACT (Australian Capital Territory) run
in conjunction with the ACT Cat Alliance; the New South Wales Young Lawyers
association took over Martin Place Bar in Sydney on the 9th of October and
raised Aus$1,077 in just three hours from raffle tickets and donations; a
fundraising live music night took place in Adelaide; one workplace in Sydney had
an animal fancy-dress day at the office; and numerous individuals held events
ranging from garage sales to wine and cheese evenings.
Belgium
One of the most moving World Animal Day events in 2003 was the launch of
animal welfare campaigning group GAIA's new website www.adieumonami.be where members of the public can place a memorial to animal friends that have
died. The site was opened by two Belgian celebrities, singer Liliane
Saint-Pierre and humorist Stephane Steeman who dedicated pages to their own
dogs, Toots and Julie.
Ethiopia
WSPA's Kindness Club members in Ethiopia held a ‘Celebration Day’, which
involved running a small clean-up project in their local area to remove harmful
rubbish and organising a big discussion, with invited guests, about how to help
the local animals.
Ghana
In Ghana, WSPA Kindness Club members travelled over 50km to hold an animal
clinic in a poor area. In total 377 animals were treated on the day.
Greece
Thessaloniki-based Argos, a charity that cares for the town's stray dogs, had
a very busy WAD weekend in 2003 with events on both the Saturday and the Sunday.
On Saturday 4 October they held an information stand in the town centre,
informing passers-by about the work of Argos and animal welfare issues in
general. On the Sunday they held their 7th Mixed Breed Dog Show at Agrotiki
Bandstand, with a range of unusual categories, such as the most beautiful eyes,
the happiest tail, the lady and the punk!
Ireland
In Ireland WAD is often celebrated as part of a larger World Animal Week. In
Dublin the SPCA took the opportunity to raise funds by selling beautiful little
animal badges in shops and businesses across the capital. On World Animal Day
itself, they opened their new animal shelter. The SPCA also benefited from funds
raised by cat-lover Marcus Wommer of Dublin, who promoted World Animal Day on
his website www.thecatswebsite.tk.
Jordan
 SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) opened a new educational
centre at Amman on World Animal Day on land donated by the Jordanian Ministry of
Education. The centre was opened by the Minister of Education and Prince A'ssem.
The centre is planning to expand its programme of Animal Clubs for children in
schools and develop its teaching courses in association with the Ministry of
Education. The new educational farm aims to introduce children to a greater
understanding of animals and their environment.
Kenya
WSPA Kindness Clubs organised two clinics for WAD (although one was actually
delayed for two weeks to coincide with a WSPA Member Society Development
Workshop, so that delegates could witness a clinic at first hand. At the first,
in Mombasa, 83 dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies. At the second, in
Kwale District (about 20km south of Mombasa), 360 animals were vaccinated
against a variety of different diseases, including rabies, Newcastle disease and
trypanosomiasis.
At both clinics, members spent a lot of time and energy on education, making
sure that the owners were ‘treated’ as well as their animals, with plenty of
literature being distributed.
Kindness Club members went to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and helped to
clean the cages and the grounds, as well as with feeding the chimps. They also
donated some reading materials and posters to the sanctuary.
Afterwards, members took part in a radio show, explaining about WSPA’s
Kindness Club programme and also about World Animal Day itself.
Lithuania
The Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of
Lithuania, Dr Kazimieras Lukauskas, officially opened World Animal Day 2003 in
Lithuania. On this day, throughout Lithuania, no live animal imports or exports
were allowed, slaughterhouses were closed for the day, working farm animals were
given a day of rest and no hunting was permitted.
Dr Lukauskas conferred a number of St Francis medals to Lithuanian animal
welfarists. Recipients incuded Karolis Masilionis, shelter director of the
Kaunas branch of LiSPA (Lithuanian Society for the Protection of Animals) and
Samantha Hannay, Head of Training at the International Division of the RSPCA,
for her long-standing contribution to humane education and training programmes
in Lithuania. As in
previous years, a Franciscan monk was present to bless both the animals and the people.
Malta
In Malta World Animal Day is celebrated as Animal Awareness Day, where the
Government's Education Division uses it to promote animal welfare and pet care
to schoolchildren across the island.
School events this year ranged from animal-themed concerts and plays to pet
care days when children were allowed to bring their own pets into school and
talk to their classes about how they look after them.
Reports of two school events can be found at http://www.animalrightsmalta.com/animalawareness.html.
Morocco
 Most of SPANA’s Animal Centres in Morocco
(nine altogether) hosted events on
World Animal Day, inviting local dignitaries as well as school children and
putting on various activities. Marrakech received approximately 100 people,
Khemisset about 60 school children and Khenifra had, as guests, the Pacha, some
members of a local environment association, a few teachers, a representative
from the Ministry of Education and about 50 children.
Activities included painting donkey carriages, films on donkey and dog
husbandry, pet adoptions (five dogs and two cats). SPANA’s Technical Director
in Morocco, Dr Gigi Kaye, gave a talk to the junior section of the American
school on looking after animals and pets to mark this day.
Nepal
 The injured cows in SPCAN's Karuna Rescue and Recovery Centre got a pleasant
surprise when, during their lunch on World Animal Day 2003, Dhubthop
Rinpoche entered the gaushala and blessed them. The large number of puppies
received a gentle pat from the ageing Rinpoche, and so did Baby Bear, paralysed
from the waist onwards after being hit by a car.
