Location: UK - Uckfield, East Sussex
Event: Sponsored Dog Walk & Thanksgiving Service
Hosted by: International Animal Rescue

On 11 October members of IAR's team and local supporters took part in a sponsored dogwalk followed by an Animal Thanksgiving Service at St Margaret's Church in Buxted, East Sussex.

The event was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, with about 40 dogs taking part in the walk and the service, with a donkey, guinea pig and rabbit also joining them in church. As well as the many delightful dogs of all shapes and sizes, there was a human congregation of about one hundred people, including a large number of animal-loving children.

Lis Key of International Animal Rescue, who gave a short address on behalf of the charity, said: "Our thanks go to everyone who was involved in the event, particularly Rev Di Blackden for inviting us to take part in it and accept the proceeds from the collection. Everyone had a wonderful day and more than £800 was raised for IAR through the sponsored walk and the Church collection. It was heartening to meet so many people – young and old – who care deeply about animals and are prepared to put themselves out to help them."

Star fundraiser was Bear the chocolate Labrador and auntie Lauren: together they raised a magnificent £367 – so far! – for International Animal Rescue. Aura Beckhöfer-Fialho, IAR.

Location: UK - ENGLAND, Lewes, East Sussex
Event: Harvest Festival for Cats and Dogs
Hosted by: Westgate Unitarian Chapel

We are only a small congregation of 8 people but felt we ought to do something for World Animal Day as we are an animal loving congregation, and most of us have rescue animals at home. So we decided instead of bringing in traditional Harvest Festival gifts, we would bring in food for animals: dog and cat food and also seeds and nuts for birds. The dog food and toys filled two carrier bags and was donated to The Dogs Rehoming Trust at Shoreham. Two bags of cat food were given to our local cat sanctuary for the homeless cats in their care. Our collection of £21.50 went to the mid-Sussex Happy Breed Dog Rescue Society. Our service included a reflection on St Francis, "Blessing of the Animals", written by Thomas Rhodes an American UUA minister. Westgate Unitarian Chapel in Lewes did very well considering we are such a small number of people. Rev. Andie Camper, Minister.

Location: UK - ENGLAND, Manchester
Event: Cat Health Clinic
Hosted by: RSPCA Manchester & Salford Branch

This year we held a Cat Health Clinic in Longsight, an area of Manchester with plenty of cats and very little money. For £5 owners were invited to get their cats veterinary health checked, microchipped and vaccinated. We sold flea and worming treatment at cost price too, and repeated the clinic 3 weeks later to do follow up vaccinations and further microchipping. In total, over the two clinics, we saw 65 cats and microchipped 35 of them. We were very happy with this result. Susie Hughes.

Location: UK - Beenham, Reading
Event: World Animal Day Celebration of North American Wolves
Hosted by: UK Wolf Conservation Trust

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust celebrated its 2nd World Animal Day on 4th October by dedicating the day to all things North American.  The Trust, which is usually open to members only, opened its doors to the general public of which more than 1000 turned up, an increase on last year's number.  Family groups and visitors from all over the UK came to enjoy the day.  The wolves as usual were centre stage and the public enjoyed the photography sessions and talks out side their enclosures. As well as wolves, other animals were on display such as birds of prey, huskies, and an assortment of British wildlife including bats, hedgehogs, dormice, and creepy crawlies. 

Sticking with the North American theme, a troop of Native American dancers put on lavish displays.  A series of talks in the education room on the Yellowstone wolves,  wolf-keeping, badgers and the day to day life at the Trust were also a big hit with visitors.  Former World Darts Champion Martin “wolfie” Adams was on site, and judged the human howling competition.

For the artistic minded visitor there were wildlife art displays and pastel workshops running all day, as well as activities especially for the children including pond dipping, a nature trail, and the opportunity to make North American masks and feather head dresses. 

A great day was had by all, and thankfully the weather was good.  Proceeds from this year’s event totalling £2000 have gone to the Red Wolf Recovery Programme in North Carolina, USA.  The much needed funds have been put towards their ongoing education programme and the building of a new enclosure for some of the captive red wolves. These initiatives are part of the Red Wolf recovery programme aiming to educate people on the red wolf and keep this endangered species in the wild. Report supplied by Victoria Allison-Hughes, Assistant Education Officer.
Image: Chris Tarrant with Martin "wolfie" Adams.

