‘Donate a Dinner’ with Teckels Animal Sanctuaries
Every day, animal rescue centres across the world provide food, shelter and care for animals in need. But with rising costs and increasing numbers of animals needing help, many rescues are under more pressure than ever.
To launch Donate a Dinner 2026, Naturewatch Foundation visited Teckels Animal Sanctuaries in Gloucestershire, highlighting the vital work carried out by rescue centres and encouraging people everywhere to support their local shelters this World Animal Day.
As the international coordinator of World Animal Day, Naturewatch Foundation created Donate a Dinner to inspire individuals, businesses, schools and community groups to donate food or essential supplies to rescue centres in their own communities on October 4.
What is Donate a Dinner?
Every year on 4 October, people around the world celebrate World Animal Day by taking action to improve the lives of animals.
As the charity that coordinates World Animal Day internationally, Naturewatch Foundation created Donate a Dinner as a simple way for everyone to make a difference in their local community. The campaign encourages people to support their local rescue centres by donating a meal (or the cost of a meal) for the animals in their care.
Meeting the dogs behind the campaign
During our visit, we met some truly unforgettable residents.
Among them were Paula, Pearl and Podge, three Pomeranians who were rescued from a property where around 120 dogs were being kept. Believed to be between eight and eleven years old, the trio had sadly never experienced something as simple as going for a walk before arriving at Teckels.
We also met Apollo, a three-year-old Huntaway cross Husky with a big personality who is patiently waiting to find his forever family.
Get involved this World Animal Day
We’ll be sharing more information about how you can take part in Donate a Dinner 2026 as World Animal Day approaches on 4 October.
In the meantime, why not start planning how you, your workplace, school or community group could support your local rescue centre? You could:
- Donate pet food or other essential supplies.
- Organise a fundraising event.
- Purchase items from a rescue centre’s wishlist.
- Volunteer your time.
- Spread the word on social media.
Together, we can make sure rescue animals everywhere receive the care they deserve.