National Animal Rights Day

Group of diverse people peacefully marching with signs in support of animal rights, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful wildlife.. — National animal rights day illustration

Ah, the calls of nature. Not the annoying urge for the bathroom, folks, don't worry. We're venturing into the wild for National Animal Rights Day, a day when we celebrate our furred, finned and feathered friends, and intensify our call for their rights and protection. This special homage to the animal kingdom bursts onto the Internet landscape with gusto, and judging by our online analytics, it's clear you're passionate about this too!

When is Animal Rights Day?

It's national animal rights day on the 5th June.

The Rumblings in the Jungle of the Internet

Our trusty data-scraping squirrels here at WhatNationalDayIsIt.com have painstakingly gathered a substantial pile of 2550 mentions of National Animal Rights Day online. A day which, I might add, reached its most attention-grabbing peak on June 5, 2017. Was there a particularly cute kitten video released that day? We can't say for sure.

A Brief History: The Bunny Hop Start

National Animal Rights Day starts as a recognition of our furry friends' place in our world and the need to protect their rights. As Internet denizens rallied together in support, the movement took a life of its own (as movements often do when left unsupervised on the World Wide Web) and exploded in popularity and visibility.

The Internet Roars Back

The likes, shares, and hashtags multiplied faster than a pair of rabbits in the springtime. Some folks posted pictures of their pets demanding justice and fair treats allocation, others organized offline world tree-planting events. Imagine, one day, our descendants may be sitting under the shade of a tree planted because we all decided to care a little more about animal rights.

Keepers of the Movement

As we continue to celebrate this day, remind yourself that you play a role in this movement too. Every tweet, every share, every post keeps the issue alive. And who knows, your next Internet browsing session could just turn into an animal rights advocacy moment!

History behind the term 'Animal Rights'

1822

The Enlightenment Influence

The concept of animal rights can be traced back to the 18th-century Enlightenment era. During this time, philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and Immanuel Kant began to challenge the prevailing notion that animals existed solely for human use. These influential thinkers argued that animals too should be entitled to certain ethical considerations and should not be treated merely as property.

1866

The Cruelty to Animals Act

One of the earliest milestones in the animal rights movement was the passing of the Cruelty to Animals Act in the United Kingdom in 1822. This legislation marked the first legal recognition of the need to protect animals from unnecessary suffering. It established that causing animals unnecessary pain or harm was an offense punishable by law.

1865

The Formulation of Animal Rights Terminology

The actual term 'animal rights' was coined in 1865 by British animal welfare advocate Henry Salt. Salt's book, titled 'Animals' Rights: Considered in Relation to Social Progress,' popularized the term and further emphasized the ethical obligation humans have towards animals. This publication played a crucial role in raising awareness about the subject and laying the groundwork for the modern animal rights movement.

1975

The Formation of Animal Rights Organizations

Organized efforts to promote animal rights began to gain momentum in the 20th century. In 1975, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) was founded in the United States. This organization played a significant role in advocating for legal protections for animals and continues to fight for their rights to this day. The establishment of the ALDF marked a turning point in the formalization and institutionalization of the animal rights movement.

1999

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare

In 1999, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (now World Animal Protection) introduced the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). This declaration aimed to recognize animals as sentient beings and called upon governments around the world to acknowledge and protect their welfare. While not legally binding, the UDAW reflects the growing global recognition of the importance of animal rights and serves as a guiding document for animal welfare advocates.

Did you know?

Did you know that our most vocal advocates on National Animal Rights Day aren't actually human? The day continues to resonate with our doggo friends who insist on barking out their support throughout the festivities, while our feline friends express their solidarity with a meaningful purr.