The humble days of October 1 to 7 offer us a very unique opportunity to step out of the anthropomorphic bubble and consider the billions of other sentient beings that share our world, through several wonderful and thought-provoking events.
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The first is led by Victorian-based animal charity Edgar's Mission which specialises in rescued farm animals and is home to between 400 and 500 of them.
Now in its eleventh year, Be Kind to Animals Week has a very simple aim ... to encourage us to eat kind, shop kind and be kind to animals for seven days.
A key element of this is acknowledging that every animal is an individual with their own emotions and ways of communicating, particularly crucial concepts when it comes to farmed animals, who are often treated differently to companion animals by the community and in the eyes of the law.
We are only just scratching the surface when it comes to the incredibly rich and complex lives of our furred, finned and feathered friends.
During this week, Edgar's Mission is also asking everyone to commit a random act of kindness, avoid products which contain animal products or are tested on animals and enjoy plant-based meals for a day, a week or more.
A free Kindness Kit and daily plant-based recipes will help pledges along.
Edgar's Mission founder and director Pam Ahern adds Be Kind to Animals Week is a great opportunity to stop and think about how being kinder can improve our own lives, animals' lives and the world.
"You can support your favourite animal welfare charity by volunteering or donating, organise a beach or park clean up, leave water out for local wildlife and so much more."
To kickstart your kindness visit www.bekindtoanimalsweek.org.au
It's also Australian Wildlife Week, so get out in your backyard or head to your nearest nature reserve to discover our magnificent Tasmanian wildlife.
With so many native species right on our doorstep, there's no better place to be for Australian Wildlife Week than the Wildlife State.
To find out more about what's happening with wildlife research around the country, sign up for the Australian Wildlife Society's free webinar Tuesday October 5 at www.aws.org.au/australian-wildlife-week-2021
Or sharpen your family's general knowledge with a free online introduction to Australian wildlife thanks to WIRES.
In the midst of all of this comes World Animal Day on October 4, a movement with a mission to raise the status of animals and in doing so improve animal welfare around the globe.
It may sound like a huge task, but it all begins with that first step, a simple action, one decision you make.
Changing the life of one animal can change the world.
Get started at www.worldanimalday.org.uk
