Every year on 4 October it's World Animal Day, and social media fills up with photos of dogs and cats. But the best way to mark it isn't a photo or yet another toy that lasts two days: it's the small things that genuinely improve your pet's life and, if you want to go further, the lives of animals that still don't have a home. Here are seven practical ideas.
Why World Animal Day is on 4 October
The date is the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, regarded as the patron saint of animals. It's a reminder to think about animal welfare in general, but if you share your home with a dog or cat, it's above all a good excuse to catch up on everything you've been putting off for months.
7 ideas to celebrate World Animal Day
1. Book the check-up you keep putting off
Look at their vaccination record: are their jabs up to date (including rabies, if you travel abroad with them)? Check their worming and flea and tick treatment, their weight and their teeth. In a mild autumn, fleas and ticks are still active, so don't stop parasite treatment just because summer is over.
2. Check the microchip and your contact details
If you've moved house or changed your phone number since you registered the chip, the details on the microchip database may be out of date. A lost pet whose chip is linked to an old number has little chance of making it home. Ask your vet to scan the chip and check the details at your next appointment: it takes two minutes.
3. A walk off the usual route
Swap the usual lap round the block for somewhere new: a park, a footpath, a pine wood. For a dog, sniffing unfamiliar ground is more tiring and more satisfying than walking twice as far on the same old route. Outside the summer season, some beaches allow dogs, but the rules vary from one council to another, so check before you go.
4. Turn mealtimes into a game
Many dogs and cats wolf down their food in seconds and then spend the rest of the day with nothing to do. Serving their meals in a slow feeder, on a snuffle mat or hidden in small piles around the house makes them search and think, and reduces the risk of them swallowing air and being sick from eating too fast. We use this silicone slow feeder with a bowl and five zones, which works for both dogs and cats.
5. For cats: ten minutes of real hunting
Indoor cats need to hunt, even if it's only play. Two ten-minute sessions with a feather wand (let them catch the ‘prey’ at the end and give them a treat afterwards) are worth more than a basket full of toys that never move. Add a cardboard box and a spot by the window and their day is made.
6. A useful gift, not another toy
If you'd like to give them something, think about what they use every day: a bed with a washable cover, a brush suited to their coat type, a new lead when the old one is worn out. It lasts longer and solves real problems.
7. Help the animals still waiting for a home
Rescue centres and council animal shelters are short of almost everything all year round. Call ahead and ask what they need: usually food, blankets, newspapers and cleaning products. If you have time, you can volunteer as a dog walker at weekends and, if you have space, foster an animal while it waits to be adopted.
What to avoid
- Treats from the table. Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic, cooked bones and sweets containing xylitol are dangerous. Use treats made for pets and deduct them from their daily food allowance.
- Giving a pet as a surprise. Taking on an animal is a ten-to-fifteen-year commitment, and the decision should be made by the person who will look after it.
- Noisy parties with lots of visitors. Many animals find the commotion stressful. For them, celebrating means a calm routine and attention.
Ultimately, World Animal Day is a reminder: an up-to-date check-up, correct microchip details, a different walk and a meal that makes them think are worth more than any bow round their neck. Pick two or three of these ideas and turn them into habits, not just on 4 October.