World Animal Day is marked every year on 4 October. The date is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The day exists to raise the status of animals and improve welfare standards around the world.
How it began
The idea came from Heinrich Zimmermann, a writer and publisher of the German magazine Mensch und Hund (Man and Dog). He organised the first World Animal Day on at the Sport Palace in Berlin, and more than 5,000 people attended.
Why 4 October
The first event was meant to be held on 4 October, but the venue was not free that day. The day was held on 4 October for the first time in 1929. In , an international animal protection congress in Florence, Italy, adopted Zimmermann’s proposal to make 4 October World Animal Day everywhere.
Who coordinates it today
Since 2003, the UK animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation has coordinated the day. That year it launched the World Animal Day website, and in 2007 it started an Ambassador Programme. The day now has over 90 ambassadors in more than 70 countries. In 2025 it marked its 100th anniversary.
Recent themes
Each year has its own theme. Naturewatch Foundation announced the 2026 theme in .
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Shared Planet |
| 2023 | Great or small, love them all |
| 2024 | The world is their home too |
| 2025 | Save Animals, Save the Planet |
| 2026 | See the World Through Their Eyes |
World Animal Day in India
The Animal Welfare Board of India issued a circular on on the observance of World Animal Day on . Read the circular in the Library.
You can mark the day where you live: find an animal welfare group near you, learn how to report animal cruelty, or read our guide to adopting a dog or cat.
Questions and answers
When is World Animal Day?
Every year on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Who started World Animal Day?
Heinrich Zimmermann, a writer and publisher of the German magazine Mensch und Hund (Man and Dog). He organised the first World Animal Day on at the Sport Palace in Berlin.
Why was the first World Animal Day not on 4 October?
The venue was not free on 4 October. The day was held on 4 October for the first time in 1929.
Who coordinates World Animal Day now?
Since 2003, the UK animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation has coordinated the day.
What is the World Animal Day 2026 theme?
See the World Through Their Eyes.
Sources
- World Animal Day: About us (read )
- World Animal Day: 100 years of World Animal Day (read ; 2025 theme)
- Naturewatch Foundation: Announcing the World Animal Day 2026 theme () (read )
- Wikipedia: World Animal Day (read ; Sport Palace, the 1929 and 1931 dates, themes 2022 to 2024)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: Observance of World Animal Day on (circular) (our Library)
