World Animal Day is on 4 October, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
The date is 4 October.
How to use the World Animal Day Countdown#
- Open the page. The world animal day countdown starts as soon as the page loads and follows the clock on your device.
- Pick which one. Stay on the next World Animal Day, or look a year further ahead.
- Read the date. World Animal Day is on 4 October every year. The weekday is listed under the big number.
A hundred years of 4 October#
The day was first held in Berlin in 1925, organised by writer Heinrich Zimmermann. In 1931 a congress of animal protection groups in Florence made it an international event, and it has been marked ever since. The date is the feast of St Francis, who’s known for his love of animals. Today it’s observed by people of all faiths and none.
What people do#
Shelters hold open days, adoption drives and fundraisers. Schools run lessons on wildlife, farm animals and pets. If you want to take part, volunteering a few hours at a shelter or donating food and blankets is the most direct help. For a pet owner, it’s a nice reminder to book the vet check you have been putting off.
When is World Animal Day in the next few years?#
World Animal Day is on 4 October every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 4 October | Monday |
| 2028 | 4 October | Wednesday |
| 2029 | 4 October | Thursday |
| 2030 | 4 October | Friday |
| 2031 | 4 October | Saturday |
Pets, livestock and the wild#
The day covers every kind of animal, not only pets. Farm animals supply food and income for millions of families, and wildlife supports ecosystems that people rely on. For a pet owner, the day is a prompt to book a check-up and vaccinations. A dog needs its rabies vaccine kept up to date, and a pregnant dog, cat or goat needs a vet’s attention in advance. Our dog, cat and goat calculators help you plan for a birth.
Strays and shelters#
Many cities have large numbers of stray dogs and cats. The approach that works best, according to animal welfare groups, is a mix of vaccination, neutering and adoption, not culling. Shelters need money, food and blankets, but also volunteers to walk dogs and clean kennels. If you are thinking of adopting, ask about the animal’s history, and plan for the cost of food, vet care and a lifetime of 10 to 15 years or more.
Organising an event#
Work back from Mon 4 October 2027, a Monday in 2027:
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 5 weeks out | Contact the shelter or vet to plan a drive | Mon 30 August 2027 |
| 3 weeks out | Publicise and collect donations | Mon 13 September 2027 |
| 1 week out | Confirm volunteers and transport | Mon 27 September 2027 |
Quick facts#
- Rabies kills tens of thousands of people each year, almost all after a dog bite, and vaccinating dogs is the most effective way to stop it.
- A dog can live 10 to 15 years, a cat 12 to 18 or more, and a guinea pig 5 to 7. Each is a long commitment.
- Animals bred on farms outnumber people many times over, and the way they are kept and slaughtered is a welfare issue.
- Wildlife trade is one of the main threats to species such as pangolins and parrots, which are among the most trafficked animals.
If you keep guinea pigs, see our guinea pig pregnancy calculator before you pair a male and a female, since a litter is possible within weeks.
Frequently asked questions#
4 October.
It’s the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
No. It covers wild, farm and companion animals.
Support a local shelter with food, bedding or volunteer hours, adopt instead of buying if you are ready for a pet, and make sure your own animals are vaccinated and neutered where appropriate. If you see an animal being mistreated, report it to the local authority or an animal welfare group. Teaching children to be kind to animals is the long-term gain.
Look for one that is open about how it is funded, lets you visit, keeps animals clean and has them vaccinated and neutered before adoption. Ask what happens to animals it cannot rehome. A good shelter asks you questions too, about your home, your time and your experience. Be wary of anyone who is happy to hand over an animal with no questions and a fee.