ABOUT
International Homeless Animals’ Day® is observed annually on the third Saturday in August.
Beginning in 1992, ISAR created and implemented INTERNATIONAL HOMELESS ANIMALS’ DAY, the first and still the only worldwide event that addresses the urgent need for affordable companion animal spay/neuter and adoption programs.
Annually on the third Saturday in August, ISAR globally coordinates International Homeless Animals’ Day activities and unites many countries of the world to take action and address the urgent need for spay/neuter, adoption and legislation to facilitate positive long-lasting changes for homeless companion animals.
On International Homeless Animals’ Day, ISAR along with animal protection organizations, veterinary professionals, corporate executives, law enforcement, emergency responders, elected officials, local celebrities, museums, libraries, communications and media outlets, retail establishments, community organizations, e-commerce companies, art galleries, educational institutions, community activists, volunteer groups, sports teams, youth clubs, schoolchildren and others join together to publicize the spay/neuter and adoption message. This worldwide educational effort is aimed at halting the euthanasia and suffering of unwanted companion animals and cats and dogs that have been abandoned on the streets.
A wide range of activities take place on IHAD including low-cost spay/neuter and microchip and vaccination clinics, free veterinary care programs, adoption events, shelter open houses, candlelight vigils, pet parades, dog walks, pet food donation drives, photo exhibitions of shelter animals, blessing of the animals ceremonies, award ceremonies, speeches by public officials, celebrities and local veterinarians, concerts to benefit homeless animals, educational and awareness webinars, and much more!
Since its inception, ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day has continued to gain momentum in the fight against dog and cat overpopulation. To date, ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day observances have been held in all fifty American states and the District of Columbia, in over 85 countries, on 6 continents.
As a direct result of International Homeless Animals’ Day, countless shelter animals have found permanent loving homes, and thousands of pets are now spayed and neutered preventing the birth of countless unwanted companion animals. We calculate that millions of animals’ lives have been saved!
Recent successes
In 2024, over one-hundred observances took place throughout the United States and in more than 45 geographically and culturally diverse countries including: ARGENTINA, AZERBAIJAN, AUSTRALIA, BELARUS, BRAZIL, CANADA,CHILE, COLUMBIA, CUBA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GUATEMALA, HUNGARY, INDIA, IRAQ, INDONESIA, KAZAKHSTAN, LITHUANIA, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, MOLDOVA, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PERU, PHILLIPINES, POLAND, PORTUGAL, PUERTO RICO, ROMANIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA, SPAIN, SRI LANKA, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN, UKRAINE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED KINGDOM, UZBEKISTAN, URUGUAY and VENEZUELA.
As a direct result of IHAD, more than 1000 spay/neuter surgeries were performed, thus preventing the birth of uncountable unwanted companion animals.
ISAR once again made available our International Homeless Animals’ Day spay/neuter grant to not-for-profit organizations participating in the Day with a free or low-cost spay and neuter event.
Free spay and neuter events took place in Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal and the United States. Together with the sterilization surgeries that took place on International Homeless Animals’ Day, organizations, veterinarians, and municipal government officials provided vouchers for free spay and neuter surgeries to the public.
Presidential Actions Promote Shelter Adoption on International Homeless Animals’ Day
For decades, ISAR’s IHAD has influenced politicians and the world’s top leaders who help to educate through their actions. We are pleased to report that a nation’s president officially recognized IHAD by raising awareness of the importance of adoption.
The first president to recognize the day was Hungarian President Katalin Novák. We wrote in our Autumn 2022 newsletter that President Novák adopted a rescue dog on International Homeless Animals’ Day and shared the announcement on her official social media pages.
This year, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced on his official social media platforms, “Today is International Homeless Animals’ Day and I have adopted a rescued and disabled dog named BanBan.” Lai revealed that BanBan’s left front leg had to be amputated due to a trap injury. President Lai also stated, “It is important to adopt instead of buying and do not abandon animals. Adoption is a life-changing action for dogs and cats. I hope that everyone will work together to reduce stray animals and take our commitment to them seriously.”
The President’s actions sent a powerful message to citizens of Taiwan, and others, on the importance of adopting, while also highlighting the many animals in shelters in need of good homes.
International Homeless Animals’ Day Generated Worldwide Activities that Benefit Unwanted Dogs and Cats
As a result of a generous International Homeless Animals’ Day grant from ISAR, Spay Panama Foundation hosted a mega two-day spay/neuter clinic in Las Lajas de Chame, Panama. Nine veterinarians and more than forty volunteers from Panama, Canada and Germany sterilized nearly 500 dogs and cats.
Patricia Chan, founder of Spay Panama Foundation stated, “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to ISAR for their unwavering dedication to commemorating International Homeless Animals’ Day each year. This important day sheds light on the suffering of homeless animals and urges us to take action to solve the problem at its roots. ISAR’s commitment to support organizing massive sterilization clinics is a crucial step towards reducing the population of homeless animals and preventing future suffering. Thank you, ISAR for your ongoing advocacy and efforts to create a better world for our furry friends. Your work is truly making a difference in the lives of animals and their human families and rescuers everywhere.”
