World Kindness Day: Mzansi Asked to Show Compassion for All Animals
FOUR PAWS shares how citizens can turn kindness into action by protecting pets, wildlife, and farm animals through everyday choices
Cape Town, 10 November 2025 — As the world celebrates World Kindness Day 2025 on 13 November, FOUR PAWS is encouraging communities across the country to extend their compassion to animals in our homes, used for agriculture, and those that should be in the wild. As a nation rich in biodiversity but facing serious animal welfare challenges, this day is a powerful opportunity to reflect on how kindness can shape a more humane South Africa.
Practical ways to be kind to animals in South Africa:
- Support local shelters: Give blankets, food, or your time to animal shelters in your area. Even a few hours of volunteering can make a huge difference.
- Choose plant-based for your braai: Try a meat-free braai this weekend. There are many delicious meat alternatives available, and South African favourites like baked potatoes, grilled mielies, chakalaka, and veggie sosaties are nutritious and cruelty-free.
- Say no to wildlife exploitation: Avoid attractions that offer cub petting, lion walks, or any wildlife interactions. Instead, support ethical sanctuaries like LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.
- Be a responsible pet owner: Make sure your pets are sterilised, vaccinated, and microchipped. Keep them safe during firework season and always provide them with shelter, nutritious food, and exercise.
- Adopt, don’t shop: Give a rescued animal a loving home. Adoption helps reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals across South Africa.
- Speak up: Use the FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Advocacy Guide to raise awareness about unethical practices and join the movement.
- Shop with compassion: Choose cruelty-free and animal-free clothing, beauty, and cleaning products.
For more information, please visit our website at www.four-paws.org.za
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer+27 (0)21 702 4277
+27 (0)78 675 8220
9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za