World Animal Day
04 October 2009

October 4th is World Animal Day, a date chosen because of the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It is intended as a day of celebration for anyone in the world who cares about animals, regardless of nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is proud to support the research and study of animals, animal care and protection. For examples of grants concerning animal welfare, please review the following:

Greek Animal Welfare Fund
Association Les Chats de Stella
National Geographic Society
Center for the Protection of Stray Animals (CPSA)
Animal Respect Aegina
Alkyoni Wildlife Hospital
Hellenic Wildlife Hospital EKPAZ
University of Patra -Animal Shelter
Friends of Homeless Animals
Wildlife Conservation Society
University of Crete-Natural History Museum 
Medasset

Arcturos
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature
SAPT Hellas

The tradition began in Florence in 1931 at a convention of ecologists who wished to highlight the plight of endangered species. Since then, the recognition day has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world.