News Calendar Of Special Pet Days

People have all sorts of holidays they can celebrate throughout the year. However, did you know that there are many holidays dedicated to our cherished pets as well? 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 cats.

Special Holidays for Pets

The list of Special Pet Days is quite extensive, the following national pet holidays are some of the most widely recognized among pet owners today:

January

Jan. 2 – Happy New Year for Cats Day Otherwise known as Happy Mew Year for Cats Day, this holiday is celebrated by felines all over the world on January 2. According to creators of the special day, Thomas and Ruth Roy, the holiday gives cats a day unto themselves to celebrate a new time.
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. 22 – National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day Do you ever wonder why your cat meows at you in its own special way? Take time out on January 22 to really pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.
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. 20 – Love Your Pet Day You don’t need a special day to show your pet that you love it, but you can spend the day being a little bit kinder to the animal in your life. Special treats, extra pampering, and extended play times are all in order on this day.
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. Many shelters, veterinary clinics and rescue groups participate in National Dog Biscuit Day. Join in the fun and make your canine companion some healthy homemade treats.
Feb. 25 – Spay Day USA Created by the Doris Day Animal League, this holiday aims to raise awareness about spaying female dogs and cats. Be sure to spay your female animal if you haven’t done so already.
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 3 – If Pets had Thumbs Day What would your pet do if it had thumbs? Today is a day dedicated to pondering that question. 03/31/2014 United States
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.
March 28 – Respect Your Cat Day Show your cat a bit of respect today for all that it puts up with. Living in a human world isn’t easy for your finicky feline.

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 18 – Pet Owners Independence Day Send your pets to work in your place on this day. It’s your independence day and a time to relax.
April 19 – Pet Owners Day Honor the special pet owner in your life today. Pet parents deserve a day to call their own.
April 25 – Hairball Awareness Day National Hairball Awareness Day is held on the last Friday in April of each year. Increase your resolve to rid your cat of hairballs once and for all on this day dedicated to that very mission.
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 27 – Free Feral Cat Spay Day Find out if a shelter near you is participating in Free Feral Cat Spay Day this year. It is a great opportunity to get the feral cat population in your neighborhood under control.
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.
April 30 – International Guide Dog Day The last Wednesday of April is dedicated as International Guide Dog Day. Celebrate the important role that these animals play in the lives of humans with disabilities. Dogs helps us in many ways, learn more about Animal Assisted Therapy Dogs.

May

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 and it’s the day that many pet owners and animal lovers recognize dogs and cats that have disabilities. It can be quite difficult for shelters to find homes for disabled pets; however, these dogs and cats have a whole lot of love to give. As such, May 3 has been set aside as a special day for people to visit a local shelter and consider adopting a pet that has special needs. Know how to keep your disabled pet healthy and happy. 05/03/2014 United States
May 10 – Animal Disaster Preparedness Day When there are natural disasters, we need to think about our pets as well as our families. This day, every second saturday in May, is dedicated to educating pet owners about disaster preparedness for pets: How to Keep your Pet Safe During Natural Disasters
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. Learn more about dog dehydration.

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 8 – World Pet Memorial Day The second Sunday in June is World Pet Memorial Day. Everyone has a pet that they have loved and lost. Honor your pet’s memory on this special 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 11 – All American Pet Photo Day July 11 is All American Pet Photo Day. Pull out your camera to take some great shots of the pets in your life.
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. Follow these Fire Safety for Pets Tips.
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.
July 31 – Mutt’s Day Mutt’s have their own special day on July 31 each year. Spend the day celebrating your dogs that are mixtures of fantastic.

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. 10 – Spoil Your Dog Day Do you really need a special day to spoil your dog? If you do, August 10 is it. Spend the day with your canine companion doing all of the things it loves.
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. 16 – National Homeless Animals Day Celebrate National Homeless Animals Day on August 16. Shelters around the world use the day as an opportunity to educate humans about the plight of homeless animals. Find here the best reasons to adopt from an animal shelter.
Aug. 16 and 17 – National Dog Party Day Spend August 16 and 17 partying like the pet lover that you are. Events are held all over the United States; find one near you.
Aug. 18 – International Homeless Animals Day Each year on August 18, many people who love pets celebrate International Homeless Animal Day. This is a fantastic day to do your part to help our homeless pets by adopting a shelter animal, donating food to a shelter or volunteering your services to your local shelter for the 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.
Aug. 22 – National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day Have you taken your cat to the vet lately? Many cat owners are under the impression that indoor cats don’t need routine medical care. Take your cat to the vet on August 22 to make sure it’s healthy.
Aug. 26 – National Dog Day August 26 marks the 10th anniversary of National Dog Day. Honor your dog in a way that it deems appropriate.
Aug. 30 – National Holistic Pet Day Nurture your pet on August 30. Select a natural shampoo, bake up some organic treats, and buy your pal a new hemp collar. It’s the perfect day for dogs to go green.

September

Second Sunday in September – 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. 22 – Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Follow these tips on how to be a responsible pet owner.

Sept. 23 – Dogs in Politics Day On September 23, we celebrate Dogs in Politics Day. Have fun spending the day studying all of the dogs that have been made famous by their human politicians. 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. 4 – World Pet Day World Pet Day is October 4. Be sure to give your favorite animal a few extra cuddles.
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. Feral cats are not to be confused with strays. Stray cats are animals that were once pets but are now homeless. On the other hand, feral cats are animals that were born in the wild and have never been pets. National Feral Cat Day, which is held on Oct. 16, is dedicated to capturing and spaying feral cats before returning them to the wild.
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.
Oct. 29 – National Cat Day Celebrate your feline friend, and encourage the humans in your life to adopt a homeless cat.

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 these Special Pet Weeks and Months dedicated to dogs and cats: Week and Month-Long Celebrations Devoted to Dogs and Cats.