Though limited in space and resources, the Karuna Centre provided a fine
location for celebrating World Animal Day. The event acted as an antidote to the
mass sacrifice taking place annually during Dasain Festival. Special guests
Kelly Omeara, Director of Humane Society International, Mandy Lamkin, SPCAN's
Honorary Advisor, Jack Reece, Veterinary Surgeon with Help In Suffering, as well
as Tim Hardy, International Fundraiser, were greeted by Dr Govind Tandan, SPCAN
President, and Malika Nepal, member of SPCAN's Shelter Committee. A number of
volunteer and guests were present too.
Netherlands
Ninety-eight animal shelters run by animal welfare network Dierenbescherming
across the Netherlands held open days, where the general public could see the
work they undertake.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, WSPA supporters organised a variety of fundraising events for
World Animal Week, which started on World Animal Day.
Body Shop outlets throughout the country joined in the fun, with
face-painting and special displays. Individual WSPA supporters raised funds by
tin-rattling in shopping centres, raffles, sponsored events, stalls selling
cakes and handicrafts, and many other activities.
The Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Vegetarian Society was also busy
with an information stall in Northlands Mall. The day was rounded off with a
meal at one of the city's vegetarian restaurants.
Slovenia
 World Animal Day 2003 in Slovenia was organised by Animals' Angels Slovenia
and the Society for the Protection of Animals of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
For that day we contacted EU-licensed slaughterhouses in Slovenia and asked
them to respect the day and to carry out no slaughter on 4 October. This year
that was not a hard task as WAD was on Saturday! Transport companies that
transport live animals internationally were contacted and asked to plan their
routes so as not to pass through Slovenia on 4 October. There was no euthanasia
in Slovenian animal shelters and no equine competitions.
The main event started at 11:30 with the band of drummers called Bobnars
United, drumming on African drums in the city centre, while volunteers
distributed educational material about animal welfare. We had several
information stands with colouring books for children in front of the concert
hall. As well as Animals' Angels and the Society for the Protection of Animals,
the Vegetarian Society of Slovenia and the International Veterinary Students
also had their stands.
The evening programme started with Bobnars United accompanied by dancers and
two Animals' Angels videos showing the suffering of animals during transport.
During the video show many people where quite shocked. At the end of their
performance, the drummers escorted people to the gallery where an exhibition of
photographs from animal markets by photographer Pavel Pasko was opened. At the
exhibition we served vegan food donated by the vegetarian restaurant.
Later in the evening, there was a jazz concert given by singer Jadranka Juras,
who is a very active member of Ljubljana's Society for the Protection of
Animals. In between her songs she explained some basic animal welfare problems
to the public.
Ukraine
We celebrated October 4, World Animal Day, at the SOS animal shelter in
Pyrohovo. Thanks to the financial aid of Naturewatch Foundation, we ordered two
buses which took all those wishing to spend this day with animals from our
office in the centre of Kyiv to the shelter in Pyrohovo.
More than 100 persons visited the shelter that day, including students of the
biological and veterinary faculties of the University, senior pupils from the
two schools with whom the Society holds regular meetings, as well as interested
Kyivites and numerous journalists.
On World Animal Day, Tamara Tarnawska, president of the Kyiv SPA-SOS was
presented with a medal and a clock by the Deputy Mayor of Kyiv to officially
recognise the Society’s invaluable contribution to raising animal welfare
standards in Ukraine.
United Kingdom
 There was plenty going on in the UK for WAD 2003. Information stalls were
held in March, Cambridgeshire; Marlborough, Wiltshire; Kingston-upon-Thames,
Surrey; Wakefield, West Yorkshire; Torquay, Devon; Ipswich, Suffolk; Glasgow,
Scotland; Clevedon, Bristol; and many other places, with funds being raised for
animal shelters and welfare organisations such as the RSPCA and Naturewatch.
Naturewatch's own information stall in Cheltenham proved a big attraction, with
actors in animal costume handing out WAD balloons to children.
Meanwhile in Colchester, the city's zoo held a special Environmental
Enrichment Day. Visitors were invited to take part in a range of sessions that
went on throughout the day creating enrichment for a number of different species,
including chimpanzees, penguins, seals, sea lions, birds, tigers, wolves and
elephants.
 At the chapel of Royal Holloway College on the outskirts of London,
Surrey-based greyhound rescue organisation Greyhounds in Need held a church
blessing of the greyhounds in their care, where the dogs each received a special
St Francis medallion. This was followed by a greyhound procession to another
location for tea, cakes and celebration!
In Northamptonshire, Safewings bird rescue invited representatives from
Northants Wildlife Trust, PDSA, Avenue Veterinary Hospital, Travellers Rest
Hedgehog Rescue and to attend the release of George, a rescued seagull, back
into the wild. The release took place at Pitsford Reservoir (where the injured
bird had been found).
USA
 World Animal Day 2003 in the USA was celebrated with 'A Weekend to Celebrate
Animals' on 3 and 4 October, organised by the New Vision Spiritual Growth Center
and the Creative Living Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Friday evening event, entitled 'An Evening Honoring Animals' featured
local celebrity speakers, live music, an animal slide presentation, a candle
lighting ceremony, refreshments and animal themed art and exhibits. It attracted
over 100 attendees and raised approximately $142.00 for community and animal
charities.
This was followed on the Saturday with an animal blessing service and pet
adoption event at It's a Ruff Life Dog Daycare Center in Phoenix. This resulted
in the adoption of six dogs and one cat. |
