Animal Welfare Charities Unite to Support UK Rescue Centres Through Donate a Dinner Campaign

Naturewatch Foundation and Teckels Animal Sanctuaries have partnered for the 2026 World Animal Day Donate a Dinner campaign, supporting rescue animals across the UK.

Animal rescue centres across the UK are facing increasing challenges, from rising operating costs to growing numbers of abandoned pets. 

In response, two animal welfare organisations have joined forces to raise awareness and provide much-needed support for rescue animals waiting to find loving homes.

Naturewatch Foundation has announced that Gloucestershire-based Teckels Animal Sanctuaries will be its official charity partner for the 2026 World Animal Day Donate a Dinner campaign.

To mark the launch of the partnership, Naturewatch Foundation CEO Sarah Carr and members of the charity's team visited Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, presenting a £100 donation. The contribution will provide a meal for all 42 dogs currently being cared for at the sanctuary while they await adoption.

The visit offered a powerful reminder of the pressures rescue centres continue to face. Many organisations are dealing with increased demand, higher food and veterinary costs, and the long-term consequences of irresponsible and illegal breeding practices.

Among the dogs currently looking for homes at Teckels are three Pomeranians named Paula, Pearl and Podge. The trio were rescued from a property where around 120 dogs were reportedly being kept. Believed to be between eight and eleven years old, the dogs had never experienced everyday activities such as going for a walk outdoors before arriving at the sanctuary.

The Naturewatch team also met Apollo, a three-year-old Huntaway cross Husky, who is hoping to find his forever family.

World Animal Day takes place annually on 4 October and encourages people around the globe to take action to improve animal welfare. Naturewatch Foundation coordinates the international campaign and runs its popular Donate a Dinner initiative, which encourages individuals, businesses, schools and community groups to support local rescue centres by helping provide food and supplies for animals in their care.

Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation and coordinator of World Animal Day, said she was delighted to visit Teckels and meet both the dedicated staff and the animals waiting for homes. She added that by launching the campaign early, the charity hopes organisations across the country will begin planning ways to support their local rescue centres on World Animal Day.

Chelsea Rogers, Social Media Manager at Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, welcomed the partnership, describing the support as invaluable at a time when the rising cost of living continues to impact rescue organisations.

More information about the 2026 Donate a Dinner campaign will be announced closer to World Animal Day. In the meantime, supporters can help their local rescue centres through donations, fundraising activities or by providing essential supplies.

Every meal donated can make a meaningful difference to an animal waiting for a second chance.

World Animal Day children’s design competition: winner announced

There are countless ways in which everyone who cares about animals can get involved.

The winner of a World Animal Day 2023 children’s mug design competition has been announced, following a hugely successful event that saw entries from countries around the globe, including Turkey and Sri Lanka.

Ahead of the annual celebration of animals on October 4, young people across the world were invited to take part in an art contest to mark World Animal Day – the only day of the year that recognises all animals. Entries featured a wide variety of species including wildlife, insects, birds, marine animals and pets.

The winning design was created by 14-year-old Ruby from Oxfordshire in England, who submitted a beautifully colourful hedgehog holding a heart-shaped planet. The illustration will feature on a mug sold by Naturewatch Foundation, the UK-based animal welfare charity that coordinates World Animal Day.

Every year, hundreds of events are organised on, and around October 4 to raise awareness of animal welfare issues or fundraise for animal charities. Participants include schools, veterinary practices, community groups, animal welfare organisations and individuals who motivate their family and friends to also get involved. Since the first World Animal Day was held in 1925, events have become increasingly creative and now range from drive-through church blessings for animals to spay-a-thons for cats and dogs to abseiling down cliffs.

Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation and coordinator of World Animal Day, said: “We were amazed to receive three times the number of entries to our mug design competition this year! Children in age categories from five to 17+ sent us wonderful drawings showing their love of animals – it was so difficult to choose a winner, but Ruby’s hedgehog will be perfect for our 2023 commemorative mug.

“The competition is just a small part of our phenomenal World Animal Day celebrations though. There are countless ways in which everyone who cares about animals can still get involved, including on social media – World Animal Day reaches over 50 million people online on October 4! We aim to raise awareness of the plight of animals and encourage people to do something to help make the world a better place for them. It’s a day for everyone to speak up for the voiceless, regardless of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. If you want to be part of the biggest annual day for animals, visit the website today!”

For more information, and to get involved, go to worldanimalday.org.uk

UK charity funds animal ambulance for pangolins, orangutans and sun bears in Indonesia

A British animal welfare charity has announced the 2023 winners of their recently increased World Animal Day grant. Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) in Indonesia will receive much-needed funds from Gloucestershire-based Naturewatch Foundation to purchase a mobile veterinary clinic.

Working as a legal partner to the government, JAAN rescues, rehabilitates and provides veterinary care to stray and wild animals across the country, but does not receive any government funding. 

They are working with animals including pangolins, orangutans and sun bears, as well as dogs and cats. 

The new van will enable JAAN’s team to reach and treat animals around Bali, Java and Sumatra, 

by:

Sterilising large numbers of stray animals in remote areas

Treating and moving animals confiscated from cruelty cases

Transporting wildlife between JAAN’s centres on different islands, and

Releasing rehabilitated animals back into their natural habitats.

Femke Den Haas, Co-founder and Field Coordinator at JAAN, said: “This grant allows us at JAAN to treat animals in areas very isolated and far, who else would have been left to suffer. It allows us to bring rescued animals to safety and treat rescued animals quickly, increasing their survival chances. We are really grateful to be the winners of the World Animal Day grant.”

Two other applicants will receive smaller awards from the enhanced grant this year:

Cape Animal Welfare Forum in South Africa will run a compassion fatigue workshop for animal welfare workers from their 58 member organisations.

Swaziland Animal Welfare Society will distribute 10,000 educational leaflets, listing how to properly care for animals, in rural areas where residents have little to no awareness on the issue.

Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation and coordinator of World Animal Day, said: “The past few years have been difficult for everyone, including charities and those on the front line of animal welfare. So, as the coordinators of World Animal Day, Naturewatch Foundation was excited to double the annual grant to £10,000 this year! 

"Our supporters care about ALL animals – they will be delighted that their contributions will aid rescue and rehabilitation efforts over 7,000 miles away. It's lovely to think that, from here in Gloucestershire, our work is helping animals such as long-tail macaques, orangutans, bears and turtles, as well as dogs and cats! I'm incredibly proud to be associated with so many wonderful people who are passionate about caring for animals such as our team of voluntary global World Animal Day Ambassadors."

She went on to say: “As a charity, and the coordinators of World Animal Day, Naturewatch Foundation is in a position to improve animals’ lives globally, but World Animal Day is open to everyone – not just animal welfare professionals. We want to encourage people to play their part on October 4 by submitting an event to our updated website, where we’ve added new online toolkits and other useful resources. Every action, however small, can make a huge difference for animals!”

To learn more about World Animal Day and get involved, go to worldanimalday.org.uk.