We shall consider the numerous animal species that coexist with humans on Earth throughout the day. On October 4th, we will take a moment to think about all animals, whether they are domestic pets that we share our homes with or exotic creatures that live on the other side of the world.
The aim and mission of World Animal Day is simple:
“To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilizing it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. It’s celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognized as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare.” World Animal Day is observed worldwide on October 4 each year. The international campaign for animal rights, also known as Animal Lovers’ Day, aims to increase public understanding of animals’ value to the environment and raise the bar for their wellbeing. Additionally, the day aims to raise awareness of the suffering of animals, both domestic and wild, and to improve efforts for their preservation and conservation. This particular day was chosen to commemorate Francis of Assisi’s feast day since he was revered as the patron saint of animals. At the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany, on March 24, 1925, the holiday was first observed. Heinrich Zimmermann was the first to observe World Animal Day. He was both an animal rights activist and a cynologist, a person who specializes in training and caring for dogs. In solidarity, over 5,000 officials showed up to the celebrations.
At a summit of a global organization for animal preservation in Florence, Italy, in 1931, World Animal Day became a worldwide event. They all agreed to support the idea of designating October 4 as World Animal Day.
The Finnish Association of Animal Protection Associations also marked and celebrated the day in 2002. Even students from schools took part. The Naturewatch Foundation has been organizing and overseeing this annual festival since 2003. It is a well-known and well-established international animal protection nonprofit with roots in the UK. Animals can be blessed for themselves or for the connection between humans and other animals. This can be done for farm animals, working animals, companion creatures, and other animals that humans depend on or interact with. Before the killing of an animal, certain faiths practice blessing the animal or the killing procedure. Animal companions are ceremonially blessed all throughout the world, including in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Spain, and the United States.
Blessing animals is a religious practice that is practiced in some form by most religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, and Unitarian Universalism, among others. A good illustration of how much animals are respected on a secular level is World Animal Day, an annual global day of action for animal rights and welfare that is still observed on October 4 in honor of Francis of Assisi, a Christian saint who is considered to be the patron saint of animals.
Christianity: St. Francis Day blessing of the animals at an Episcopal church in Lincoln, Nebraska Christians all throughout the world today commemorate the Feast of Saint Francis on or around October 4 by blessing animals and praying for the environment. For the blessing of animals, Catholicism offers unique rites that emphasize creation and interconnectedness.United Methodists also have a special liturgy that emphasizes mutual interconnectedness and creation.A collaborative, ecumenical animal blessing ceremony may occasionally be held by different branches of Christianity, such as the Episcopal Church (United States) and the Catholic Church. From preserving ecological balance to promoting human wellbeing, animals are essential to the environment. In addition to recognizing its significance, World Animal Day makes sure that ongoing efforts are made to improve animal welfare programmes, open better animal shelters, and generate the money they require.
Judaism: Animal blessing ceremonies are currently common in synagogues, and some believe they may have their roots in early Judaism. The Jewish ritual is frequently carried out on the seventh day of Passover (in the spring) to commemorate the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago (together with the liberation of their animals). After the High Holy Days, many Jewish congregations plan blessings of the animals with ceremonies centered around the second weekly Torah portion of the Jewish year, the Parashat Noach, which tells the story of Noah and the ark and the rescue of both humans and other animals, who were also gifts from God. Other Jewish rituals are borrowed from Christian rites rather than from traditional Judaism, which raises some questions for more orthodox adherents.
Islamism: Animals have traditionally been regarded as a significant aspect of Allah’s creation in the beautiful religion of Islam. There are several instances of animal love, mercy, and compassion in the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic history. There are an estimated 8.7 million types of living things on the planet, according to experts with the Census of Marine Life, yet the Quran tells us that humans are the highest form of creation. This enhanced rank also carries a heightened level of accountability. This obligation extends to how we treat other created beings, like as animals, as well as our own bodies, acts, and interpersonal interactions. In Islam, animals do indeed have rights and a proper role. The Quran refers to animals as independent communities to be acknowledged and respected: “And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered” (Quran 6:38).
