In order to give you a feel of how great World Animal Day was this year, we've decided to publish this page even though it's still under construction.

Don't forget to view the Image Gallery for the USA & Canada 2009, please click on the link at bottom of this page. There's lots more to follow so please come back soon!

Location: USA - Roseburg and Sutherlin, Oregon
Event: Awareness Event
Hosted by: Coalition of Animal Rescue Groups

Here in our little area of Roseburg and Sutherlin, Oregon, USA we are very proud of what we were able to accomplish in celebration of World Animal Day 2009.

In spite of pouring rain, we managed to draw in enough people to our event to not only cover the bills, but also to donate money to four different animal rescue organizations. We invited groups from several different animal rescue organizations to have booths and they offered information about what they do and how people can help. We took the opportunity to advertise the low-cost spay and neuter clinic we are trying to get started. In addition to information booths we had entertainment for all, with a special section set aside for the children. We had blessings of the animals three times throughout the day as well. We were delighted that our event was covered by the local newspaper and television station.

We are all pretty pleased with the results and are hoping that next year the weather is kinder to us which should encourage a much large turnout. Next year we intend to hold the event indoors since October in Oregon is usually rainy. All who participated were very pleased with the results as they at the very least were able to offer information and network which always helps to promote animal rescue efforts. We were very grateful to World Animal Day's helpful website which gave us a lot of ideas and information. Keep up the good work. The day will come when we don't have to rescue animals anymore, they will all be safe and happy. I believe this to be true and if you do as well then we will make changes. Carla Adams, Coalition of Animal Rescue Groups.

Location: USA - Miami, Florida
Event: 7-day Wild Cat Spayathon Roundup
Hosted by: The Cat Network

This year we celebrated our second year of a week long Wild Cat Spayathon Roundup and fixed over 331 cats on both our Miami Meow Mobile Beat The Heat Tour and with our participating Veterinarians. 

We held our event in honor of World Animal Day and National Feral Cat Day.

Our members took various areas of the county and concentrated on hoarder houses and feral cat colonies that were overrun with breeding cats.  Here in Florida, we have had abnormally hot weather right through the Holiday Season and our Kitten Season has not slowed down.

Thank you for promoting this worldwide event.  It helps bring the importance of teaching our children the gifts of animals.

I don’t have pictures from the events because they took place all over the county but I do have pictures of our van. Jill Steinberg, Secretary, Board of Directors, The Cat Network.

Location: USA - Des Moines, Iowa
Event: An Evening For Gorillas
Hosted by: Blank Park Zoo

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums declared 2009 as the “Year of the Gorilla” to raise much needed awareness about the plight of these amazing creatures.  On October 4th, 2009, the Blank Park Zoo welcomed Doug Cress, the Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) to speak of his work in Africa.  Doug spoke about PASA’s dedication to raising the standards of the primate sanctuaries that literally span the continent of Africa.  This organization works to provide these overcrowded sanctuaries the resources to take care of the staggering number of orphaned chimpanzees, gorillas and other endangered primates.

Guests of this event were absolutely captivated by what they heard.  Many where inspired to take part in our live and silent auctions after the presentation to make further donations to this cause.  Several of our guests contacted the zoo in the days that followed to express their thanks to us for bringing their attention to the plight of gorillas in Africa. All proceeds were donated to PASA.

Image: Shows several sanctuary keepers at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia wearing Blank Park Zoo uniforms we had donated them a few years earlier. In addition to our "old" uniforms, we also sent steel-toed boots, medical supplies and tools.  Doug said in his talk that the uniforms gave the African keepers a sense of self respect and professionalism.  To me, the picture tells the story of a small zoo making a big impact by a very simple gesture.  In these African sanctuaries, they are facing huge challenges with very few resources and we feel fortunate to have helped in some way. Jessie Weeks, Animal Keeper, Conservation Coordinator.

Location: USA - Wheeling, West Virginia
Event: Dessert & Ice Cream Social and Auction
Hosted by: Supporters of Webark Estates No-Kill Animal Shelter

The Webark Estates No-Kill Animal Shelter Dessert & Ice Cream Social in Wheeling, WV,  was a great success, bringing in over $4,000 for Webark's animals and programs. Thanks to all who helped and/or attended this fun event! A special thanks to Kirkes Ice Cream, Bow Tie Catering, D.J. “Mr Twister”,  and Auctioneer Brad Howard, and organizers Stacy Cunningham & Kim Maroney, pictured. Pam Lacefield, Webark Estates, Inc.

