This year Be Kind to Animals Week is 1-7 October and it's gearing up to be the biggest in its 10 year history.

The annual event was created by the wonderful people at Edgar's Mission to honour the lives of our animal friends. The week allows us to join our family, friends and colleagues to reflect on the enormous impact simple (and sometimes not so simple) acts of kindness can have on all of the furred, feathered, fleeced and finned beings with whom we share this planet.

It is going to be so much fun and with your help, this is going to be the biggest year yet!

"Animals enrich our lives in so many ways," says Pam Ahern, Edgar's Mission's Founder and Director, "from our companions at home, to wildlife, sea creatures, birds, and our much-loved farmed animal friends. We all know that we should be kind to animals every day of the year, but in our busy lives, sometimes that's easy to forget."

Visit Be Kind to Animals Week to join in the fun. You can take the pledge to receive inspiring kindness tips and recipes in your inbox each day through the week, plus a free Kindness Kit in the mail. You'll also go in the draw to win a Kind Cookbook Collection.

You can also spread the kindness by sharing Be Kind to Animals Week with your family and friends on social media using #bekindtoanimalsweek.

Over 60 libraries across Australia are getting involved with themed displays and virtual story times, and a national colouring-in competition is running with prizes to be won. Entries can be downloaded here.

Be Kind to Animals Week Ambassadors for 2020 include cricketer Peter Siddle, DJ Tigerlily, AFL player Chris Mayne, and nutritionist Tammy Fry of Fry's Family Foods.

"We trust Australians of all ages will join us for our biggest, most colourful and kind year yet - because life really is better with kindness!" Pam smiled.

From companion animals to farmed animals, marine life to wildlife - all are capable of a full range of emotions. They experience love, joy, grief, fear, and have complex ways of communicating. By getting to know them, it's clear that each one is an individual who wants to live a meaningful and happy life, no matter what their species.

"If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others, why wouldn't we?"

• Be Kind to Animals Week
• Edgar's Mission