From One March to a Movement: Building a Compassionate Future for Animals in Zambia
Seeing A need for change
When our newly appointed World Animal Day Ambassador, Samson, looked at the working animals carrying the weight of rural life in Zambia, often overworked and under cared for, he saw a problem too urgent to wait. Add to that the rising number of dog bites in remote communities with no rabies vaccinations in sight, the need for action was impossible to ignore.
So, he acted.
A historic step for animals
On 7th June 2026, National Animal Rights Day, Samson and his team gathered in the Chisamba and Chimbobo districts for Zambia’s first ever march for animal rights. The march took place along the busy Great North Road, a route that links Zambia with neighbouring countries including the DRC, Angola and Tanzania, and forms part of a wider regional transport network. Members of the public stopped to ask questions about the cause, taking photos and sharing the event on social media.
Following the march, residents gathered at a community football ground, where the day unfolded into a celebration of animal protection. Two football matches, organised for local children, helped strengthen community spirit, while speeches, an open Q&A session, and a talk on the Five Freedoms of animal welfare encouraged discussion and learning. Leaflets and posters helped spread the campaign’s message even further, and dogs and cats from the community received deworming treatment and tick treatment on the spot, courtesy of Samson and his team’s mobile veterinary clinic.
Overcoming challenges
None of this action came easily. Facing limited funding and the challenge of introducing an entirely new concept in Zambia, the movement has had to navigate significant cultural and economic hurdles. However, community engagement has continued to grow, with local government officials and NGOs embracing the project and recognising its potential to create lasting change.
A movement beyond the march
Samson’s vision now stretches far beyond one march: a Zambia, and a world, where compassionate treatment of animals is valued and protected as part of everyday life, not the exception. As we approach World Animal Day 2026, his story is a powerful reminder that a single first step, even one taken with limited resources, can begin to transform an entire community’s relationship with animals.