Obviously there’s no time to organise an event but there are lots of things you can do to mark the day that take no planning. Here are just a few ideas which will make a difference and can be achieved very easily: play with your pets; make a donation to your favourite animal charity; walk an elderly neighbours dog; donate some food or volunteer at a local shelter; sponsor an animal; make a pledge for World Animal Day (see menu bar left) or send your friends and family a World Animal Day E-Card to raise awareness of World Animal Day (link below).

Sadie is beautiful, in the unique ways that black cats have. Her eyes are lustrous and her black coat is shining with health. Rachel's devotion to Sadie is evident in every word she wrote. Sadie's photo will also appear in the 2008 Black Cats Picture Gallery

My cat of the week photos are selected from general photo submittals. Although October is devoted to black cats, all cat photos may be submitted any time of the year. The acceptance will depend on two factors:

1. They must be of an acceptable quality and size.
2. They must be accompanied by ALL the information requested in the Photo Submittal Guidelines.

   More 2008 Cat Pictures of the Week.

I have a question about the microchip since I am considering doing this for my cats. If she was microchipped the owner’s name was surely listed even if the address was out of date. Couldn’t the new people living at the address pass on info such as the landlord or realtor to the vet’s office to find them? Or perhaps a google search for them? It just seems odd that in this day of technology an out of date address would prevent the kitty from being reunited with her people. I ask these things because I want to determine if the microchip service is worth the money. I would be devastated to lose one of my “kids.”

To answer your question more succinctly, "No, a microchip isn't worth the cost unless you keep all the information current with the service, including changes of address."

Here's a good example: Dr. Janet Crosby, About.com Veterinary Medicine Guide just posted the story of a dog who was found a year after his disappearance, thanks to his microchip . Of course, had his owners moved in the meantime without notifying the microchip service, this dog might be in the same situation Betsy found herself in.

More on Lost Cats and Microchipping

All Cats Need an Identity
My Cat Ran Away: Finding Lost Cats

I was immediately drawn to Mo's photo - he's a striking tuxedo cat, and frankly, "life on the seas with a cat in a 42' boat was very appealing to me, since at one time my husband and I had considered something similar. Congratulations to Harriet Lewis and her husband and bon voyage to Mo.
_{Photo Credit: © Harriet Lewis}