Things to Do
Hug an animal for World Animal Day
Did you even know it was an event? World Animal Day is celebrated on Oct. 4, which coincides with the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
The international holiday was started in Florence, Italy, in 1931, at a convention of ecologists, according to Wikipedia.
To celebrate, some churches hold special "Blessing of the Animals" services on the weekend nearest to St. Francis Day.
St. Bart's Church in Midtown Manhattan offers a full day of blessings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and reminds owners to keep their animals on a leash.
One sure way to be kind to animals: The ASPCA has designated the entire month of October as National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month.
