Location: CANADA - Sechelt, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
Event: Day of Celebration
Hosted by: Renaissance Animal Rescue Society

“World Animal Day in Sechelt, BC, Canada was a very well attended celebration held at our 'Seaside Centre' and focusing on what animals mean to us and what we can do for them! 

We at Renaissance Animal Rescue Society invited children and their families to come to do crafts and story telling, art and stories all related to animals.  Families created a lovely collage of pictures of RAR animals patiently awaiting loving permanent homes and pictures and memento’s of pets they (and we) have shared and currently share our lives with.  Some people brought their pets - some adopted from “RAR” and others who came from other shelters (and elsewhere) and were happy to share in the celebrations! 

Literacy BC was very generous in donating animal related books to us for children to take home and Elementary School Teacher and RAR Board member Susan Ankenman and Kwantlen College Instructor and RAR Board member Sandy Middleton did a terrific job of organizing the event!  Frances and Maddy Ankenman came from Vancouver and helped lead other craft tables and Charlotte, Catherine and Emily Caswell-Bowers  all also came form Vancouver with their mum, Sarah and happily joined in the festivities. All who attended look forward to next years event! “.  Jane Bowers, President RAR & World Animal Day Ambassador, Canada.

Location: USA - Miami, Florida
Event: WildCat Spay/Neuter Snipathon and Adoptathon
Hosted by: The Cat Network

Location: USA - Palo Alto, California
Event: Old Fashioned 'Bake Sale' and promotion of Animal Blessing Services
Hosted by: Palo Alto Humane Society

Here at the Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS) we very happily pursued celebrating World Animal Day in two ways:

1. On October 4th, we held an old fashioned “Bake Sale” (to mimic a tradition with PAHS in our early years – 2008 marks our 100th birthday). Volunteers staffed a beautiful table outside of a landmark in Menlo Park, California (Kepler’s Books and Magazines) and we sold a selection of vegan goodies earning us $409.00, contributing to our many humane programs. We also eagerly used the opportunity to advertise and discuss Proposition 2 with passersby (very important, and happily it passed by a landslide on November 4). We feel the day was a great, connective and educative community event.

2. Prior to October, PAHS put out requests to all local churches to celebrate animals by conducting a Blessing of the Animals service. Although more may have celebrated, three churches responded and held services on October 1, October 5, and October 11.

Thank you! Erin Scott, Manager or Organization Development. Website: www.paloaltohumane.org

Location: USA - New Albany, Ohio
Event: Special Animal Service
Hosted by: Church of the Angels

A church that prays for animals and people held prayer circles. We have daily prayers for the animals, the earth, and each other, but on World Animal Day we had special prayers held in a number of places for the efforts of the people to make a difference for the animals. Phyllis Fischer, Senior Pastor.

Location: USA - Gainesville, Florida
Event: World Animal Day Working Bee
Hosted by: Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary

World Animal Day was a wonderful success for the sanctuary! We were delighted to welcome our new friends from 'Florida Voices for Animals' to the sanctuary. The FVA crew journeyed from Tampa to spend the day painting our new squirrel monkey building, constructing the new outdoor habitat for the squirrel monkeys and making rope ladders for the capuchins! Animal Activists of Alachua (AAA), a University of Florida organization, were also on the scene constructing a new capuchin habitat, making monkey runways and chopping produce. After several hours of hard work, we all gathered to enjoy a vegan feast. The Jungle Friends carestaff, interns and especially the monkeys want to thank everyone who participated in our 1st Annual Celebration of World Animal Day! Kari Bagnall, Director.

Location: USA - Florida, Boynton Beach
Event: Chef Philippe's Vegetarian Dining
Hosted by: Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary

At St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, we honored the Feast of St. Francis, patron Saint of the Animals, and celebrated World Animal Day with a campus wide day of vegetarian dining. All of our seminarians, faculty and staff were treated to Chef Philippe's incredible vegetarian cuisine. A beautiful replica of St. Francis and the Wolf was the centerpiece of a table filled with wonderful fruits and flowers and a Prayer for the Animals. In this way we honored and reminded ourselves that all creatures are God's precious creations and deserving of our respect and compassion. Kip Clarke. Email:clarke119@comcast.net
Image: L to R: Peter Dionne (I Theology), Deacon Luis Largaespada, and David Ugokwe (III Theology).  Behind is Keith Parker, Campus Administrator. Center Forward: St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio.

