WORLD Animal Day, which falls on Oct 4 every year, was started in Florence, Italy, in 1931 at a convention of ecologists.
On this day, special events are planned on locations all over the globe. Oct 4 was originally chosen for World Animal Day because it is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment.
Numerous churches throughout the world observe the Sunday closest to Oct 4 with a blessing for the animals.
However, World Animal Day has now gone beyond being the celebration of a Christian saint and is today observed by animal-lovers of all beliefs, nationalities and backgrounds.
Animal rescue shelters hold fund-raising events and open days, wildlife groups organise information displays, schools undertake animal-related project work and individuals and groups of friends or co-workers donate to animal charities or pledge to sponsor an shelter.
Adapted from Malay Mail Online Newspaper, 25 09 2009
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