Islamic treatment of animals can be summarized by the following points: First, Islam requires that pets or farm animals be provided with proper food, water, and a place to live. Once the Prophet passed by an emaciated camel due to hunger, he said:”Fear God in regards to these animals who can not speak their will. If you ride them, treat them accordingly (by making them strong and fit for that), and if you [plan to] eat them, treat them accordingly (by making them fat and healthy).” (Abu Dawud). Second, an animal should not be beaten or tortured. Once the Prophet of Mercy passed by an animal branded on his face. He said, ‘Has it not reached you that I have cursed the one who brands an animal’s face or hits it on its face?’ The Prophet of Mercy advised his wife to treat an unruly camel that she was riding kindly. Making animals fight one another for entertainment was also forbidden by the Prophet. Third, Islam forbids using animals or birds for targets when practicing shooting. When Ibn Umar, one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad saw some people practicing archery using a hen as a target, he said: “The Prophet cursed anyone who made a living thing into a target (for practice).” Fourth, separating nestling birds from their mothers is not allowed in Islam. Fifth, it is forbidden to mutilate an animal by cutting off its ears, tails or other body parts without just reason. Sixth, a sick animal under one’s care should be treated properly. Through these rules and regulations legislated in regards to animals, the Muslims gains the respect and understanding that other creatures are not to be used and abused as one wills, but that they, like humans, have rights which must be given in order to ensure that the justice and mercy of Islam be met to all which inhabit this earth.
World Animal Day Significance: A lovely reminder of how animals enhance our livesis provided by World Animal Day. The goal of the day is to raise awareness of the harm that people and other human behaviours do to these defenceless creatures. As a result, this day is also known as “Animal Lovers Day” since it promotes compassion, love, and protection for animals by supporting those who fight for their rights.Since animals lack the ability to speak, they are unable to vocally communicate their emotions, yet this does not give people the right to treat them poorly or do whatever they choose with them. Since animals are a crucial component of our ecosystem and are also the property of the earth, we should at least consider them before totally exploiting their resources since without them, our ecosystem would be in serious trouble.Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that we build a world that is more animal-friendly. The day honors all animals and the special issues that may be affecting them.By raising people’s consciousness and educating them, it also hopes to foster a compassionate culture that supports social advancement, legal change, and the equitable treatment of all living things.This day honors all species of animals found in our wildlife, not only those that have been tamed. Because of activities like hunting and poaching, many wild animals’ populations have been dropping for a while. These activities must be stopped for a safer wildlife in order for nature to remain in balance, since the disruption of the food chain might have detrimental effects on our world.Man has been a very selfish creature from the very beginning, who has also exploited the earth completely by crossing all limits. Today man has destroyed many animals and natural elements present on the earth as well as many trees and plants, many species have become extinct and some are on the verge of extinction. If no concrete steps are taken regarding all these, then soon the life of man on earth will also end. In such a situation, to maintain balance on the earth, it is necessary to maintain balance with animals, plants and animals. On the occasion of World Animal Day, you can share the quotes with your friends, relatives and loved ones and make them aware about the importance of animals by posting them on social media.
• Life is as dear to a silent creature as it is to a human.
• The eyes of an animal have a great power to speak language
• If a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better than humans
• Animals are nothing but living beings, worthy of our compassion, respect, friendship and support
• The ability to distinguish between right and wrong is the only thing that separates us from animals and this thing is inside every human being.
• The bird world is an indicator of the environment, if they are in trouble then we should understand that our bad days are not far away.
• The main difference between a human and a dog is that if you feed a hungry dog and enrich it, it will not bite you.
All living things are designed to live and communicate in accordance with rules and moral principles; this most obviously applies to the diverse range of animals that coexist peacefully in a cycle of life. Animals and other living ecosystems did not have to endure overfishing, hunting, habitat loss, human agriculture, urbanization, or the use of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides prior to the rise of human civilization. A regrettable side consequence of our own spreading life is the demise of animal species. Numerous creatures manage to adapt and even flourish in spite of all of this. By allowing other species to adapt to our constantly changing lifestyles, God, in His grace and wisdom, continues to demonstrate our superior place above all other living things.As a result, it is our duty to respond with empathy and respect for all living things rather than with conceit and a sense of superiority. In the end, animal welfare is a genuine issue we must consider and address in our lifestyles, not just a matter for discussion. No creature made by Allah has ever been cursed in any form, including animals. The companions of the cave and their dog are mentioned in Surah Kaf (S18:18-22). Let us be merciful and compassionate to Allah’s creation as He bestows His mercy on us. We must accept our place in the cycle of life and work to improve it little compared to what we inherit. May Allah lead us everyone to happiness. Ameen!
(Rasy Fayaz is a Research Scholar at the Department of Zoology, Kashmir Universiity and Dr Bilal A Bhat is an Associate Professor at S K University Of Agriculture Sciences & Technology-SKUAST Srinagar. Views are their own)