Animals in the foreground in the world on October 4 each year

International Animal Day is celebrated on October 4, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Depending on the country, it is celebrated differently, regardless of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.

In 1929, the International Congress for the Protection of Animals in Vienna introduced the initiative for this day. In Florence, 2 years later, he established World Animal Day.

On this occasion, the United Nations offers topics on various endangered animals. They invite people to learn and react to protect endangered species such as tigers, panda or elephants …

Why October 4?

St Francis of Assisi protected animals all his life, thanks to the love he brought them. He asserted that every creature, as a creature of God, deserved respect. « The animal world, like all of creation, is a manifestation of God’s power, wisdom and goodness, and as such deserves the respect of man. » he had declared. This is why he is considered to be the first defender of the animal cause.

Policy statements

In 2017, the animal cause entered the presidential election with the animalist party. Each candidate dealt with animal welfare, including it in their program. Some have proposed to eradicate animal abuse, others have pledged to make animal welfare a national cause.

During the last European elections, the animalist party obtained nearly 500,000 votes. Today, he blames Emmanuel Macron for a policy that is too favorable to hunters.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Jean-Luc Mélenchon defended the reduction of meat proteins, denounced the cruelty of intensive breeding, recalled the need to respect the sensitivity of animals. In 2018, he spoke at the National Assembly explaining why we now had to move towards peasant agriculture and a change in our food practices. « Respecting animals is asserting our humanity » … « We cannot look at other sentient beings as objects that belong to us, because they do not belong to us, » he says.

In January 2021, the president of LFI intervenes as the National Assembly’s consideration of the draft law to combat animal abuse begins.

Emmanuel Macron

The candidate Macron, commit to concrete measures in terms of animal protection. The fight against animal trafficking by strengthening border controls, the protection of wildlife and endangered species, the fight against poaching, trafficking and demand for illegal wildlife products, are in the program. After his election, the Macron couple adopted Némo, a Labrador retriever-griffon cross, in a SPA refuge in Hermeray, in the Yvelines. Nemo has lived since his adoption in August 2017, at the Elysée Palace. Indeed, in the tradition of the Fifth Republic, each president owned one or more dogs.

A law for animal protection

On September 30, 2021, the Senate adopted at first reading, with modifications, the bill.
On December 14, 2020, the deputies Loïc Dombreval, Dimitri Houbron, Laëtitia Romeiro Dias and several of their colleagues tabled the bill. The National Assembly adopted it at first reading, with modifications, on January 29, 2021, after an accelerated government procedure, on December 14, 2020.

This law aims to strengthen the fight against animal abuse and strengthen the link between animals and humans. Several measures are on the program, including:

• A new certificate for the acquisition of a pet to limit impulse purchases. A period of 7 days of reflection is necessary. Regarding NACs, the text strengthens the legislation.
• The online sale of pets will be reserved for approved sites.
• Online advertisements for the sale or donation of pets are prohibited.
• Reinforced sanctions in the event of abuse and zoopornography.
• The progressive limitation of dolphinariums and wild animals in traveling circuses …
• Fight against the abandonment of domestic animals.
• New obligations imposed on pet stores.
• Use of foster families for abandoned animals made easier.
• A statute for associations for the protection of animals without refuge.

Emmanuel Macron’s visit to a SPA for World Animal Day

On Monday, October 4, the president went to Gray, in Haute-Saône, to a shelter that accommodates 90 dogs and cats. With this trip, he demonstrates that « the animal cause has become a political cause ». Emmanuel Macron recalled that the government has released the 20 million euros registered in the recovery plan for animal welfare.

Note that last summer, the SPA collected 16,894 animals. She recalls « that adopting an animal is for life! » In addition, abandoning an animal is an offense and punishable by 2 years in prison and a fine of € 30,000.

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VERONIQUE YANG

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