Location: ENGLAND - Aldershot, Hampshire + throughout UK
Event: Street Collections (no. tbc) / Aldershot Green and Global Fun Day.
Hosted by: Compassion in World Farming Supporters

"For World Animal Day 2010 Compassion in World Farming Supporters across the UK took part in a number of events and activities to raise awareness of farm animal welfare issues. Alongside street collections to help raise funds and awareness for Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Day supporters also attended the Aldershot Green and Global Fun day. The Fun day was a free family event which highlighted green issues and included crafts, workshops and live entertainment." Hayley Warner, CIWF

Location: ENGLAND - Bradford, West Yorkshire
Event: Fundraising Animal Quiz
Hosted by: Hanson School

This year for World Day I did a quiz for members of staff with a small prize.  All 50 questions related to animals and were on a variety of areas, e.g. famous animals in history, sporting animals, animals in the news, animals in films, books about animals, songs with animals in the title etc.  It was great fun and staff enjoyed taking part in it.  Obviously the quiz sheet included the World Animal Day logo and contained a short piece about what we were raising money for, and we we managed to accumulate £40.  Not a big event but one that I could manage and still fit into my busy day.  Susan May, Examination Officer, Hanson School.

Location: ENGLAND - Ringmer, East Sussex
Event: Sponsored Dog Walk for WAD
Hosted by: Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare held a sponsored dog walk for World Animal Day. Our wonderful dog walkers and sponsors helped raise well over £1,000 towards the new dog play area we plan to build next year, and we have not had all the money in as yet.  A big ‘Thank you’ to everyone that walked, sponsored and helped with the day. Regards, Valerie Carus, PA to the Chief Executive.
Image: Walkers enjoy a welcome break.

Location: ENGLAND - South London & Kent
Event: Series of Fundraising and Educational Events
Hosted by: The Fox Project

The Fox Project ran fundraising events on 2, 3 and 4 October to mark World Animal Day.  These included food and cash collections and educational stalls in assocation with a South London supermarket, a Kent wildlife reserve and a Kent garden centre.  Regrettably, no photographs exist of any of the events.  But here's one of Felix when he first came to us in March as a foundling.  Subsequently released back to the wild, he came in again in mid-Septemebr with concussion - probably as a result of a car accident.  Coincidentally, he was re-released again, following successful treatment, on the night of World Animal Day, so he was back home in time to celebrate the event!
Trevor Williams, The Fox Project.

Location: ENGLAND - East Midlands
Event: Fundraiser for Brooke Hospital
Hosted by: Julie Skelly, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP

Location: UK - Bath
Event: Animal Blessing Service: Celebrating our Pets
Hosted by: Bath Cats & Dogs Home

Animal owners and their pets joined together to celebrate World Animal Day at Bath Abbey on Saturday 3rd October. It was a joyous occasion with well behaved animals attending this special service.

Bath Cats & Dogs Home organised this event as part of World Animal Day, which is widely celebrated in countries worldwide and is intended as a day of celebration for anyone who cares about animals. The aim is to encourage animal lovers to use this special day to commemorate their love and respect for animals by doing something unusual to highlight the importance of wild and domestic animals.

As well as hymns and a spiritual element, the Blessing Service also featured presentations by Chris Pope, Chairman of the Home, Sarah Thorn, Fundraising Manager; and Pippa Lloyd who had adopted a very special little dog called Honey who had originally arrived in a very poor state. She spoke about ‘How this animal had changed her life', from an owner looking at the difference Bath Cats and Dogs Home had made to both a person’s and animal’s life. Sarah Thorn, Fundraising Manager, commented: "This was the first animal service the Abbey had ever held – and the first time we have organised such an event and hope that everyone; human and canine alike enjoyed this unique event." Sarah Thorn, Fundraising Manager.

Location: UK - Buckland-in-Dover
Event: Animal Blessing Service
Hosted by: St Andrew's Church

Our St Francis of Assisi Animal Blessing held at 3pm on Sunday 4th Ocotber in St Andrew's, Buckland-in-Dover, was a huge success. We had 42 people and lots of furry animals! Kind regards, Petra Kerr, Churchwarden.

Location: Worldwide
Event: Help ban the declawing of cats in the USA
Hosted by: The Claws Connection

The Claws Connection invited animal lovers to mark World Animal Day this year by helping to ban the barbaric declawing of cats in the USA by signing a petition: My sister Ruth Ockendon Laycock started the petition. As we are in England it's impossible to do anything physical towards a ban but we spend a lot of time online trying to help educate and push for a ban on this horrible inhumane procedure. Best wishes, Barbara Bates. http://clawsforever.ning.com/
http://clawsforever.blogspot.com/

http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=4312 

Location: ENGLAND - Newquay Cornwall
Event:
Hosted by: Supporters of Animals Asia

Report to follow shortly

Location: ENGLAND - Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Events: Every Chance Fundraiser
Hosted by: Jennie Rudd, Natural Leader

On 18 October, Jennie Rudd at Natural Leader, a dog behaviourist (www.naturalleader.co.uk), raised money for Every Chance Rescue by holding a stall at a local dog show.  She sold home-baked shortbread biscuits shaped into bones and dogs, and held a tombola filled with prizes donated by Pets at Home and Burns Pet Food.

