Monday, 4th October, is World Animal Day!  World Animal Day isn't a recent addition to the calendar, it was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species.  Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and is widely celebrated in countries throughout the world.  October 4 was chosen as it's the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.  It is intended as a day of celebration for everyone in the world who cares about animals and is not restricted to any one nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology.