The World Animal Day Grant
Only our World Animal Day ambassadors can nominate projects run by animal welfare organisations for sponsorship, setting out why they should receive grant funding.
The World Animal Day Grant supports non-emergency projects by registered, not-for-profit, non-governmental animal welfare organisations.
Each year, the World Animal Day Grant is awarded to one or more winning project(s), carefully chosen from applications made exclusively by our World Animal Day Ambassadors. Thanks to our supporters’ generosity, this grant is funded by Naturewatch Foundation.
Ambassadors can propose their projects, explaining why the initiative deserves funding. Naturewatch Foundation then reviews all nominations and chooses one project that:
- Shows strong potential to make a lasting, positive impact on animal welfare.
- Embodies the spirit of World Animal Day and supports our global mission to raise the status of animals.
While many excellent nominations are received, only one grant is awarded each year.
You can read about some of the previous winning projects below, or follow the link for more details about the World Animal Day Grant.
Explore this section
Four inspiring projects win the 2025 World Animal Day Grant
Rwanda’s First Public World Animal Day: Over 200 Dogs Vaccinated by RAWO
Just a few months after being announced as one of the 2025 World Animal Day grant winners, the Rwanda Animal Welfare Organisation (RAWO) proudly hosted the country’s first-ever public World Animal Day celebration! Held in Musanze District, the event focused on improving the welfare of dogs through humane population management and rabies prevention. Thanks to our World Animal Day grant, RAWO vaccinated over 200 dogs in total, providing each owner with a certificate of protection and guidance for next year’s boosters.
The celebration was attended by national partners including MINAGRI, RAB, RCVD, RDB, and Gorilla Doctors. Dog owners from the Nyange Sector learned about responsible pet care, the importance of vaccination, and how healthy animals contribute to healthy communities. RAWO’s Executive Director, Dr. Jean Claude Masengesho expressed his gratitude to Naturewatch Foundation for supporting this event.
The day received nationwide media coverage, spreading awareness of animal welfare and RAWO’s mission. Building on this success, RAWO plans to expand its vaccination campaigns and introduce animal welfare education in primary schools, empowering the next generation to care for animals and the planet.
Read more about RAWO’s World Animal Day celebration here.
Montego Bay Animal Haven – Jamaica
Their portion of the grant will be used to deliver a one-day clinic for animals in need within a designated inner-city area, providing spay, neutering and wellness services, such as veterinary examinations and vaccinations.
Special Animals and Veterinary Emergency Relief Fund (SAVERS) – Pakistan
The rabies vaccination project proposed by SAVERS, aims to vaccinate between 100-250 stray cats and dogs, and will be led by veterinary students.
WagWag Opens Their Third Cat Hotel in Bosnia & Herzegovina
Just two months after being announced as one of the 2025 World Animal Day grant winners, WagWag from Bosnia & Herzegovina has proudly built their Hotel for Cats! Stray cats are a widespread issue across the country, and with winters often dropping below freezing, many animals face life-threatening conditions. WagWag’s new cat hotel provides safe, insulated shelter for up to 30 cats, offering them food, water, and warmth throughout the harsh winter months.
The hotel is fitted with several cosy spaces, cleaned and maintained by volunteers who ensure every cat is fed and comfortable. Information panels outside the hotel raise awareness about stray cats and encourage adoption. In the first 12 hours after opening, 15 cats visited the hotel, and one lucky orange kitten was adopted almost immediately!
This is WagWag’s third Cat Hotel, and the team hopes to inspire other cities to adopt the same model.
Read more about WagWag’s Cat Hotel project here.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.
Share your story and photos to help us celebrate the powerful bond between people and their animals.
This simple step would reduce harm to wildlife. Help us deliver this message directly to retailers who can make a real difference.
Millions of animals bred for research are never used and their fate goes unrecorded.
Urge your MP to stand up for these forgotten victims.
UK wildlife is under threat, yet crimes against it are treated as minor offences. Urgent legal reform is needed.
Join us in telling your local MP why a change in law is vital to protect our wildlife.
Join us in asking the UK Government to finally end animal testing for all everyday household products.
Unethical extreme designer pet trends are pushing cats and kittens to the limit.
Join us in calling for extreme cat breeding to be banned across the UK.
Your support helps us protect wildlife and tackle cruelty. Every donation makes a real impact.
Take part in a way that works for you, whether volunteering, fundraising or donating items, and help create a kinder future for animals.