Location: USA - Burlington, NJ 08016
Event: Peaceful Demonstration against Bird Paradise
Hosted by: New York Bird Club

Our peaceful demonstration was held on 11th October against Bird Paradise as the store obtains birds from a breeding facility in south Florida where the birds are confined in small wire cages devoid of any toys or other enrichment. For many of the birds, the sole furnishing in the cages is a perch
inappropriate for their species. Because the eggs are hatched in the artificial environment of an incubator, the parents are deprived of expressing their natural nesting and parenting instincts; instead, they are confined to the same wire cages to breed over and over, supplying Bird Paradise with thousands of birds for sale each year. For more information about this ongoing campaign please visit http://www.boycottbirdparadise.com

Location: CANADA - St Catharines, Ontario
Event: Buck-a-Book Sale
Hosted by: Niagara Action 4 Animals

Niagara Action for Animals is a non-profit, all volunteer registered charity devoted to ending all forms of animal cruelty through education, direct action and legitimate protest. We have been in existence for almost 20 years and active in the Niagara area.  We decided to hold a Buck-a-book sale at the 'NAfA House' to honour World Animal Day.  (A 'buck' is slang for a dollar in Canada!)  All the books were donated and we earned almost $500 with all proceeds going to our various programs which include, spay/neuter, work with feral cats, monthly vegan potlucks, donating current animal advocacy books to local schools and much, much more! Catherine Ens.

Location: USA - Bloomington/Normal, Illinois
Event: Alumni Dog Day / Pet Blessing / 'Must Love Dogs' Singles Day
Hosted by: Humane Society of Central Illinois

The Humane Society of Central Illinois in Bloomington/Normal held 3 pet-related activities in celebration of World Animal Day:

On Saturday 4th October we held our 4th Annual HSCI/MCHS Alumni Dog Day at the Maxwell Park's Dog Park in Normal. It was a beautiful afternoon for dogs to play with old friends and make some new friends. This event is a great opportunity to meet fellow adopters.

On Sunday 5th we organised a Pet Blessing at Epiphany Church on College Avenue and in the afternoon we held our first 'Must Love Dogs' singles day at Maxwell Park's Dog Park, in Normal. Dogs can be a great icebreaker in meeting someone new! For some pet lovers, "Must Love Dogs" is a prerequisite to a relationship. The dogs sure had a fun time, and it was a georgeous day too!
Image: 'Dogs can be a great icebreaker in meeting someone new! Pamela Sweetwood, Board Member.

Location: USA
Event: Creative Talent Letter
Hosted by: Authors Joy Ward, Stacy Mantle and Jim Willis

World Animal Day is observed internationally each year on October 4. This year's celebration promises to be the most observed. In order to publicize and call attention to World Animal Day, a coalition of writers, artists & illustrators, print media & broadcasters, acting, theatre, film, musical, fashion and other creative talent, many of them true celebrities in their fields, are signing on to endorse World Animal Day.

According to co-organizers of the creative coalition, authors Stacy Mantle and Joy Ward, "Our relationships with animals define us as humans and it is through their eyes that we can learn to live with respect to nature. Remind others how our pets enrich our lives and how other species as a whole assist us in establishing balance. We urge you to join your human and animal brethren across this miraculous world to help us use this opportunity to remind others what animals contribute to our lives."

Author, animal advocate and WAD Ambassador for the USA-East, Jim Willis said, "As Mahatma Gandhi so eloquently expressed it, ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’ I’m encouraged that World Animal Day unites us internationally in our common cause and I urge everyone to participate and help organize events in their own communities.”

"Creative talent" who wish to be included as signators of a letter endorsing World Animal Day should e-mail Joy Ward: joyward@sbcglobal.net and Stacy Mantle: stacymantle@yahoo.com with their name, affiliation, or title of their best-known work or project. To read the "Creative Talent" endorsement letter [pdf] please click here.

On behalf of all the animals of our world, we thank you for your support and participation.

Location: USA - Sebring, Florida
Event: Animal Blessing
Hosted by: Animal Ministries

In the beautiful, tropical setting of Highlands Hammock State Park, people and animals began arriving early for the 6:00 pm Animal Blessing.  The sky is beautiful and is a great backdrop for Malka Hardt who is playing a lively tune on the organ as people pull up in their cars.

