World Animal Day, celebrated annually on October 4, is a global day of action for animal rights and welfare. It was first established in 1925 by Heinrich Zimmerman, a German writer and publisher of the magazine Mensch und Hund (Man and Hound). After years of activism, Zimmermann successfully convinced animal protection agencies worldwide to officially recognize October 4 as World Animal Day in 1931. This date was chosen to honor the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, including animals.
While there are other days focused on specific animal issues, such as World Day for Laboratory Animals (April 24) and World Wildlife Day (March 3), World Animal Day “embraces all animals and their unique concerns across the globe.” This day unites the animal welfare movement, creating a powerful international voice for change. Participation grows each year—in 2003, there were 44 events in 13 countries, but today, an estimated 1,000 events take place in nearly 100 countries!
Take time today to do something special for the creatures we love but who don’t have their own voice. Visit the World Animal Day website for ways to get involved.
For cycling instructors, we’ve created an Animal bucket playlist with 360 songs covering just about every animal imaginable! ICA members can find that playlist below. Want to focus on a specific animal? Check out our International Pet Month post, where we feature dedicated bucket playlists for cats (149 songs), dogs (124 songs), birds (57 songs), and horses (126 songs).
You can create a fun and varied ride by picking songs that highlight different animals, or narrow the theme to something like a barnyard, zoo, or safari. Feel free to share how you’re using these ideas in the comments below—we’d love to hear about your ride plans!