A grant from ISAR helped The Cat Network’s Miami Meow Mobile. It spayed and neutered 27 cats in Miami, Florida on International Homeless Animals’ Day.
Working with ISAR to eliminate the tragedy of homeless companion animals, All People for Animals in Cuba (APAC) held a sterilization campaign in Cárdenas, Cuba.
A spokesperson for the shelter stated, “We joined ISAR and other animal protection organizations around the world in observing the 33rd annual International Homeless Animals’ Day, a worldwide ISAR conceived and implemented consciousness raising memorial to the countless dogs and cats fallen victim to overpopulation.”
“We held a small sterilization campaign, 11 dogs and 4 cats who will no longer contribute to the endless cycle of animals in need of help. Fifteen animals sterilized equals hundreds, possibly thousands of lives spared from abuse, abandonment and neglect. Thank you to ISAR for organizing this yearly worldwide event. Together we will create positive change for homeless animals around the world.”
Together with the sterilization surgeries that took place on International Homeless Animals’ Day, organizations, veterinarians, and municipal government officials provided vouchers to the public for subsidized and free spay and neuter surgeries.
On International Homeless Animals Day, hundreds of free-roaming dogs and cats, and the public, benefited from free vaccination and veterinary clinics.
For example, Oka Veterinary Clinic provided medical care and food to a large number of stray cats living in Dammam Corniche Park, Saudi Arabia. La Fundación Pets Breeding Control hosted a free vaccination campaign in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where more than 200 street dogs were vaccinated.
Additional vaccination, microchip and veterinary wellness clinics were held in observance of International Homeless Animals’ Day in Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile and Puerto Rico.
To raise awareness of the tragedy of dog and cat overpopulation and a solution – spay/neuter and adoption – many organizations hosted events that included activities such as pet adoption fairs, candlelight vigils, and educational awareness events.
Abrigo da Luna hosted an event at Parque da Ponte, Braga, Portugal. Eight animal protection organizations and Braga municipal officials, including the Municipal Animal Prosecutor’s Office, participated in the day to promote animal adoptions and the importance of spay and neuter to prevent animal abandonment. Activities included pet adoptions, dog walks, and speeches on responsible animal care.
Clara Barbosa, the founder of Abrigo da Luna stated, “It’s fantastic what we’ve managed to achieve today. The Municipality of Braga is now part of the cities worldwide to raise awareness of homeless animals whether they are strays or abandoned.”
She continued, “The initiative for this event was brought about by International Society for Animal Rights, the organization that created International Homeless Animals’ Day. We plan to repeat the event next year.”
Gyeongsangbuk-do Providence in conjunction with the Cheongdo-gun DAS Youth Culture and Arts Volunteer Group commemorated the day in Cheongdo-gun, South Korea with a program entitled “Abandoned Dog Happy Change.”
A representative for the organization stated, “We had an enthusiastic response to International Homeless Animals’ Day. More than 200 participants from all over the country, including some who flew in from Jeju Island, participated in the day.
He continued, “To raise awareness and respect for the lives of abandoned dogs, our program focused on the dogs held at Cheongdo Shinhwarang Pungryu Village and included an adoption day, educational presentation about pet etiquette for approaching abandoned dogs, and an award ceremony. We are happy to report that various dogs were adopted. We will continue to advance awareness of the rapidly increasing number of abandoned animals.”
The Central Stadium of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan was the venue for the celebration of International Homeless Animals’ Day hosted by the professional soccer league, Irtysh.
With thousands of spectators watching, players for the soccer team Irtysh in partnership with House of Hope Animal Shelter entered the field with dogs in their arms in an effort to boost adoptions.
The team manager stated, “The goal of our International Homeless Animals’ Day campaign is to tell as many people as possible about the problem of homeless animals in Pavlodar, and also to help the puppies from the House of Hope Shelter find their loving homes.”
Poignant candlelight vigils enlightened and informed audiences of the most effective and humane way to save animals’ lives: spay/neuter and adopt.
Defenders of Animals hosted its 30th annual International Homeless Animals’ Day with a candlelight vigil and award ceremony at the Governor Sprague Mansion in Cranston, Rhode Island.
According to the organization’s founder, Dennis Tabella, “The event serves as an opportunity for animal advocates to band together to promote adoptions and promote low-cost spaying/neutering of cats and dogs.”
Asociación Protectora de Animales en La Rioja (APA) commemorated the day by lighting candles at dusk in front of its headquarters in Logroño, Spain.
An APA representative stated, “The symbolic lighting of candles is for abandoned animals that died in the street, mistreated animals and for all the animals with whom we have shared our lives and are no longer with us.”