Organized by Gail Leavitt, founder of Animal Ministries, our participating preachers are Father Gonzales of St. Catherine’s Parrish,  Reverend Elizabeth Meyers of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, and Rev. Andy Conyer of Unity Life Enrichment Center.

Two members from the Humane Society asked us all to remember the homeless animals in our prayers, and reminded us that even in Florida it gets cold in winter and the animals at the shelter need blankets.  Kristi Olsen also spoke about the unity of all life and the need to honor creation. She brought a feral cat to represent all feral cats, and an adorable little rat (in a pink cage) named Bolt!

About 60 dogs and their human companions attended. All the dogs were well behaved, and very interested in each other! All shapes and sizes from a tiny puppy, to a huge Great Pyrenees!

The personal blessings were done in three lines.  One lady brought pictures of seven dogs to be blessed; a lifetime of love in photographs.

At the Candle Light Ceremony we asked God to let the lights we were holding shine into all the places where cruelty is still practiced: into the factory farms, the puppy mills, the labs, anywhere that animals are still suffering.  We asked Him to let our light shine into our legislator’s hearts, so that they would be inspired to enact stronger laws for animal protection. We asked God to shine the light into our own hearts, so that we would have the strength to speak up about the horrendous ways animals are treated in this world.

As people were leaving, Malka started playing the organ again, and her brother Fred Leavitt joined her, playing an upbeat rhythm on the bongos.

I started thinking about the worldwide movement toward kindness.  I told myself, we must not lose hope.  If we lose hope we weaken ourselves.  We must always remember that we are following in the footsteps of Christ, who said "Blessed are the merciful."  The animals need us to keep going forward, to speak up on their behalf, to write letters, and to continue to do all in our power to spread the word that cruelty of any kind, to any creature, be it human, animal, bird, fish, any and all of God's creation, is wrong, and will no longer be tolerated by the thinking, feeling people of this world; for if we don't speak up, who will?

World Animal Day is in many countries, all over this beautiful planet. That gives me such hope! Hope that the hearts of people will continue to open wider and wider, until all creation is included in a circle of loving kindness.

We are the frontlines, the soldiers in the battle to protect the precious creatures of this earth. March on soldiers of goodness! The battle is not yet won, and each stout heart is needed!  We will win, and a cry of jubilation will go up from the creatures of the earth!  We are God's hands on earth, and we will overcome! Donnalee Hilden, Heaven’s Gates Animal Ministries

Location: USA - Reno, Nevada
Event: Adoption Promotion
Hosted by: Nevada Humane Society

Our 2008 celebration of World Animal Day consisted of an in-shelter Adoption Promotion from 2nd - 5th October.

Tina Thorpe, a radio celebrity from MAGIC 95.5, welcomed visitors to our shelter on October 4th and helped spread the word about animal adoptions through a live radio remote. In addition, adult dog and cat adoption fees were slashed by 50% during the promotion which helped 61 cats, 40 dogs and 6 other small lovables find new loving homes. Lilli Walker, Community Programs Project Manager, Special Events. Website: www.nevadahumanesociety.org

Location: USA - Leonardtown, Maryland
Event: Fundraising Raffle and Awareness Day
Hosted by: Good Earth Natural Foods Company

I am delighted that World Animal Day was a big success here in Leonardtown. 19 year old former First Cat "Socks" was his very Presidential self and drew a lot of attention and folks, signed pawtographed pictures and posed for many more, and Betty Currie has promised to bring him back next year, the gods willing!  We were delighted that 7 rescue groups joined in the celebrations: Greyt Expectations Greyhound Rescue, Feral Cat Rescue of St. Mary's County, Golden Retriever Rescue, Bunny Magic, Pets With Disabilities, the Snowflake Society - a horse rescue branch of the Southern Mary Animal Welfare League, and Tri-County Humane Society who brought two beagles and managed to find new homes for 2 out of 3 of the kittens they brought with them. We raffled off 28 prizes, kindly donated, which meant that the seven rescue groups all walked away with $100 each from the store, the raffle and donations they received from the public during the event. Some local musicians added to the atmosphere and a gentleman from Pet Promise talked about good pet nutrition. The World Animal Day balloons looked great with the help of a local florist who filled them with helium for us and I had a cake made with the WAD logo on it. It seems a good time was had by all, we had perfect weather, and they're already standing in line to be on the list if we decide to do it again next year.  Think I'll give myself a little more than 6 weeks to plan it next year though! Diane Conti. Image: ex-presidential cat "Socks" pawtographs photos of himself.

