There's no question — pets bring a lot of love and joy to our everyday lives. And, many pet parents make an effort to make every day a special day for their best friend.
Every year, there are national holidays to celebrate your furry friend and all pets around the world. So, when is National Pet Day and how can you celebrate it?
In this article, we'll cover some major pet holidays and ideas for celebrating with your pack.
National Pet Holidays
National days of recognition for dogs, cats, and pets spread joy and are celebrated in many countries across the world.
DID YOU KNOW?
Animal welfare advocate and pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige founded National Pet Day, National Cat Day, National Dog Day, and many other holidays celebrating popular pets.
National Pet Day
April 11 is National Pet Day. The purpose of National Pet Day is to celebrate pets and spread a little extra love and awareness for shelter pets.
The entire month of April is packed with pet holidays:
- National Siamese Cat Day Day - April 6
- National Dog Fighting Awareness Day - April 8
- National Pet Day - April 11
- National Dog Bite Prevention Week - April 14-20
- Hairball Awareness Day - April 24
- National Kids and Pets Day - April 27
- National Pet Parents Day - April 27
- Adopt a Shelter Pet Day - April 30
April is also Heartworm Awareness Month, Canine Fitness Month, and Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Month.
A holiday motto for National Pet Day is "Adopt, don't shop!" This motto inspires humans to seek companionship through pet adoption rather than shopping for purebred dogs or cats from a breeder.
Pet owners and pet lovers across the world celebrate and bring attention to National Pet Day each year, including some notable public figures like:
- Jimmy Fallon
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood
- Willy Nelson
- Seth Myers
- Kevin Bacon
- Cee Lo Green
According to the American Pet Products Association, most households in America (66%) own at least one pet. But, the love for pets and companionship humans have dates back centuries.
The Egyptians were known for being extreme lovers of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and forest animals. Feline friends were the most popular pets among the Egyptians, with the Egyptian cat Deity painted on the shields of the Egyptian Army.
DID YOU KNOW?
When family pets died, the Egyptians shaved their eyebrows and the rest of their bodies to display grief.
National Dog Day
National Dog Day takes place on August 26. It's the perfect day to spend extra time with your dogs or visit rescue shelters.
DID YOU KNOW?
Colleen Paige chose August 26 to be National Dog Day, because it was the day her family adopted their first dog, Sheltie, from a local animal shelter.
Other national pet holidays recognized to celebrate dogs include:
- National Dress Up Your Pet Day - January 14
- Dog Training Education Month - February
- National Purebred Dog Day - May 1
- National Dog Mom's Day - May 7
- National Take Your Dog to Work Day - June 21
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month - July
- International Assistance Dog Week - August 4-10
- Work Like a Dog Day - August 5
- National Dog Week, Deaf Dog Awareness Week - September 22-28
National Cat Day
National Cat Day takes place on October 29. Across the country and the world, you can spot pet owners celebrating by bringing awareness to shelter animals, especially cats.
Other national pet holidays for cats include:
- National Hug Your Cat Day - June 4
- National Take Your Cat to Work Day - June 17
- National Adopt a Cat Month - June
- International Cat Day - August 8
- Cat Month - September
- National Meow Like a Pirate Day - September 19
- International Day of Veterinary Medicine - December 9
National Pet Month
May is National Pet Month! National Pet Month is dedicated to pets of all kinds, especially dogs and cats. Depending on the country you live in, you may have special holidays and national pet days for specific animals.
DID YOU KNOW?
In Thailand, National Elephant Day celebrates native elephants. Hedgehog Day (similar to Groundhog Day) is celebrated in Italy.
8 ways to celebrate with your pack
Celebrating your pet is a fun part of being a pet parent. Use National Pet Day — and every day — as an excuse to show some extra love to all pets.
Here are eight ways to acknowledge National Pet Day with your pack.
1. Visit a local animal shelter.
Checking out a local shelter to spend time with adoptable pets is a fun way to spend National Pet Day. Take a field trip to your local shelter or humane society to hang out with the pets and learn more about animal shelters.
2. Volunteer at rescue organizations.
A special way to honor National Pet Day is by spending time with rescue animals. Contact rescue organizations in your area about volunteer opportunities.
Some common rescue volunteer opportunities include:
- Dog walking
- Donation sorting
- Enrichment
- Foster care
- Kitten feeding
- Laundry
- Surgery assisting
3. Donate to animal shelters.
If you're unable to get out and volunteer at a shelter, consider donating to shelters in your area. Even a small donation helps change the lives of shelter animals.
4. Give your pet a spa day.
Even your pet deserves some rest and relaxation. Plus, it makes for super cute social media pictures. Set up a spa day for your pet with their favorite products like ear wipes and leave-in shampoo to pamper them.
5. Go to a dog park.
Visit a local dog park with your pup to provide some extra exercise and enrichment. And, don't forget your pet's favorite ball or frisbee for fetching.
6. Host a pet play date.
What better way to spend National Pet Day than with other pets? Host a playdate for your pets to socialize with your furry friend and spend time with other pet parents.
7. Visit your veterinarian for a check-up.
Taking good care of your pet and keeping their health top of mind is the perfect way to spend National Pet Day. Visit your vet for a dog or cat check-up to make sure your pets are up to date on vaccinations and treatments.
8. Get a pet wellness subscription for your pet.
Make National Pet Day every day with a subscription to wellness products to keep your pets happy and healthy.
Consider adding products like flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats, supplements, and dental care to your subscription. These products ensure your pets stay healthy for many more pet holidays to come.
No matter how you choose to celebrate National Pet Day, take some time to provide quality pet care and some extra love for your best friend. And, don't forget to wish your fellow pet parents a happy holiday.
Author
Meet Olivia Bornemeier
Olivia Bornemeier is a copywriter and photographer by day, dog mom by night to her red lab, Hank. With an MBA from Augustana University, she conducts intentional research and crafts meaningful content to help pet parents stay educated on all things pet wellness.
