It is of course nice to spoil your pet. But Animal Day is mainly intended to give animals that are less fortunate some extra attention. Your pet probably already has a pleasant life!
The history
Animal Day was started by Francis of Assisi. Francis was born around 1181. His father was a wealthy businessman who sold clothes. Francis did not like this much and preferred to become a knight. But when he saw a sick leper man, he had another idea: he wanted to help the poor and sick, so he became a monk.
Francis not only cared about people, but also loved nature and animals. It is even said that he spoke to animals! He told a wolf not to eat people and talked to birds. The birds all came and sat around him.
In 1929, animal rights activists thought it was high time for a day to reflect on animal welfare. Then they declared October 4, the anniversary of Francis of Assisi’s death, as Animal Day. In 1930 it was officially Animal Day for the first time on October 4.
Tips for pets
Cookies and sweets are very tasty for your animal, but attention is even more fun! Take your dog for a longer walk and play with a ball together. That is much healthier than eating a lot and snacking.
If your cat likes to cuddle, you can give him an extra brush. That’ll probably make him purr! Does your cat like to play more? Then make sure he can run after a toy or use a cat rod to make him jump. Very good for his condition!
Rodents and rabbits also deserve extra attention. Give them something to chew on and play with. Then they don’t have to be bored.
Wild animals
You can also make life more festive for nearby wildlife. Toads return in the fall to hibernate. They look for a dry place under the leaves. Therefore, make sure that the leaves remain in the garden. For example, sweep them to a certain corner in the garden. Hedgehogs also like to crawl under the leaves.
Source text: Animal Protection
Photo (editor): Karel van Hemert can sleep peacefully again and ‘celebrate’ Animal Day. Last Monday the vet removed an abscess under his right ear that probably occurred after a fight with…? He is currently getting through it with the help of antibiotics and painkillers. The patient appears to be improving.
Click on one of the images to enlarge.