International Homeless Animals Day

Every day, animals are lost, abandoned or placed into kennels that are completely dependent on charities and good will. These organizations are strained beyond their ability to cope and are desperate to raise awareness of the plight of homeless and abandoned animals.

International Homeless Animals Day aims to educate people about pet abandonment, feral animals and the important benefits of neutering domestic animals.

History of International Homeless Animals Day

Started in 1992 by the International Society for Animal Rights, this day was founded in response to an ever-growing demand for rescue centers and animal shelters to house animals who are left to fend for themselves on the street.

Domesticated dogs and cats are dependent upon their human families to provide for their needs and when they become homeless, things begin to look very bleak. International Homeless Animals Day is here to increase awareness and education about the needs of homeless animals while also raising funds for local animal shelters to help meet their needs.

The shelters do their best to take care of homeless animals, but it’s not always possible when they don’t have adequate space, staffing or funding. Sadly, when the shelters are full, many dogs and cats have to be euthanized when they are unable to be cared for and adopted into loving families. More than 2.5 million dogs and cats must be killed each year due to overcrowding in shelters.

International Homeless Animals Day offers the perfect opportunity for folks to band together to help these otherwise helpless creatures.

How to Celebrate International Homeless Animals Day

Get on board with helping these homeless animals in variety of ways by observing the day with some of these activities and ideas:

Adopt a Pet from a Shelter

In honor of International Homeless Animals Day, instead of getting a furry member of the family from a breeder, choose to adopt one from a shelter. This saves on the new number of animals being born, cutting down on the risk of them eventually becoming homeless as well. Want a certain breed? Up to 25% of dogs entering shelters are purebred and shelters are often happy to help families find a dog that is a good match. But remember, pets are for life, so make sure you’re ready before adopting a pet!

Make a Financial Donation

Some people who already have enough pets or can’t take care of one for some reason might still want to celebrate International Homeless Animals Day. Helping out a local animal shelter with a donation helps to pay for food, medical care, spaying and neutering, and various other needs while the animals wait to be adopted into new families.