Most people do not even realize that the year is packed with special holidays that are dedicated to pets. Some of these days are national holidays while others are international or unofficial. However, in any case, all of these special days were created by people who love animals to honor our furry friends, dogs and .
Special Holidays for Pets
January
Jan. 2 – National Pet Travel Safety Day
This special pet holiday was created by a former paramedic by the name of Colleen Paige. The goal of this day is to educate the public about how to make traveling in cars safe for pets.
Jan. 14 - National Dress Up Your Pet Day
This is a fun pet holiday designed to simply enjoy your pet by dressing it up in cute costumes and clothing.
Jan. 24 – Change a Pet’s Life Day
Organized by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Jan. 24 has been set aside for many shelters and humane societies to encourage pet adoptions by slashing adoption fees and offering special incentives.
Jan. 29 – Seeing Eye Dog Day
Guide dogs have been serving people for many decades, and this special date has been designed to show our appreciation for these wonderful animals.
February
Feb. 14 – Pet Theft Awareness Day
This day was created by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters to educate pet owners on how to help protect their pets from pet theft and what to do if a pet is missing.
Feb. 22 – Walk Your Dog Day
Show your love for your dog and help promote its health on this date by committing to a daily walking regime.
Feb. 23 – International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day:
Today is a great day for you to show your dog your love by investing in some delicious dog biscuits or even making some homemade treats.
Feb. 26 – World Spay Day
This is a yearly campaign hosted by the Humane Society of the U.S. and the International Humane Society, which focuses on spaying or neutering cats and dogs.
March
March 13 – K9 Veterans Day
March 13 is the day to show our appreciation to all of our canine friends who have served time in the military forces.
March 23 – National Puppy Day
Sponsored by the Animal Miracle Foundation, National Puppy Day is an annual event that encourages people to consider adopting their next puppy from a local shelter.
April
April 2 – Every Day is Tag Day
If you have a pet, you want to ensure that it finds its way back home should it become lost. As such, on April 2, if your pet does not have an ID tag, this is the day to get one.
April 11 – National Pet Day
Another holiday sponsored by the Animal Miracle Foundation, this pet holiday celebrates the joy that pets can bring into our lives and encourages people to adopt from shelters.
April 26 – National Kids and Pets Day
Created by the Animal Miracle Network, Kids and Pets Day aims to celebrate the special bond between kids and their pets and encourages parents to adopt from their local shelter.
April 28 – World Veterinary Day
This special day is hosted by the World Veterinary Association and is dedicated to showing appreciation for the veterinary teams who care for our pets.
May
Second Saturday in May – Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
When there are natural disasters, we need to think about our pets as well as our families. This day is dedicated to educating pet owners about disaster preparedness for pets.
May 3 – National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 3 is dedicated to recognizing our disabled pets and encouraging the public to consider adopting a pet that has special needs.
May 24 – National Heat Awareness Day
This day was created to educate pet owners about the dangers of heat to pets. Special focus is given to pets kept outdoors during the summer and those left locked inside hot cars.
June
June 4 – International Hug Your Cat Day
Show your love for your cat on June 4 by cuddling and hugging him or her. You may also wish to make some special treats to celebrate the day.
June 21 – Take Your Pet to Work Day
Pet Sitters International created this day in 1999 to show our love for our pets by taking them to work with us. It also encourages adoptions from shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.
July
July 15 – National Pet Fire Safety Day This special pet holiday is sponsored by the American Kennel Club, the National Volunteer Fire Council and ADT Security Services with the goal to educate pet owners about fire safety for pets.
July 21 – National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day This is a special day set aside for crafters to donate homemade items to their local shelters such as handcrafted beds, blankets, bandanas, toys, leashes or vests.
August
Aug. 1 – DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
The North Shore Animal League has set aside this date as the official birthday for any shelter animals whose birthdays are not known.
Aug. 5 – National Assistance Dog Day
Assistance dogs provide much-needed help to many people all over the country, and Aug. 5 is devoted to showing our appreciation for these valuable animals.
Aug. 15 – National Check the Chip Day
If your pet has been microchipped, this is the day to check its information and make sure it is current. If your pet is not microchipped, today is a great day to have it done.
Aug. 18 – International Homeless Animals Day
This date has been set aside to spread public awareness about homeless pets and encourage people to adopt from shelters as well as spay or neuter their cats or dogs.
September
Second Sunday in Sep. – National Pet Memorial Day
Created by the International Association of Pet Cemetaries, Pet Memorial Day is a special holiday for people to remember pets that have passed away.
Sep. 21 – Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Sep. 21 is the day for people to learn more about the plight of puppies and dogs raised in puppy mills and to contribute to organizations that are trying to help them.
Sep. 28 – World Rabies Day
Launched in 2007, the goal of this date is to educate people about rabies and the importance of getting your pet vaccinated against this deadly disease.
October
Oct. 9 – National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention designed this holiday to create awareness of pet obesity and the health problems it can cause.
Oct. 16 – National Feral Cat Day
Alley Cat Allies created this holiday to bring attention to the plight of feral cats. On this day, many organizations and individuals devote their time to capturing feral cats for the purpose of spaying and neutering them.
Oct. 26 – National Pitbull Awareness Day
Oct 26 is dedicated to celebrating pitbull breeds, educating the public about the unfortunate myths surrounding them and encouraging their adoption.
November
Nov. 1 – National Cook for Your Pets Day
This date has been set aside to explore foods that are healthy for dogs and cats and focuses of creating home cooked meals for them.
Nov. 17 – National Black Cat Day
It is unfortunate that black cats are often looked over when people are choosing a cat to adopt. As such, this day was designed to encourage the adoption of cats that are black.
December
Dec. 2 – National Mutt Day
The Animal Miracle Foundation created National Mutt Day to encourage the adoption of mixed breed dogs in shelters all across the United States.
These are some of the most popular, Special Holidays for Pets. Other holidays you may want to celebrate with your four-legged friends include National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day (Jan. 22), ASPCA Day (April 10), Responsible Dog Ownership Day (Sep. 22) and Dogs in Politics Day (Sep. 23).
Now you know all the Special Pet Days, you might want to find the most popular, Special Pet Weeks and Months dedicated to dogs and cats: Week and Month-Long Celebrations Devoted to Dogs and Cats.