International holidays - World Stray Animals Day

There are special days throughout the year that encourage people to show compassion and take part in the lives of homeless animals Pets end up on the street for various reasons, but they all suffer equally from malnutrition, cold, disease and aggression from the outside world Every year on April 4, at the initiative of the Organization of Homeless and Stray Animals from the Netherlands, events and promotions are held that draw attention to the tragic fate of man's four-legged friends There are about 600 million cats, dogs and other domesticated animals living outdoors in the world World Stray Animals Day is intended to help them The problem of protecting our little brothers began to attract attention only in the last 200 years of modern history Both domestic and lost, those who have run away from their owners or thrown onto the street, mustachioed street children live from hand to mouth and often suffer from the cruelty of people The first law protecting animals from aggression and violence was passed in 1822 in Great Britain Its initiators were Member of Parliament Richard Martin and his ally Lord Chancellor Thomas Erskine Later, similar laws began to be adopted in other countries of the world In Australia, for example, it is prohibited to cut off dogs' ears and tails, use them to perform acts in the circus, or display kittens and puppies for sale in pet store windows In addition to improving the situation of stray animals and protecting them from aggression, World Stray Animals Day encourages people to pay attention to their uncontrolled reproduction On April 4, sterilization and castration of homeless four-legged animals is carried out Animals are delivered to veterinary clinics by volunteers, who also raise funds to maintain shelters and find new owners for pets Japan is known for its reverent attitude towards cats, which are a symbol of happiness and prosperity However, it was in the Land of the Rising Sun, thanks to the ruler Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, that a shelter for dogs was opened in 1695, in which there were about 50 thousand animals His decree “On the prohibition of depriving living beings of life” also remained in history The initiative of the “dog shogun” did not find understanding among his subjects However, during the life of the emperor, cruel treatment of four-legged friends was followed by severe punishment, including the death penalty In the USA, in the state of Pennsylvania, the first shelter for stray animals was opened in 1869 In Europe, a little later - in 1885 In addition to municipal ones, private shelters appeared in Ireland, England and other countries They existed due to charity - voluntary donations from citizens The first shelter for stray dogs in the Russian Empire was organized by Emperor Paul I at the end of the 18th century on the territory of the Mikhailovsky Castle The Russian Federation joined the international practice of protecting the rights of homeless animals in 1990 This year, the first shelter was opened in the Moscow region, and by 2021 there were more than 150 similar establishments in the country World Stray Animals Day calls on people to pay attention to their tragic fate and alleviate the situation of pets who, by the will of fate, find themselves on the street On April 4, educational, charitable and other events are held aimed at helping homeless four-legged animals World Stray Animals Day reminds us that humane treatment of living beings is a hallmark of Homo sapiens and is an important component of morality and ethics