Australia
Information Stand, Whyalla, South Australia
Diane Wade of Whyalla contacted the WAD website earlier this year about her
plans to hold an information stall in a local shopping centre. It goes to show
how much a bit of determination can achieve, because Diane's WAD event proved to
be an absolute triumph. Diane decorated her stall with balloons from the WAD website, a WAD banner provided by a local printer and a variety of
posters. She had a children's corner with displays of animal toys, WAD balloons
to give out to the children and downloaded sheets of jokes from the WAD website
KidsZone, stories from NAHEE, and a leaflet from Compassion in World Farming.
She also organized a free raffle of an animal jigsaw puzzle. For older visitors
there was a host of literature on various animal welfare issues, including
vivisection, rodeos and endangered species. Diane and her stall were featured on
Southern Cross TV's regional news programme and in the regional newspaper. With
a little encouragement from Diane, the pastor of her local church gave an
animal-related sermon on the previous Sunday, with an orangutan glove puppet
talking about the environmental dangers facing his kind. Our congratulations to
Diane for all her hard work – it just goes to show what a determined
individual can achieve!
RSPCA Victoria WAD Gala Ball, Melbourne
 RSPCA Victoria held a fundraising ball at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, with
over 400 guests attending and raising nearly Aus$160,000 for animal welfare and
adoption work. Highlights included a surprise fire breathing and twirling act, a
visit from Charlie the wombat, and 'Celebrities and their pets' video
presentations featuring personalities Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt, Suzie Wilks and
Peter Alexander at home with their animal companions. RSPCA mascot Champ the dog
(right) was in attendance, and Channel 7's Craig
Hutchinson acted as MC for the evening, presiding over the auction of numerous
generous donations, including overseas holidays, electrical goods, sports
equipment and a BMW. Additionally, guests enjoyed a three-course dinner with
wine, surprise gifts and after-dinner dancing.
Colombia
 Corporación RAYA (Red de Ayuda a los Animales) organized a number of events in universities
in Colombia, with information stalls displaying a range of leaflets covering
topics such as bullfighting, vivisection and circuses, showing
videos about animal cruelty issues and selling small items such as badges and
patches, dog scarves, dog biscuits, stickers, wall plaques and dog bowls to
raise funds for their work. The group was also collecting petition signatures to
have the city of Medellin made an anti-bullfighting city, along the lines of
Barcelona. Corporación RAYA also held information stalls in a large
shopping centre in Medellin and held special events for children including
face-painting, model-making and talks on caring for animals.
Lithuania
This year for World Animal Day LiSPA initiated a
public awareness programme educating people about swans. Many Lithuanians enjoy
feeding these majestic birds during autumn months, with the unfortunate result
that the birds become lazy and fail to migrate to warmer climates when
temperatures fall below zero. Last winter LiSPA provided rescue services and
veterinary care to 65 hypothermic swans. Unfortunately not all survived and such
situations could have been avoided.
Malaysia
 The
Pet Safari store in Petaling Jaya promoted World Animal Day throughout the month
of October, with the store decorated with WAD
balloons. Shoppers were given
goodie bags containing a badge, car sticker, an animal pencil case, organic
carob cake and samples of dry food for dogs, and dark chocolate with the WAD
logo for humans. TPS also worked alongside welfare group Independent Pet
Rescuers to launch a book called Silent Cries about animal abuse in
Malaysia and rehomed ten cats and 18 dogs (right). The event also raised RM1,000 in
donations which will be used for vaccinations. This is the first time the Pet
Safari has celebrated WAD, and next year they hope to highlight animal cruelty
issues more actively.
Malta
St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity dedicated their Saturday morning arts
club for four- and five-year-olds to a theme of animals for World Animal Day.
Children were encouraged to talk about their own pets, before listening to a
story about animals. Other activities included making animal mobiles and a
movement session. A full description of the day, written by the Creative
Projects Co-ordinator, can be found in the Teachers'
Pages.
Nigeria
 Dog's
World Magazine Dog Training Seminar, Lagos
Dog's World magazine celebrated World Animal Day by sponsoring a useful
seminar on dog training, at the Daisy Management Centre in Lagos. The day was
led by Wale Adenaike, an international expert on dog training, with
presentations from Dr Daniel Onyezebeh, head of the Sniffer Dog Department of
the National Drug Enforcement Agency. Topics
covered included misconceptions about training, the causes of bad behaviour and
how no dog is untrainable.
 WAD Celebration, Giverlier Animal Place, Lagos
Giverlier Animal Place, a small company specialising in pet grooming and
boarding, held a special celebration day for WAD. Local schoolchildren were
invited to learn about pet care from veterinarians and other experts and make
friends with the animals. The day also include performances by schoolchildren,
music, refreshments and free veterinary treatment.
Portugal
 World Animal Day at GuimarãeShopping
The initiative was a huge success at the Guimarães Shopping centre which found new loving homes for
62 abandoned animals.
