Pet Holidays Galore!
Ever wonder how many dog and cat holidays there are? Quite a lot. Journey on to learn about some of the weird and wacky holidays that people have come up with to celebrate our animal companions (and some more serious, educational days, too). [Updated semi-annually.]
January (2024)
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| I can't believe you make me poop outside in this. |
Month-long:
- Walk Your Pet Month
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Unchain a Dog Month
Day-by-day:
- January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
- January 7: National Alaskan Malamute Day
- January 6: National Cuddle Up Day
- January 8: National Labrador Retriever Day
- January 9: National Australian Shepherd Day
- January 13: National French Bulldog Day
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day; National Basset Hound Day
- January 15: National American Eskimo Dog Day
- January 21: National Squirrel Appreciation Day
- January 22: National Answer Your Cat's Question Day; National Yorkshire Terrier Day
- January 24: Change a Pet's Life Day
- January 29: Seeing-Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
February (2024)
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| And moments later, the heart was devoured. |
Month-long:
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- Spay / Neuter Awareness Month (AKA Beat the Heat Month)
Weeklong:
- February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- February 18-24: Justice for Animals Week (fourth week of February)
Day-by-day:
- February 1: World Galgo Day / World Greyhound Day
- February 2: Sled Dog Day
- February 3: National Golden Retriever Day; Doggy Date Night
- February 14: National Pet Theft Awareness Day (US)
- February 19: Internatioanl Tug-of-War Day; National Boston Terrier Day; National Whippet Day
- February 20: Love Your Pet Day
- February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day; National Wildlife Day; Neko no Hi (Day of the Cat in Japan)
- February 23: National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- February 27: World Spay Day (fourth Tuesday in Feb)
March (2024)
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| I can finally poop outside without freezing my butt off. |
Month-long:
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Weeklong:
- March 3-9: Professional Pet Sitters Week (First full week of March)
- March 17-23: National Poison Prevention Week (Third full week of March)
Day-by-day:
- March 1: National Welsh Corgi Day
- March 2: Iditarod Trail Sled Race Begins (first Saturday in March)
- March 3: UN World Wildlife Day; If Pets Had Thumbs Day; Tripawd Awareness Day
- March 8: International Akita Day
- March 13: K9 Veterans Day
- March 14: Dog Theft Awareness Day (UK)
- March 17: Saint Gertrude of Nivelles Day (the patron saint of cats)
- March 20: National Westie Day
- March 23: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day
- March 25: National Newfoundland Dog Day
- March 27: National Terrier Day
- March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
- March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
April (2024)
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| Hippity, hoppity, I'm never wearing this again. |
Month-long:
- Heartworm Awareness Month
- National Adopt a Greyhound Month
- National Pet First Aid Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- Active Dog Month/Canine Fitness Month
Weeklong:
- April 1-7: National Pooper Scooper Week; National Raw Feeding Week
- April 14-20: National Dog Bite Prevention Week; Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week (second full week of April)
- April 21-27: National Pet ID Week; Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (third full week of April)
- April 23-29: National Scoop the Poop Week
Day-by-day:
- April 1: International Bull Terrier Day
- April 4: World Stray Animal Day
- April 6: Every Day is Tag Day (first Saturday in April)
- April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
- April 11: National Pet Day; Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
- April 15: Biomedical Research Awareness Day
- April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day
- April 19: National Cat Lady Day
- April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
- April 22: Earth Day; National Beagle Day
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
- April 24: International Guide Dog Day (last Wednesday of April)
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
- April 26: Hairball Awareness Day (last Friday in April)
- April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day; Free Feral Cat Spay Day
- April 27: World Veterinary Day (last Saturday in April)
- April 28: National Pet Parents Day (last Sunday in April)
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day; National Tabby Day; Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
May (2024)
 |
| Let's try not to eat the diploma this time. |
Month-long:
- National Pet Month
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
- National Service Animal Eye Examination Month
- Lyme Disease Prevention Month
- Chip Your Pet Month
- National Foster Care Month
Weeklong:
- May 5-11: National Pet Week (first full week of May); Be Kind to Animals Week (first full week of May); Dog Anxiety Awareness Week (first full week of May); Puppy Mill Action Week (the week leading up to Mother's Day)
Day-by-day:
- May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
- May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
- May 5: Mayday for Mutts (first Sunday in May)
- May 7: Wildlife Preparedness Day
- May 10: International German Shepherd Day
