October 4th is World Animal Day, a day of action aimed at improving animal welfare and animal rights. It's celebrated in many different ways all around the world, and if you love animals, it's an opportunity for you to celebrate too! Here are a few ideas on how to get involved, help the animals in your community and spread the word about World Animal Day.
How to get involved in World Animal Day
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Check the World Animal Day website at www.worldanimalday.org.uk for ways to raise awareness of animal rights and welfare issues. There may be events being organised near you that you could support, as well as online events. You could even arrange your own event and register it on the website so others can support it! It doesn't have to be huge – perhaps just a simple coffee morning with friends to raise funds for a local animal shelter or charity.
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Donate to an animal charity such as the World Wildlife Fund, the RSPCA, or your local animal shelter. Many animal shelters will be grateful for donations of pet food as well as money, so check with them to see what would be most beneficial.
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Volunteer at a local animal shelter or sanctuary.
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Sponsor an endangered animal through one of the wildlife charities. As well as helping to ensure their survival for future generations, you'll also get regular updates on their progress, and you might even get to meet the animal you're sponsoring!
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Give your pet a treat to mark World Animal Day. Take them on their favourite walk, make them a special meal or buy a new pet toy.
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Learn more about the wildlife in your own garden. Spend an hour in your garden watching birds, or find a magnifying glass and see how many different insects you can identify.
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If you don't see as many birds and bugs in your garden as you'd like, maybe it's time to make your garden more wildlife-friendly. Plant pollinator-friendly plants like buddleja and lavender, plus a few berry-bearing plants like hawthorn and ivy for birds. Put in a pond, put up a bird feeder and make a bug hotel.
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Take a bin bag and some sturdy gloves while walking, and do a litter pick. Discarded litter such as plastic bags and broken glass is dangerous to wild and domestic animals.
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Follow World Animal Day on social media, and like, share and retweet their posts. Post your pictures with your pets using the hashtag #WorldAnimalDay, or take a selfie with the World Animal Day sign (you'll find it on their website) and post it on social media to spread the word.
Finally, if you're looking for ways to help your garden wildlife or a fun new toy for your pet, visit our centre, where you're sure to find what you need!