Location: USA - Machesney Park, Illinois
Event: Pet Blessing Service and Fundraising Dog Show
Hosted by: GPS Faith Community & Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary

In recognition of World Animal Day and the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, a  Pet Blessing was celebrated on Saturday 3rd October at Schoonmaker Park in Machesney Park, IL.  In addition to the service, there were contests for animals such as biggest, smallest, and best animal trick.  All creatures great and small were welcome. 

The Blessing was a partnership between GPS Faith Community Church and Winnebago County Animal Services Volunteers. Participants were encouraged to bring a non-perishable pet food item to benefit Kibble Korner, (a food pantry for dogs and cats whose families are struggling to keep their animals fed.) A large food donation was given along with a cash donation.

Kibble Korner, is a partnership between the Rock River Valley Food Pantry and Winnebago County Animal Services. The volunteers of the animal shelter also had a month long pet food drive for "Kibble Korner" as well. Report submitted by Norine Mackey.

Location: CANADA - Saint John, New Brunswick
Event: Let's Celebrate - It's World Animal Day!
Hosted by: Cherry Brook Zoo Volunteers

Location: CANADA - Montreal & Quebec City
Event: Peaceful Marches for the Animals
Hosted by: L'association Aequo Animo and L'Escouade Arsenik in Quebec City

IN QUEBEC CITY: L'Escouade Arsenik and Aequo Animo celebrated World Animal Day for the first time by organising this event which was attended by more than 200 people. About 500 leaflets were distributed pertaining to pets, laboratory animals, fur and farm animals as well as 7 simple solutions to improve living conditions of animals including adopting a vegetarian diet. We also collected hundreds of signatures for two petitions which will eventually be addressed to the House of Commons. We answered the questions and comments of numerous passerbys. A guitarist sang the song 'Free Me' by Goldfinger. White balloons for the march as a sign of peace for the animals. Our walk for the animals was to demonstrate to the Quebec government how strongly we feel that laws against cruelty to animals need to be amended. It was a great success despite the bad weather!
IN MONTREAL: Aequo Animo also participated in World Animal Day by distributing hundreds of leaflets, collecting signatures for our petitions and informing passerbys about World Animal Day, farm animals, pets, laboratory animals, fur animals trapped or hunted and animals used in circuses and rodeos. Aequo Animo.

Journée Mondiale des Animaux à Québec et à Montréal  (4 octobre 2009)

À QUÉBEC: Dans le cadre de la Journée Mondiale des Animaux, Aequo Animo et L'Escouade Arsenik distribué près de 500 tracts d’information qui portaient sur les animaux de compagnie, les animaux de laboratoire, les animaux à fourrure, les animaux de ferme, et qui donnaient 7 solutions simples pour participer à l’amélioration des conditions de vie des animaux, incluant l’adoption d’une alimentation végétarienne. Aequo Animo a aussi collecté des centaines de signatures pour deux pétitions qui seront éventuellement adressées à la Chambre des Communes, de même que répondu aux questions et commentaires de nombreux passants.
À MONTRÉAL: Aequo Animo a également souligné la Journée Mondiale des Animaux à Montréal, en distribuant un nombre record de tracts d'information, en faisant aussi signer des pétitions et en renseignant les passants sur la Journée Mondiale des Animaux ainsi que sur la condition des animaux de ferme, de compagnie, de laboratoire, des animaux élevés pour la fourrure, trappés ou chassés et des animaux de cirque et de rodéo. Aequo Animo

Location: USA - Herriman, Utah
Event: Preparing Animal Sanctuary for Winter
Hosted by: Ching Farm Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

On Saturday 3rd and Sundat 4th October, Ching Farm Animal Rescue & Sanctuary marked World Animal Day by calling upon volunteers to help prepare the animals homes for the cold winter months ahead.

It rained on us several times but we persevered through it! New winter shelters were built, new sidings to older buildings were done, fencing projects were completed, weatherproofing wooden structures, a new gate was installed to an enclosure, and other winterizing tasks were completed. Food and drink was provided throughout the day for our band of willing helpers and we are delighted with the amount of work that was done. This was our first year participating in World Animal Day. Steward Thorpe. E-mail: volunteer@chingsanctuary.org Website: ww.chingsanctuary.org

IMAGE GALLERY
Selected additional images of events that took place in the
USA and Canada in 2009