Location: Mexico - San Luis Potosi
Event: Animal Blessing Service and Educational
Organiser: Asociacion Potosina por la Dignidad Animal (APDA) |
 In celebration of World Animal Day, APDA held its fifth WAD event in San Luis Potosi. Of course, the popular blessing of animals by Franciscan monks has become a tradition in the city and was a great success!!
This event, held from 5.00pm - 8.30pm on Sunday 7th October, gave us a fabulous opportunity to raise awareness of a number of different animal welfare issues including: spay & neuter; adoption; overpopulation; vegetarianism; adoption promotion; animal experimentation and wildlife. The Animal Blessing Service drew an enormous congregation with Franciscan monks welcoming several hundred pets and their owners. In fact we were overwhelmed by the number of people who participated in the event - we estimate in the region of 800! All APDA members were very happy and satisfied with the results making the effort and committment of everyone well worthwhile. Lizbeth Munoz Lopez, President, Asociacion Potosina por la Dignidad Animal (APDA).
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Location: Peru - Lima
Event: Raising Awareness Campaign
Organisers: Asociacion Defensora de la Fauna Y Flora |
 Following the earthquake in August, many organizations and the voluntary military service have done everything possible to save the lives of thousands of animals in the areas affected by the disaster. Approximately 1,800 animals have been rescued including dogs, cats, gallianas, roosters, donkeys, asses, horses, parrots, monkeys, etc.
Despite the pressure put upon our resources since the earthquake, we still managed to go ahead with our planned activities in celebration of World Animal Day. On 2nd October we gave talks on 'The Rights of Animals in Peru' highlighting issues regarding the regulation of environmental and animal welfare legislation and its limitations. On Wednesday 3rd October we organised a presentation to publicise the accomplishments of the campaign to save the animals affected by the earthquake and highlight their plight, encouraging Peruvians to do whatever they can to care for and protect animals today and everyday. Various organisations, government officials and the public were invited to attend and the event held in the premises of the National Network of Houses of Refuges located in the Jr Huillac Ñusta 269-El Planet in Lima attended by 430 people many of whom attended with their pets.
On Thursday 4th October, in order to spread the word that it was World Animal Day, we decorated 6 cars and a truck with posters and, using loudspeakers, highlighted the urgent help needed for the animals caught up in the earthquake disaster; the importance of defending and protecting the rights of animals and calling for current animal protection legislation to be strengthened. We travelled through the the following districts of Lima distributing leaflets throughout the day and collecting donations of items for the earthquake animals: Miraflores, San Isidro, Furrow, Chorrillos, Precipice, Callao and Tie Vitarte.
On 5th October we hired a bus and drove to the city of Pisco, an area affected by the earthquake where we distributed the donations. When we arrived in the city we were met by a large group of volunteers and supporters who joined in the march which culminated with a speech drawing the public's attention to the plight of the animals in Peru.
These are the activities that we organised in celebration of World Animal Day which we share with our friends throughout the world.
ASOCIACION DEFENSORA DE LA FAUNA Y FLORA
To read the full report in Spanish, please click here
Para leer el informe detallado en español, chasque por favor aquí |
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Location: Caribbean Island of Grenada
Event: Raising Awareness of Spay/Neuter Benefits
Organisers: Grenada SPCA |
 This year on World Animal Day the Grenada SPCA was lucky to have volunteer Vet, Dr Matthew Clark from the UK on hand to assist us.
We decided to focus on the Flex Family who's small farm, located near the hotel district, was outgrowing its space with an abundance of animals. The family raises goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens on the farm and the entire family loves animals.
With the help of volunteers we transported the family pets to our hospital and spayed three female dogs and neutered three male dogs. Dr. Matt also spayed the family's female cat and neutered the male cat. We
then took two unwanted puppies from the latest litter into our shelter and put them up for adoption.
Dr Matt also assisted the shelter spaying/neutering 20 dogs and cats, vaccinations and mange treatments. Thanks Dr Matt, we all enjoyed your visit!! Peggy Fischer Cattan,
Director,
Grenada SPCA Animal Shelter Inc. Website: www.grenadaspca.org Donald Flex Family & Dr Matt |
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Location: Mexico - Mexico City
Event: Todos los Animales Tienen Derecho a Vivir Sin Sufrimento
Organiser: Asociacion Mexicana por los Derechos de los Animales (AMEDEA) |
 On Friday and Saturday, 5th and 6th October, several groups for animal rights got together in Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo in Mexico City. The venue was very well presented, thanks to the support of Mr. Leon Konik, Environmental Protection Director, in order to celebrate World Animal Day.