Location: USA - Washington DC
Event: Vegan Feed-In
Hosted by: Compassion Over Killing

In celebration of World Animal Day, on Sunday, October 5, 2008, volunteers hosted a Compassion Over Killing Feed-in, at the 27th annual Takoma Park Street Festival. It was a fantastic event with festival-goers sampling more than 300 pieces of orange “chicken” and volunteers distributing over 1,000 pro-vegetarian brochures, including COK's Vegetarian Starter Guide, Easy Vegan Recipes and the Vegetarian Guide to Washington, D.C. and Surrounding Areas. Image: A crowd gathering to try the orange 'chicken' and get their copy of the Vegetarian Guide to Washington, D.C. and Surrounding Areas.

Location: USA - Raleigh, North Carolina
Event: Blessing of the Animals
Hosted by: Loxley Abbey & Mini Farm

I wasn't surprized by the small turn out for my Pet Blessing Ceremony as I didn't have enough time to get the word out and make the contacts I needed to. But the few that did show up made it all worth while.

The weather was perfect and I made myself a brown robe with a white over lay to look like St. Francis. I had a table set up under an EZ UP canopy with information papers, blessing certificates, animal cookies for the people and pet treats too. I recorded a CD with songs such as 'All things bright & beautiful' which I had playing in the background. Image right: Rev'd Samantha with Max
Image below: Information table
All things considered, it was a wonderful day and I can't wait to do it again. Only next time I will begin preparations earlier to ensure a better turnout and invite animal welfare organisations to set up information stalls and be part of this special event.

Rev. Samantha Heart, Animal Clergy for Beloved Pets & Loxley Abbey. Email: medieval2farmer@yahoo.com Website: www.belovedpetz.com

Location: USA - Libertyville, Grayslake and Chicago, Illinois
Event: Starbucks Coffee, Grayslake Animal Hospital and Nobert Plating Support World Animal Day
Hosted Jamie Sickles, Animal Advocate

Location: CANADA - Saint John, New Brunswick
Event: Callahan's Fundraiser
Hosted by: Cherry Brook Zoo & Callahan's Pub

The fundraiser at Callahan's Pub, 2 Princess Street, was a delicious success.  Customers were served up steaming bowls of chowder and chilli prepared by Callahan's owner, Heather Campbell.  There was also the opportunity for some early Christmas shopping through purchases of unique items from the Zoo's giftshop.  The total raised by this event, the second Zoo fund raiser staged by Callahan's, was almost $700.00.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO HEATHER AND THE STAFF OF CALLAHANS. 

Location: CANADA - Saint John, New Brunswick
Event: Police & Media Appreciation Days
Hosted by: Cherry Brook Zoo

As the Zoo’s way of saying thanks for all their efforts to see April returned 6 months ago, members of the Police Force and local media, together with members of their immediate families, were given free admission to the Zoo on October 4th and 5th. Their visit included miniature golf at the Tiger Claws mini golf course. The team with the lowest average score was the Saint John Police Department which will have their name engraved on an annual World Animal Day Challenge trophy that will be kept at the Zoo.  A draw was held to determine which visiting member of the Police or Media would receive a year’s Family Membership. The winner was Mike Hebert of the Police Department.

Location: CANADA - Saint John, New Brunswick
Event: Photo Contest
Hosted by: Cherry Brook Zoo

A World Animal Day photo contest was held at Cherry Brook Zoo. The best still photo of a Cherry Brook Zoo animal or scene taken had to be taken on World Animal Day, October 4, 2008. There was a separate category for photos taken by children 12 and under. First Prize - One Year Family Membership Pass to the Zoo; Runner-Up Prize - Zoo gift shop item; Child category prize - Zoo gift shop item.
Image: Winning photo taken by Roger Castonguay.

Location: CANADA - Toronto
Event: Worldwide Peaceful Rally for the Street Dogs of Turkey

Images taken at Toronto Rally:
http://picasaweb.google.com/turkeyhell/WorldRallyForTurkishStraysToronto#

IMAGE GALLERY
Selected additional images of events that took place in USA & Canada in 2008