Every Chance Rescue (www.everychancerescue.co.uk) is an organisation set up by dog behaviourists who follow Jan Fennell - The Dog Listener’s method.  The rescue centre rehabilitates dogs that other rescue centres can’t rehome due to behavioural problems, and then finds them loving homes.  

As a Dog Listener herself, Jennie is a huge advocate of Every Chance Rescue, and has rehabilitated and offered a home to an Every Chance dog who was rescued from a zoo in Romania by the Born Free Foundation.

Every Chance Rescue are seeking both foster carers and new homes for their dogs, across the UK – anyone who can help will receive full support and backup.

Location: UK
Events: The Queen's Royal Hussars rescue 'mascot pets'
Hosted by: Blue Cross / Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies / Baghdad Cat Rescue

This year three animal charities from different parts of the world celebrated World Animal Day by rescuing four stray animals from an uncertain future in Iraq and bringing them back to the UK.

Three dogs called Sandbag, Dirtbag and Royal, and a cat called Hesco, became ‘mascot pets’ to soldiers of The Queen’s Royal Hussars regiment while they were serving in Iraq.  When British troops pulled out of the country earlier this year they were forced to leave the animals behind and feared for their safety when returned to the streets.

Two UK animal charities - The Blue Cross and the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies - joined forces back in August to launch a fundraising appeal to cover the costs of rescuing the animals and bringing them back to the UK where it is hoped they will find secure, loving homes.

The appeal has raised over £13,500 to date and received widespread support from all over the world, including a Facebook group with over 74,000 members!  With the help of Iraq-based animal charity Baghdad Cat Rescue, the animals were successfully rescued from the streets, cared for at a Baghdad safe house and flown back to the UK where they will now spend six months in quarantine.

Sandbag and friends arrived back in the UK on 1 October and are settling in well to their temporary home at Precious Pets quarantine kennels in Gloucestershire.  It is hoped that they will be reunited with some of the soldiers of The Queen’s Royal Hussars regiment in the next few weeks when they hope to visit during a period of leave.
 
Steve Goody, Blue Cross director of companion animal welfare, said: "We’re overjoyed that Sandbag and his friends have come back to the UK to a safe and secure future.  We’re so grateful to the thousands of people who have supported the appeal and helped us raise enough funds to give these animals the chance of the loving homes they deserve.”

Louise Hastie from Baghdad Cat Rescue added: “The rescue effort was a huge ordeal but I know from personal experience how important these animals are to the soldiers who were based out there with them.  The conditions here are extremely hazardous for pets, with the extreme heat, lack of food and the risk of being used as target practice.  I’m so glad they’re now back in the UK where I know they’ll be safe and happy.”

Location: ENGLAND - Bromley, Kent
Events: Information Stall
Hosted by: Passive Pressure Animal Welfare Group

Our WAD stall was held to promote alternatives to animal testing, to let people know that they exist, what they are and how to fund them.

We promoted Naturewatch by raising awareness of animal testing for cosmetics and household products and the issue of the Body Shop. This led to us giving information on the Compassionate Shopping Guide and how to obtain one, something many people were keen to do. Consequently information on Naturewatch's other important work was gratefully received.

By having petitions to sign, the public were keen to make voluntary donations, again helping Naturewatch and the other organisations we were representing.

The group were amazed by the positive response the stall received from the public. We feel people are becoming more aware that animal testing is not the way forward for medical research. It is by holding information stalls like this that we can reach people and raise awareness on these issues, sowing seeds that hopefully will grow and flourish in the future.

The atmosphere was so friendly and we've never known 4 hours to go so quickly! Jan Yarker ,
Passive Pressure Animal Welfare Group. 'Giving Animals a Voice'

Location: SCOTLAND - Edinburgh
Event: Re-enactment Walk for the Animals
Hosted by: One o'clock Gun & Time Ball Association

The walk was organised by the One o’ Clock Gun & Time Ball Association to mark World Animal Day. The  walkers and their pets gathered at Bum’s statue in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh at 1.30 pm. At 2.00 pm the walkers set off for Greyfriars Kirk escorted by three police motor cyclists and followed by a police van. 

The walkers were led by Brian McKenzie, Chairman of the One o’ Clock Gun & Time Ball Association, dressed as Colour Sergeant Scott who fed Greyfriars Bobby. The Association’s mascot 'Blue' kitted out in his full dress coat trotted beside Colour Sergeant Scott. The walkers had been asked to turn up in Victorian dress. One of the walkers dressed as a nineteenth century policeman had gone to the trouble of being totally authentic by bringing a cotton scooper for his pet. 

