International animal week

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 406, 1 October 1991, Page 6

International animal week

A celebration for our animals - that's the idea behind International Animal Week, to be marked throughout New Zealand from September 29 to October 6. It's a week to honour the role our animal friends play in the world around us and gives animal lovers an opportunity to celebrate the pleasure and companionship that animals offer in our lives. International Animal Week began in 1929 and

has been held regularly in New Zealand since then with special focus on the annual feast day of St Francis of Assisi, celebrated around the world on October 4 which is now World Animal Day. St Francis is the Patron Saint of Animals and he believed that the whole world of nature was God's family, addressing everything in nature as his brother or sister. Poverty was the spiritual ideal of St Francis and he has become one of the most

appealing saints of all time, leaving us a legacy not only of the Feast of St Francis but also the Order of St Francis which is well established in New Zealand. International Animal Week provides many opportunities to honour different animals - both wild creatures and domestic pets - and to reflect on the roles we all play in their welfare. It is estimated that one in every two households in New Zealand owns a cat, and more than one in

every four has a dog so all pet owners are responsiblefor ensuring they have adequate food and care. This year the World Wide Fund for Nature is playing a major role in the celebration of International Animal Week, and is running a label redemption scheme in conjunction with the makers of PAL and WHISKAS cat and dog foods. For each label returned which carries their Panda logo, PAL and WHISKAS will give the WWF 10 cents.