World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. October 4 was chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Since then, World Animal Day has become a day for remembering and paying tribute to all animals and the people who love and respect them. It's celebrated in different ways in every country, with no regard to nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.
Hubble & Hattie author, Ryan O'Meara is a World Animal Day ambassador.
Find out more about World Animal Day by visiting the World Animal Day website:
http://www.worldanimalday.co.uk