The walkers followed by one of the city’s tourist buses proceeded along King’s Stables Road, through the Grassmarket and up Candlemaker Row past Bobby’s drinking fountain to Greyfriars Kirk at a cracking pace. Among the various breeds of dog taking part in the walk were a Cocker Spaniel, Yorkshire Terriers and Border Collies. The weather was perfect. At the kirkyard Sarah Boyack, Edinburgh Central MSP, said a few words about the importance of World Animal Day and stressed the importance of animal protection. Sarah’s speech was followed by a tune from Pipe Major Anderson which inspired one of the dozens of tourists watching the event to dance a Highland fling. 

Thanks to the weather, the event proved to be a success. It was well covered by the press and we hope to build on the walk for next year. Representatives from Edinburgh College of Art took part  in the walk and it’s hoped that the art students will take part in planning next year's event.  Thanks are due to Morag Stevenson of Edinburgh City Council Committee Services and Lothians and Border Police for their help and advice in organising the event. A meeting has already taken place to plan next year’s WAD event. Anyone interested in taking part in next year's event should contact: www.1oclockgun.org  A service will be held for Bobby on 14th January at the little dog's memorial stone.   Photographs by Gavin Lovie. 

Location: ENGLAND - Animals in War Memorial, London
Event: Remembering the Forgotten Horse Heroes on World Animal Day
Hosted by: The Brooke

Sharon Schofield, Deputy Director of Fundraising & Communications led the tribute. Sharon read out a selection of messages of support which were sent in by supporters for the Remember the Horse Heroes campaign. The Horses Prayer was read out before the laying of the wreath.

During the First World War, horses, mules and donkeys served at the Front alongside human comrades. They stumbled through the terror of the battlefields, supplying food, water and ammunition – and they died in their thousands. Sadly, many of those that did survive were abandoned.

It is fitting that their silent sacrifice is remembered alongside the working horses and donkeys of today who still play a vital role in the daily battle for survival in poor communities across the developing world.

The dreadful plight of war horses inspired British woman, Mrs Dorothy Brooke who lived in Cairo in the 1930’s. Mrs Brooke was appalled by the condition of the British war horses that had been abandoned and sold into hard labour. She wrote to The Morning Post and roused the emotions of the British public who responded with incredible generosity. Within three days her letter raised over £1,000. Mrs Brooke bought 5,000 old and exhausted animals and went on to set up the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital, which still operates – now as The Brooke – 75 years on.

Petra Ingram, Chief Executive for the Brooke said, “We should all be so proud of our silent equine army who have served, suffered and died throughout our times of war. We are holding this special tribute to Remember the Horse Heroes past and present, as even today the formidable tasks endured by those courageous war horses is mirrored in the gruelling work that horses, donkeys and mules do all over the developing world in support of the poor people and their families.” Ailsa Herd, The Brooke.

Location: ENGLAND - Gerrans, Portscatho, Cornwall
Event: Pet Service for Animals
Hosted by: St Gerrans Church & Cornwalls Voice for Animals (CVFA)

Animal Blessing by Rev Jill Edwards in conjunction with Cornwalls Voice for Animals. A special slide show and dedication was given to Faith and her carer Jude Stringfellow. Faith, a chow mix, was born without front legs and has learned to walk upright, and who now travels the USA serving as an inspiration for overcoming adversity.

Thanks and prayers were said for all the rescue facilities who take on aninmals who are unwanted or have been traumatised due to cruelty, included were special prayers for Jollity Farm because of their upcoming relocation because of a housing development. Cara the rescued dog from Italy was also in attendance, Poppy who had her 3rd birthday the day before and her mother Beryl and as always, all pooches were very well behaved !

Jill writes: 'Once again we gathered on Animal Welfare Sunday with our pets at St Gerrans church. We enjoyed a quiz about animals that taught us many weird, wonderful and amazing things about them. It reminded us of what a great and wonderful creator God we serve. We saw some photos of a litttle dog called 'Faith' who learned to walk like a human being as he only had 2 back legs. As we remembered that Jesus said 'With God all things are possible' we were encouraged to put our trust in Him to help us thorugh the difficult times in our own lives. All our pets were introduced and they were blessed. We also prayed for sick and vulnerable animals throughout the whole world, remembering especially those who give sanctuary to animals who are rescued from their suffering.'Mary Pollard, CVFA.

IMAGE GALLERY
Selected additional images of events that took place in the
UK & Ireland in 2009