We highlighted the issue that many human beings discriminate against animals and just see them as pork chops or milk factories for example. They don’t see the invaluable service they receive from horses, donkeys, dogs and many other animals, and they just pay them back with cruelty and abuse, the reason why we celebrated WAD. We call upon justice for all species; we must stop abusing animals just because it has always been done.
Asociacion Mexicana por los Derechos de los Animales (AMEDEA) requested the support from Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo to celebrate WAD and the answer was positive and generous. We were provided with tents, auditorium, parking and sound, in order to invite companies and organisations that provide services for animals. Participants included:
Miztlan Gatos, Mundo Patitas, Animalia, Animanaturalis, GEPDA, ONERVA, Mexico Antintaurino, Ecomundo en Muros and many others. We had workshops for children, and a performance with humans simulating a tiger in a cage working in a circus. We distributed information about cruelty and the way to stop it. Furthermore, we held talks on animal protection legislation, philosophy, ethical treatment towards animals, and experiences from activists. Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo spoke about the work they are doing to humanely stop the overpopulation of dogs and cats. We promoted vegetarianism and not to buy products that come from the suffering of animals and not to attend spectacles where animals are used.
We had a wonderful experience celebrating WAD. We feel this event recharged us to continue working very hard for the rights of animals. Written by Gustavo Larios,
President of AMEDEA, translated by Araceli Ferris,
AMEDEA Public Relations and edited by World Animal Day. |
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Location: Costa Rica - International Airport of Juan Santamaria
Event: World Animal Day Awareness Posters
Organiser: Asociacion El Arca de Noe |
 We are delighted to report that the international airport of Juan Santamaria in Costa Rica displayed World Animal Day banners for 10 days, from 4th - 14th October. We were absolutely delighted about this as it's a fabulous way to promote World Animal Day to travellers from all corners of the globe. On World Animal Day we also participated in three radio programmes, including Radio Monumental's daily programme called "Hablando Claro" (speak clear), to talk about animal welfare issues in Costa Rica. These activities resulted in Costa Rica's most important newspaper "La Nacion" publishing a full page about World Animal Day. We are absolutely delighted that World Animal Day in Costa Rica was so successful in raising awareness of animals and their welfare on this special day. Report sent by Patricia Artimana and edited by World Animal Day. |
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Location: Costa Rica
Event: Pet Adoption Promotion
Organiser: Association 'El Arca de Noe' |
 To celebrate World Animal Day, "El Arca de Noe" organised a Pet Adoption Promotion held outside a veterinary surgery located in a Commercial Centre. The Laboratory Faryvet supported our event by making two veterinarians available who spoke with people about animal welfare and gave gifts (food and medicine for animals) to people who have adopted a dog or a cat. We also used this opportunity to distribute leaflets about animal welfare issues and collected signatures supporting the 'Universal Animal Welfare Declaration' promoted by WSPA.
This World Animal Day event received good press coverage and resulted in 16 animals finding a permanent, loving home. All the animals rehomed had been strays roaming the streets in very poor condition. On the day of adoption they were in excellent health and had been neutered and vaccinated. Patricia Artimaña Miescher,
President,
Association 'El Arca de Noe'. |
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Location: Costa Rica
Event: Concert for the Animals
Organiser: Association 'El Arca de Noe' |
 Association 'El Arca de Noe' also organised a Concert for the Animals in the Big Dog Bar-Restaurant in Santa Ana 2000. Entertainment was provided by the group 'D Classic' with music from the 60's, 70's and 80's. 50% of the ticket price was given to the Association to support its work. To raise additional funds for 'El Arca de Noe', we sold World Animal Day T-shirts, held a raffle and quiz with prizes donated by event sponsors.
