Overview

• Shelters, clinics and animal welfare groups worldwide organized adoption, vaccination and awareness campaigns on July 21 for World Dog Day 2025.
• Barcelona’s Pla Endreça initiative distributed 2,000 waste-bag packages and opened off-leash zones in 18 locations over July 21–22 to promote responsible ownership and neighborhood cleanliness.
• Veterinary experts led by Walter Comas urged annual check-ups, full vaccination schedules, quarterly deworming, daily dental hygiene and weight control as essential responsibilities for dog owners.
• Campaigns addressed estimates that between 300 million and 900 million dogs live globally, with up to 70% homeless, underscoring seasonal surges in summer abandonment.
• Animal welfare organizations used the observance to promote sterilization campaigns and volunteer support at shelters to alleviate overpopulation and improve dog welfare.