World Animal Day is known as October 4th. Animal Protection Day, which was accepted in Florence in 1931 to raise awareness, is determined to be celebrated on October 4th every year.

Why is October 4th the World Animal Day important?

Since October 4th is the celebration day of St. Francis, who is considered the patron saint of ecology and animals; It has been declared as World Animal Day. The most important feature of St. Francis is that he is an animal lover, defends the rights of animals, and has deep compassion for animals. He also touches upon animal-related issues in his religious preachings..

October 4th; It is a day celebrated to protect the rights and welfare of animals, to review the relations of animals with humans, to protect them from all kinds of diseases, especially epidemics, and to create a lifestyle specific to their species. Another importance of today is ecology. Protecting species that are in danger of extinction in the world is also one of today’s important points.

Today, we must once again remind ourselves of the existence of animals, once again examine how they suffer, and ultimately be aware that they are a species that shares this world with us.

What Can We Do to Protect Animals?

First of all, we need to respect the lives of animals. We must be aware that they are suffering too. Unfortunately, we also need to protect animals from people with a certain mentality. Because these people tend to harm animals. They see animals as property and think they can do anything to them. This mentality needs to change immediately.

What are Animal Rights?

Animals also got to have rights with the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights, which consisted of 14 articles and was declared at the Paris UNESCO House on October 15th, 1978. The first association on animal rights in our country was established in Ankara in 1955. Turkey signed this agreement on November 18th 1999 and ratified it on November 28th 2003. The country with the highest level of animal rights awareness is the United States of America (USA).

Articles of the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights

1. All animals are born equal before life and all have the same right to exist.

2. All animals have the right to be respected. Humans, being one of the animal species, cannot destroy other animals. Humans cannot exploit them by violating this right. We are responsible for putting our knowledge to the service of animals. All animals have the right to be humanely cared for, treated for and protected.

3. No animal can be treated badly or cruel and brutal acts can be done. If it is necessary to kill an animal, it should be done suddenly, without causing pain or frightening.

4. All animals of wild species; They have the right to live and produce in their own special natural environment on land, in air and in water. Any form of deprivation of liberty, even for educational purposes, is contrary to this right.

5. All animals of a certain species that traditionally live in the environment of humans have the right to live and reproduce harmoniously, in the living conditions and freedom of their species.

6. All animals taken by humans have the right to live as long as their natural lifespan. Abandoning an animal is a cruel and despicable act.

7. All working animals have the right to limitation of work time and intensity and the right to nutritional nutrition and rest that enhances their strength.

8. Conducting experiments that cause physical or psychological pain to animals is against animal rights. This is the case for all kinds of experiments, medical, scientific, commercial and otherwise.

9. Even if the animal is raised for food, it must be cared for, sheltered, transported, and its death must be painless and frightening.

10. Animals cannot be used for the entertainment of people; shows that use animals are against animal dignity.

11. Killing an animal without necessity is a crime against life.

12. Any action that means killing a large number of wild animals is genocide, that is, a crime.

13. Animal death should also be respected. Violent scenes in which animals are killed should be banned in cinema and television.

14. Animal protection and defense rules should be represented at the government level. Animal rights, like human rights, should be protected by law.

This blog post has been verified by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Altan ARMUTAK.