The World Animal Day event was jointly organised by GuimarãeShopping and Sociedade Protectora de Animais of Guimarães, to promote animal adoption and held on the 5th, 7th and 8th October, from 03.00PM to 06:00PM, in the Public square of GuimarãeShopping.
This initiative, supported by the actress Sónia Hermida, not only helped find homes for abandoned animals, but also raised public awareness about the issue. During the three day campaign, 44 dogs and 18 cats found new homes.
Everyone who adopted an animal were given a pack of essential items to care for their new pet and discount vouchers for purchasing products for the animal. To help to identify the animals and to better guarantee their safety, GuimarãeShopping provided a microchipping service and donated a microchip reader to the Animal Proteciton Society of Guimarães.
Sónia Hermida, "godmother" of the initiative, is a young Spanish actress, came Portugal to contine her professional career. She is best known for her role as 'Paloma', in the soap opera “Fine Mixture” and for her participation in the program 'Celebrity Circus'. The actress confessed that she adores animals.
The event was also supported by the City Council of Guimarães, DigiPress, Ornimundo, Proplan and Y&R.
Luciana Cruz,
GuimarãeShopping - Assistente de Marketing, Sonae Sierra,
Sierra Management Portugal - Gestão de Centros Comerciais, SA
GuimarãeShopping
Tel: (+351) 253 109 900 Fax: (+351) 253 109 904
Alameda Dr. Mariano Felgueiras, Creixomil, 4835-075 Guimarães
Romania
 Animal welfare organization
Animed Arad were invited by Dr Alina Bodnariu (one of the founders of the
Alliance for the Protection of Animals in Romania) to give a talk about their work
as part of her Animal Behaviour and Welfare class to fourth-year
veterinary students at the University of Timisoara. Executive Director Claudiu
Iosim outlined the history of the organization and the importance of their
neuter and release work among the stray animals of Arad.
 Later in the week Animed Arad took to the streets with an information stall
on a popular riverside thoroughfare (above right) that attracted many visitors,
who were able to meet some of the animals the organization has helped, and raised valuable funds for their work. One lucky
dog (pictured right) found a loving new home. Animed Arad also took the
opportunity to identify further feral cats and stray dogs for their TNR (trap,
neuter, release) projects in the future.
Serbia
Ljubimci Society for the Protection of Animals held an information stall in
the main square of Pancevo on 4 October to promote World Animal Day and to highlight various animal
welfare issues, including rehoming abandoned animals. The event was covered on
television, radio and in local newspapers. (Ljubimci has also shown its own documentary film on the regional TV station,
about the situation of abandoned animals in our town, and about the life of
animals in shelters.) The Society also chose WAD to start the promotion of a new Animal Welfare Law that
should be voted in the Serbian National Assembly by the end of the year.
Singapore
Singapore's SPCA held its annual World Animal Day celebration in Bishan Park,
where visitors were able to enjoy a variety of entertainments and games, plus
plenty of treats for their pets, including specially-made doggie pizzas!
Syria
 Once
again SPANA-Syria co-ordinated a highly successful World Animal Day. Education
Minister Prof Ali Saad wrote to all schools in Syria, inviting them to use
biology lessons to discuss the role of animals in our life and for students to
write articles for the school magazine about caring for animals. Schools radio
made a broadcast on environmental education and animal protection and welfare.
At the same time Syrian television showed a special educational documentary
about flamingoes and other water birds living in Syria at the lake of Jaboul
near Aleppo. A famous Syrian artist, Elias Hamwi, painted a picture of a bald
ibis (above right) for the event, and children were invited by the broadcaster
Linda to identify it (below right).
Children who were able to do so were awarded prizes.
 Additionally, SPANA-Syria
took the opportunity of World Animal Day to distribute some 500 postcards about the importance
of animals on our lives and the necessity of animal protection and welfare to all Syrian
authorities and leaders in Syria, including the first lady of Syria, Her Excellency
Mrs Asma
Al Asad, all ministers and party leaders, ambassadors and teaching staff. These
postcards were all received positively.
Ukraine
Kyiv Stray Animal Project
 It was a triumph for animal welfare in Ukraine on World Animal Day this year,
as representatives from the animal welfare groups SPA-SOS (Ukraine),
Tierhilfswerk (Austria) and Naturewatch (United Kingdom) managed to meet with
the city authorities of Kiev to discuss ways to improve their stray animal
control policies (right). Ukraine has been criticized in the past for having
inhumane stray control methods, but they have now agreed to the appointment of
an expert with a background in animal welfare to examine the situation and
develop some viable and humane proposals for stray control.
'Time to Protect Animals'
CETA (Centre for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) dedicated its newsletter
'Time to Protect Animals' to World Animal Day, and covered a number of events
going on around the world, ranging from vegetarian film festivals in New
Zealand, through animal awareness events in Switzerland, to the premiere of a
Russian film on animal rights.
