Wondering about national pet holidays? Well, nearly every month in the year has some sort of pet celebration day.
While many of these celebrations revolve around dogs, not all do. Some celebrate birds. Others celebrate cats. At least one even celebrates rabbits as pets.
List of National Pet Holidays
Below is a month-by-month list of national pet holidays. Most are U.S. based. However, are a few are from the United Kingdom, too.
Finally, some pet holidays are all month long. Others are on a specific day or days.
So, the list begins with those month-long holidays. Then, you’ll find the specific dates of the other celebrations.
January National Pet Holidays
National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Pet Month.
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month.
Jan. 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day.
Jan. 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day.
Jan. 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day.
Jan. 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day.
Jan. 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Birthday.
February National Pet Holidays
Beat the Heat Month.
Dog Training Education Month.
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. (Humane Society of the United States)
Pet Dental Health Month.
Responsible Pet Owners Month.
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.
National Prevent a Litter Month.
Unchain a Dog Month.
2nd week in Feb.: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week.
Feb 3: Golden Retriever Day.
Feb. 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day.
3rd week in Feb.: National Justice for Animals Week.
Feb. 19: National Boston Terrier Day.
Feb. 20: Love Your Pet Day.
Feb. 22: Walking the Dog Day.
Feb. 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
Last Tuesdy of February: World Spay Day. Annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States.
Last Tuesday of February. Spay Day USA.
March National Pet Holidays
Poison Prevention Awareness Month.
March 1: National Pig Day.
March 6-12: Professional Pet Sitters Week.
March 13: K-9 Veterans Day.
March 20-26: National Poison Prevention Week.
March 23: National Puppy Day (encourages adoption)
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day.
March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day.
April National Pet Holidays
National Greyhound Adoption Month.
National Heartworm Awareness Month.
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This event is an effort by the American Red Cross to draw attention to the need to know specialized pet first aid.
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASCPA)
National Pet Month. (UK)
First Saturday in April: Every Day is Tag Day. From the American Humane Society, it is a nationwide effort held annually on the first Saturday in April. This national pet holiday unites thousands of animal care and control agencies, veterinarians, and humane organizations in the common goal of urging pet owners to equip their pets with ID tags and/or microchips to maximize the chance of their safe return if they stray from home or are lost on vacation.
April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week.
April 4: World Stray Animals Day.
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day.
April 8: National Dog Fight Awareness Day.
April 11: National Pet Day.
Second full week in April: Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week.
April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day.
April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day.
Third week in April: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States.
Third week in April. National Pet ID Week.
Last Saturday in April: World Veterinary Day. The World Veterinary Association created this pet holiday.
April 29: National Kids and Pets Day.
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
May National Pet Holidays
National Pet Month. (US)
Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research. (Also see November events.)
Chip Your Pet Month.
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists hosts this annual event when over 200 veterinary ophthalmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada.
May 1: Mayday for Mutts.
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day.
May 3: National Specially Abled Pets Day
First full week of May: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week. This week-long event has been celebrated since 1915.
First full week of May: National Pet Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association created this national holiday.
Monday before Mother’s Day: Puppy Mill Action Week. An initiative of the HSUS, the Human Society of the United States.
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
Second Sunday of May: National Dog Mom Day (yes, it’s the same as Mother’s Day in the U.S.)
Third full week in May: Dog Bite Prevention Week. This event by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) along with the United States Post Office (USPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) focuses attention on preventing dog bites.
June National Pet Holidays
National Pet Preparedness Month. This national pet holiday, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster. That includes making plans for what you would do with your dog in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day.
June 4: International Corgi Day (including National Welsh Corgi Day).
First week in June: Pet Appreciation Week.
June 8: National Pet Day
June 9: World Pet Memorial Day.
Mid-June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
June 20-24: Take Your Dog to Work Week.
June 21: National Dachshund Day.
June 21: National Dog Party Day.
June 24: Take Your Dog to Work Day.
July National Pet Holidays
Dog House Repair Month.
National Lost Pet Prevention Month. Learn how to keep your pets from becoming lost in this month-long observance launched by PetHub.
July 4: Independence Day. This US holiday is no holiday for dogs; the sounds of fireworks cause many dogs to have anxiety. They panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs every year. So just a reminder to keep your pet safe and secure on the 4th of July, especially if you’ll be on vacation with you dog.
July 11: All American Pet Photo Day.
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day. Sponsored by The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club (AKC).
July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day.
July 26: National Dog Photography Day.
July 31: National Mutt Day. Also see Dec. 2.
August National Pet Holidays
Aug. 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs. The North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, declared August 1 as a birthday for all the shelter animals whose birthdays are unknown. Happy DOGust!!
Aug 1: National Yorkie Day.
Aug. 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
Aug. 7-13: International Assistance Dog Week.
Aug. 15: National Check the Chip Day. AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create “Check the Chip Day.”
August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day.
Aug. 20: International Homeless Animals’ Day.
Aug. 26: National Dog Day.
This article highlights only national dog holidays.
Aug. 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.
Aug. 30. National Holistic Pet Day.
September National Pet Holidays
Second Sunday in September: National Pet Memorial Day. Established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC).
Sept. 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day. A day dedicated to the issue of pet birth defects including information on identification, prevention and treatment. Sponsored by the MBJungle Foundation.
Sept. 13: National Hug Your Hound Day.
Sept. 17: National Pet Bird Day.
Sept. 19: Puppy Mill Awareness Day.
Sept. 19: Responsible Dog Ownership Day.
Sept. 23: Dogs in Politics Day (also known as Checkers Day). Recognizing the dogs of politicians.
Sept 25: National Schnauzer Day.
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day. Sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
Last full week in September. Deaf Pet Awareness Week. By Petfinder.com.
Last full week in September: National Dog Week.
October National Pet Holidays
Adopt-A-Dog Month. By American Humane Association.
National Animal Safety and Protection Month.
National Pet Wellness Month.
Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month. By ASPCA.
National PitBull Awareness Month.
National Service Dog Month.
First Week of October. National Walk Your Dog Week.
First Full Week of October. Animal Welfare Week. (AVMA)
Oct. 1: National Fire Pup Day.
Oct. 1: National Black Dog Day.
October 4: World Animal Day.
Oct. 12: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.
Oct. 9-15: National Veterinary Technician Week. Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America.
October 15: National Pug Day.
October 15: Dog Film Festival, New York City.
October 27: National Black Cat Day (just in time for Halloween).
October 29: National Cat Day.
Last Saturday in October: National PitBull Awareness Day. (unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen).
November National Pet Holidays
Adopt a Senior Pet Month. By ASPCA.
National Pet Awareness Month.
National Senior Pet Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and the Animal Cancer Foundation. (Also see May events).
Pet Diabetes Month.
National Dog Show. Always broadcast in the US on Thanksgiving. Sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, the event features 2,000 dogs.
Second Sunday in September: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, from The Humane Society of the United States.
Nov. 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day.
Nov. 17: National Take a Hike Day.
Evolve Vacation Rentals can help you find a great, pet-friendly place to stay with your dog on National Take a Hike Day or at other times during the year.
December National Pet Holidays
Look for opportunities to take pet pictures with Santa throughout the month.
Dec. 2: National Mutt Day. Also see July 31.
Dec. 13: National Horse Day/World Horse Appreciation Day
Dec. 21: Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day