All funds raised from the concert will be used to organize low cost neutering campaigns to bring the stray animal situation under control and to rescue animals that are suffering from the streets, rehabilitate them and then find them a loving home. Patricia Artimaña Miescher,
President,
Association 'El Arca de Noe'. |
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Location: Puerto Rico - Añasco
Event: Humane Education Programme
Organisers: HumaneEd 4 Animals |
| On October 4, we celebrated World Animal Day by holding an information stall at an elementary (primary) school to raise awareness of Puerto Rico's Animal Protection Law, other animal welfare issues and, of course, World Animal Day itself. The event was supported by students, teachers and parents. We really are doing everything we possibly can to help animals. Sonia Estévez, HumaneEd 4 Animals. Photos to follow. |
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Location: Guatemala - Guatemala City
Event: Sharing the World with the Animals
Organiser: Asociacion de Amigos de los Animales |
 Here in Guatemala City we had 4 days of continued celebration:
October 4th - Museo de los Niños (Children's Museum; October 5th - Vegetarian for a Day; October 6th - Zoológico La Aurora (La Aurora Zoo); October 7th - Museo de los Niños (Children's Museum).
At Museo de los Niños we were able to educate 983 persons, most of them children aged 4 to 12 years old. We gave educational presentations, encouraged them to interact with rescue animals that we'd brought with us and write their promises of how they would help animals. At one school we held a drawing competition with 167 children drawing animals with the theme "I help animals".
The Museum's staff prepared a theatre presentation of a rescue we'd carried out and told them the story. The main character was PEPI and she was there for the children to meet.
On Saturday at the Zoo, Alexis Cuentacuentos, a wonderful storyteller entertained children and adults with animal stories, including stories of stray dogs to make people think about them. We also screened the film 'Share the World' by PETA. Between 150 and 200 people attended this event.
On Sunday, we invited another organisation to make a presention to the children about wild animals, focusing on why some animals are unsuitable to be kept as pets. |
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Location: Honduras - Tegucigalpa
Event: Animals Matter To Me
Organiser: Asociacion Hondurena Protectora de los Animales y su Ambiente (AHPRA) |
Our activity was focused in supporting the universal declaration on animal welfare, "Animals Matter to Me" - a WSPA initiative. The Universal Declaration is an agreement among people and nations to recognise that animals are sentient beings and can suffer, to respect their welfare needs, and to end animal cruelty - for good. It is hoped that the Declaration will lead to the United Nations establishing the world's first international agreement on animal welfare.
During the month of October we managed to collect a total of 1,777 signatures in the Central Business District and a further 3,000 signatures in November. We were also able to promote the Universal Declaration at a conference we were involved in regarding the protection of wildlife. Participants included the Public Prosecutors of the Public Ministry, National Police, various related institutions and others involved in the busines of protecting wildlife. In December we were able to add the support of 625 Tegucigalpa-based companies to the Delaration bringing the total number of signatures to FIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TWO (5,402) which we were very pleased with. We plan to continue this activity in January. It is important to mention that our efforts have been supported by the regional office of WSPA in Costa Rica, with special thanks to Marcela Lawyer Vargas, Campaign Manager.
Due to the extreme weather conditions experienced in some counties in central America around World Animal Day, celebrations in Honduras were posponed until November.
Photo: Honduran Government Official signs Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, "Animals Matter To Me". .
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Location: Mexico - Mexico City
Event: Drawing Competition, Play and Ballet
Organiser: Irene Cohen, Volunteer, Presencia Animals |
 I´m very proud of what we achieved, it was a great day and the childeren were able to understand the importance of respecting wild animals, stray cats and dogs, domestic animals, and the importance of giving them love, space, time and food. We held a drawing competition in which more than 500 kids participated. It was a very tough decision choosing the three winners because they were all so good!
The event was attended by 'Canine Miracles', an organisation that provides shelter to stray dogs with special attention being paid to old animals and those with special needs. The shelter is owned by Paty España and Yoshi, a wonderful Down Syndrome guy, looks after the animals. The shelter is home to Bobby, a character in a kids story, and Wanda, a Weimaraner with only three legs.
We also produced a play about street dogs, pets, and abandoned animals - it was very, very moving. The Magdalena Contrera´s Children's Ballet company performed The Bunny Dance which everyone enjoyed. For various reasons we were unable to go ahead with our plans to hold a fancy dress contest but, as you can see, we organised a host of other wonderful activities.
Photo: Winner of Drawing Competion being presented with her wonderful prize |
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IMAGE GALLERY
Selected additional images of events that took place in South America
in 2007 |
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