United Kingdom
'Gables Gallop', Gables Farm Dogs' and Cats' Home
 The
Gables Farm 'Gables Gallop' day took place in Saltram Park, Plymouth, and
attracted about sixty 8k runners and about eighty fun runners. The event raised £474 which will go to the care of the dogs and cats
at Gables Farm. So far this year Gables Farm has had 669 cats and 678 dogs
come through their doors so they need every penny they can make! Winners of the 8k
run were awarded cups, while children doing the fun run were awarded points,
with the school gaining the most points also being awarded a
cup.
Birds of Prey Display, Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre
 Gentleshaw
Wildlife Centre took some of the birds of prey in their care to a static
(non-flying) display at the Pets at Home store in Chesterfield. Billy the Barn
Owl (pictured right) in particular proved a great attraction, as did Chester the
Harris Hawk. The Centre raised £358 in donations from the public, which will be
used to help look after the injured wild birds in their care until they can be
released back into the wild. The day proved a great success and the birds
appeared to enjoy the experience as much as the members of the public!
Hoof It for Horses, ILPH
 The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) launched their fundraising venture Hoof It for
Horses at the beginning of October. Supporters got involved in events of all kinds,
such as hoof painting, tailwashing, sponsored rides and gymkhana games. The money
raised will help further the work of ILPH, whether working with horses that are neglected or mistreated in the
UK and are in need of rescue and rehabilitation, improving the quality of life of
working horses in developing countries or campaigning on behalf of the horses that are transported
long distance across Europe to slaughter. Hoof It for Horses has been so
successful that ILPH are continuing to encourage supporters to become involved;
for more information visit www.ilph.org/hoofit.
Wildfowl and Wildlife Information, Dudley Council
 Dudley Council organized a Wildlife Education Day at Mary Stevens Park,
Stourbridge, with the aim of raising awareness of the beautiful pools in the borough's
parks and the different waterfowl that use them. They handed out hundreds of
information packs on wildlife and waterfowl to members of the public and many
people took an interest in getting further involved. A total of £52 was raised
from donations given for their home made winter fat balls and bird feeders, with
the proceeds going to a wildlife charity. The event was organized by Head Park
Keeper Stefan Lewandowski and his colleague Rachael Lovett, who were ably helped on the day by
Stefan's dog Demis (pictured
right).
Online Celebrity Memorabilia Auction
 Animal welfare group Naturewatch
Foundation once again launched its annual celebrity
memorabilia auction for World Animal Day, with a fantastic range of items
including signed photos of actors such as Roger Moore, Kate Winslet, Julie
Christie, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Tippi Hedren, signed CDs and
other music memorabilia from Phil Collins, Status Quo, Radiohead (pictured
right) and Steve
Harley, plus donations from authors, sports personalities, television
presenters, and many more. Proceeds from the auction will help to refurbish a
new wildlife rehab unit in Lithuania. The auction will be continuing until early
November, so for further information contact debbie@naturewatch.org
Animal Blessing Service, Greyhounds in Need
 Greyhound rescue group Greyhounds in Need held their World Animal Day animal
blessing service at St Jude's Church, Englefield Green in Surrey. The
service was conducted by Reverend Ewbank, who had prepared a special Order of
Service for the day, in the grounds of St Jude’s and around
50 people and nearly 30 dogs, mostly greyhounds and galgos (Spanish greyhounds), attended the service.
All the dogs were very well behaved, and after the Blessing each one was given a
small bag of food with a card. After the service, refreshments were served
inside the church.
Tiger Talk by Jennifer Buxton, Cumbria
 Wildlife artist Jennifer Buxton gave a talk about wild tigers in Madhya
Pradesh in India at a gallery in Long Newton, Cumbria, where many of her works
are exhibited. All funds raised during the course of the evening will go to help
the people of the Madhya Pradesh region to protect their environment
and the animals that live there. Jennifer's talk highlighted the grave dangers
that tigers face as their jungle homes gradually get smaller, and from the
poachers that hunt them for their skins and body parts. Jennifer is a frequent
visitor to Madhya Pradesh to paint and see the tigers she loves, but also to
ensure that the money she raises from her lectures is properly spent.
Fine Art Fundraiser, Cheltenham
 Naturewatch Foundation, Mallams Fine Art Auctioneers and Cheltenham Ladies'
College joined forces for World Animal Day with a fundraising auction of a
collection of oil paintings, pastels and prints bequeathed by the late Charmian
Dunlop, artist, printmaker and Naturewatch supporter. Although she had worked in
Bath, Charmian had been a pupil at Cheltenham Ladies' College in the 1930s, so
the College was delighted to become involved, with a number of girls helping out
with the auction process as a work experience project, sorting through the works
and helping Mallams Auctioneers to catalogue them. Mallams Auctioneers kindly
waived their usual auction fee, allowing the entire proceeds of the auction to
go towards refurbishing a new wildlife rehabilitation centre in Lithuania.
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