World Animal Welfare Day 2023: Theme, History, Objective

World Animal Welfare Day is annually celebrated on 4th October with the objective to raise awareness to improve the welfare standards of animals all over the world. World Animal Welfare Day 2023 theme is ‘Great or small, love them all.’ This theme was chosen to raise the status of animals for their better and improved welfare standards all around the world.

Naturewatch Foundation is responsible for organising and raising awareness about ideas related to this day. This day holds a significant amount of importance in our lives, whether you are an animal lover or not, as it offers you an opportunity to become responsible for the animals in any and every way possible. Let’s explore more about this important day to establish a strong bond between humans and animals.

Event	World Animal Welfare Day
Theme	Great or small, love them all
Organising Body	Naturewatch Foundation
Objective	To raise awareness about the improvement in the welfare standards of animals across the globe.
Established In	1925

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History

World Animal Day or World Animal Welfare Day was established on 24th March 1931 by Heinrich Zimmerman, a German cynologist, who first organised World Animal Day at the Sports Palace in Berlin. More than 5000 people attended this event. Later in 1929, the 4th of October was chosen as the day to celebrate. 

Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based animal welfare charity organisation, took centre stage to celebrate and organise events on this day all over the world. The efforts and initiatives taken by the Naturewatch Foundation have increased the popularity of World Animal Welfare Day. Here are some of the major activities and events organised by the Naturewatch Foundation on this day.

• Individual volunteering for an animal charity.
• Organising conferences or workshops related to animal welfare.
• Posting on social media to spread public awareness of this day.
• Donating money and other resources to an animal charity.

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Theme

The theme for this year’s World Animal Welfare Day is ‘Good or Small, Love them All.’ This theme states that the size and natural features of animals must not be considered when taking care of animals. Animals must be treated with great care, providing them proper healthcare and sustenance, and ensuring that they are safe from harm, including potential hazards, predators, and toxic substances. The table below highlights the themes of some of the past World Animal Days.

Theme	Year
2022	Shared plane
2021	Forest and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Plane.
2020	Man and Dog
2019	Life below water bodies: for people and the world.
2018	Celebrating human relationships with the bigger and better animal kingdom.

Objective

World Animal Awareness Day was established with the objective of raising awareness about the welfare standards of animals. On this day, various national and international organizations, animal rights activists and individuals participate in events, activities and educational programs related to animal well-being, endangered species, and knowledge about their treatment.

This day serves as a reminder that we as human beings have certain responsibilities for the well-being of animals, such as their protection, care and medication. Animals have equal rights as we do. This day encourages people to make an effort towards the improvement of animals and advocate their rights. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of organisations and individuals working for the welfare of animals across the world.

Here are some of the latest events that have been organised to raise awareness of improving animal welfare.

• Arts and crafts exercises for children in Moscow.
• Protests against unfairness and mismanagement of camels in Cairo.
• A World Animal Day mass in Bolivia
• Zoo enrichment activities in Alexandria, Egypt.

These were just some of the popular events organised to raise awareness to improve the lives of animals. 

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