Prior to the candlelight vigil, the organization hosted a dog walk for its shelter dogs in an effort to help them meet potential adopters and to raise awareness about homeless animals in the city.
For the 20th successive year, SOS Chats Noiraigue-CH staffed an information stall in Rue de l’Hôpital, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. SOS Chats president and co-founder Tomi Tomek uses International Homeless Animals’ Day to educate the public about the many abuses inflicted on animals with educational literature, speakers and petition drives.
PAWSsion Project, Philippines participated in the day with a program entitled, “STRAY NO MORE: An IHAD 2024 Short Film Festival.”
Throughout the festival, attendees had the opportunity to view compelling short films that explored various aspects of human-animal relationships and engage with filmmakers and animal protections organizations during a question and answer session.
According to the organizer, “This event in commemoration of International Homeless Animals’ Day helped to spread awareness of the reality of thousands of stray animals and educate people on how we can all become voices for the voiceless.”
To celebrate International Homeless Animals’ Day, many businesses around the world lent their names and voices to the help save the lives of dogs and cats through support of local animal protection efforts.
For example, in commemoration of International Homeless Animals’ Day, Korzinka, the largest retail store chain in Uzbekistan, organized at its headquarters in Tashkent a charity fair entitled “Let’s Share Joy Together.” More than 100 people attended the event that included an educational program to provide guidance on the humane care of animals and the importance of spaying and neutering.
Doniyor Rasulov, the spokesman for Korzinka stated, “To mark International Homeless Animals’ Day and raised awareness of the dogs waiting for new homes at the Hayot Shelter and the Mushukkent Project, we brought together compassionate individuals and companies eager to help homeless animals. We partnered with Nestle Purina who generously donated much needed food to the shelters. This charity fair was a clear example of how joint efforts between businesses can make a real difference for animals in need.”
With the aim of making a meaningful impact on the lives of homeless animals and to encourage the wider community to rally behind the cause, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the RAK Animal Welfare Center (RAKAWC) launched its ‘Pause for Paws’ campaign on International Homeless Animals’ Day.
To bring the ‘Pause for Paws’ campaign to life, RAKTDA’s CEO, along with senior management and leaders from several businesses and government entities participated in a professional photo shoot with cats and dogs from the RAK Animal Welfare Center.
Each week, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority will showcase a different cat or dog from the shelter on their social media networks, along with information about each animal posted to inspire local residents to open their hearts and homes.
“The aim of the high-quality photo’s is to capture the true personalities and charm of the animals, boosting their appeal to potential adopters and significantly increasing adoption rates. To further support this campaign, RAKTDA and RAKAWC will also present animal welfare awareness sessions at local schools, educating the next generation on how to care for and protect our furry friends,” explained Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA.
“He continued, “On International Homeless Animals’ Day our mission is to raise awareness about homeless animals and inspire our community to take action. By working together, we can ensure that every cat and dog at RAKAWC finds a loving family thereby building a stronger, more compassionate Ras Al Khaimah. Together, we will be a voice for the voiceless and make a real difference to the lives of these animals.”
More than 100 people joined Egri Strandfürdő Spa and Resort, in Eger, Hungary for an educational awareness day to draw attention to the plight of homeless animals.
The family-friendly event included information booths, children’s pet drawing contest, a police K-9 Unit search and rescue demonstration and participants were able to meet several dogs available for adoption from the Noé Animal Shelter.
Throughout the day, representatives from several different animal protection organizations spoke about the services they provide to help homeless animals and offered valuable information on the humane care of animals including the importance of spaying and neutering.
“On this International Homeless Animals’ Day, we want to draw attention to homeless animals and promote the organizations who rescue them,” stated László Molnár, managing director of Egri Strandfürdő.
To celebrate International Homeless Animals’ Day, the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv, Ukraine, in conjunction with the Happy Paw Foundation held a Pet Charity Award event.
The event brought together Ukrainian celebrities and their four-legged friends to raise awareness of the tragedy of homeless animals and support the work of the Happy Paw Foundation.
Host Karoline Ashion, actress and producer, announced that as a result of the International Homeless Animals’ Day award ceremony, the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv has agreed to donate directly to the Happy Paw Foundation, all future funds collected for the pet charge. A fee for staying in the hotel with a pet. The funds will assist with the care of homeless animals.
The star-studded event was covered by Vogue Ukraine Magazine and other national news media, thus enlightening large audiences about the plight of homeless animals in Ukraine.
Individuals, organizations, animal-friendly businesses and others wishing to take part in ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day events can view our complimentary event planning packet HERE.
Your participation in ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day will guarantee advertisement of your event to thousands of people on ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day website, as well as promotion on ISAR’s online communities such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Please register your event HERE
By coming together on International Homeless Animals’ Day, you can support ISAR in letting the world know we will not tolerate the senseless killing that continues to take the lives of innocent dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens simply because there are not enough good homes for them.