International Homeless Animals Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Animal Homelessness

International Homeless Animals Day is observed annually on the third Saturday of August, which is August 19 this year, with events and increasing participation each year. The International Society for Animal Rights established the day to raise awareness about pet proliferation and has since performed significant work, including saving millions of animals’ lives.

The background of International Homeless Animals Day

Animal rights and animal shelters have lengthy histories intertwined with one another. In the 1870s, animal protectionists began to view the lives of children and animals as similarly vulnerable and in need of protection, leading to the establishment of SPCAs and anti-cruelty laws. Even though animals are considered property, cruelty is still a crime.

The 20th century saw an increase in protections for housepets such as canines and cats, while slaughtered and working animals continued to receive minimal or no protections. During the social justice movements of the 1960s and 1970s, animal welfare organisations such as the ASPCA focused extensively on adoption, fostering, and the prevention of animal suffering.

As people continue to fight for better legal and physical protections for our furry companions, these same goals and guiding values remain prominent in animal shelters and animal rights organisations today. The passage of the Georgia Animal Protection Act in 1986 mandated a minimum standard of care for animals confined in kennels, animal shelters, pet stores, and stables. It was the first piece of legislation to do so. This was a major victory for animal rights organisations. The Humane Euthanasia Act of 1990 and the Animal liberties Act of 2000 were two other provisions and acts, respectively, that expanded animal liberties.

There are approximately 5,000 independently-operated animal shelters in the United States, despite the absence of a government agency responsible for animal shelter regulation on a national level. In the 1990s, the majority of these shelters shifted their focus from being transient animal holding facilities to actively assisting in the control of the homeless pet population and promoting pet adoption. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programmes, in which cats are captured, sterilised, and returned to their original location, are a common response of shelters to cat proliferation. This significantly reduces both overpopulation and shelter burden.

International Homeless Animals Day (IHAD) was conceived by the International Society for Animal Rights in 1992, and its prominence has increased year by year. On IHAD, ISAR hosts events such as dog walks, adopt-a-thons, and animal blessings, and numerous volunteers participate. Today and every day, we can all advocate for displaced animals and reduce their suffering.

Youth Homelessness Matters Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Homelessness

5 CONVINCING FACTS REGARDING ANIMAL HOMELESSNESS

Approximately 3.2 million cats and 3.3 million canines are brought to U.S. shelters annually, for a total of approximately 6.5 million companion animals.

Approximately 10% of animals admitted to shelters are sterilised or neutered. Numerous animals are slain annually due to the accidental reproduction of pets.

Approximately 25% of all canines entering local shelters are purebreds.

It is estimated that only 10% of all puppies will find permanent homes. We can alter this through education, sterilisation, and adoption.

There are 70 million stray animals surviving on the streets in the United States.

INTERNATIONAL HOMELESS ANIMALS DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2021	August 21	Saturday
2022	August 20	Saturday
2023	August 19	Saturday
2024	August 17	Saturday
2025	August 16	Saturday