- May 11: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day; National Dog Mom Day (second Saturday in May)
- May 11-14: Westminster Kennel Dog Show (2024)
- May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
- May 18: World Dog Day
- May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
- May 25: National Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Day (last Saturday in May)
- May 28: Saint Bernard Day
- May 30: International Hug Your Cat Day
June (2024)
 |
| Let's go to the beach, okay? I have seagulls to bark at--I mean, frisbees to catch! |
Month-long:
- National Adopt a Cat Month
- Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
- Social PETworking month
Weeklong:
- June 2–8: Pet Appreciation Week (first full week in June)
- June 17–23: National Animal Rights Awareness Week (third week in June)
- June 17-24: Take Your Pet to Work Week
Day-by-day:
- June 2: National Greyhound Day
- June 4: Hug Your Cat Day; International Corgi Day
- June 8: National Best Friends Day
- June 11: World Pet Memorial Day (second Tuesday in June)
- June 12: National Great Dane Day
- June 17: Take Your Cat to Work Day (the Monday before Take Your Dog to Work Day)
- June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day
- June 21: Dog Party Day; National Dashcund Day
- June 21: Take Your Dog to Work Day (The Friday after Father's Day)
- June 24: Cat World Domination Day
- June 28: National Rottweiler Day
- June 29: World Day Against the Abandonment of Domestic Animals (last Saturday in June)
July (2024)
 |
| Independence Day: when the humans cook lots of meat and the sky explodes. |
Month-long:
- National Dog House Repair Month
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Weeklong:
- July 21–27: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week (last full week of July?)
Day-by-day:
- July 1: ID Your Pet Day
- July 5: Pet Remembrance Day (UK)
- July 10: National Kitten Day
- July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
- July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
- July 21: National Craft For Your Local Shelters Day; No Pet Store Puppies Day; World Collie Day
- July 20: National Hot Dog Day
- July 26: National Dog Photography Day
- July 31: National Mutt Day (also on Dec. 2)
Month-crossing:
- July 3-August 11: The Dog Days of Summer
August (2024)
 |
| "Dog Days" means I get to do whatever I want, right? |
Month-long:
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Itchy Pet Awareness Month
- Rawgust (celebration of raw feeding for pets)
Weeklong:
- August 4-10: International Assistance Dog Week (starting on the first Sunday of August)
- August 4-10: Give a Dog a Bone Week (first full week of August)
Day-by-day:
- August 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
- August 4: Assistance Dog Day
- August 5: Work Like a Dog Day
- August 8: International Cat Day; Odie Day
- August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day; Snoopy's Birthday
- August 15: National Check the Chip Day
- August 16: Saint Roch’s Day (the patron saint of dogs)
- August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day; International Black Cat Day
- August 17: Saint Bernard Day; International Homeless Animals Day; Clear the Shelters Day (third Saturday in August)
- August 19: International Homeless Animals Day
- August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
- August 23: International Blind Dog Day
- August 26: National Dog Day; World Dog Day; National Cocker Spaniel Day
- August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
- August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September (2024)
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| But I don't wanna go to obedience school. I listen to you plenty! I only steal your shoes sometimes... |
Month-long:
- National Pet Insurance Month
- Pet Sitter Education Month
- Happy Healthy Cat Month
- Guide / Service Dogs Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- Responsible Dog Ownership Month
- Happy Cat Month
- National Service Dog Month
Weeklong:
- September 15-21: Adopt a Less-Adoptable Week (Third week in September)
- September 22-28: National Dog Week; Deaf Pet Awareness Week (Fourth week of September)
Day-by-day:
- September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day (Note from Runa: Perhaps the best day, besides June 24.)
- September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
- September 8: National Pet Memorial Day; National Hug Your Hound Day (Second Sunday in September)
- September 9: Mo Cats Day
- September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
- September 19: Meow Like a Pirate Day
- September 21: Puppy Mill Awareness Day; Responsible Dog Ownership Day (Third Saturday in September)
- September 23: Dogs in Politics Day
- September 25: National Schnauzer Day
- September 26: Remember Me Thursday (fourth Thursday of September)
- September 28: World Rabies Day
- September 38: World's Largest Pet Walk (date variable by year)
October (2024)
 |
| As long as you don't actually expect me to fly anywhere. I'd rather nap. |
Month-long:
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Pitbull Awareness Month
- Adopt a Dog Month / Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Weeklong:
- October. 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week (Always October 1-7)
- October 6-12: Animal Welfare Week (first full week of October)
- October 13-19: National Veterinary Technician Week (third week of October)
Day-by-day:
- October 1: National Fire Pup Day; National Black Dog Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 5: Poodle Day
- October 9: Pet Obesity Awareness Day (Second Wednesday in October)
- October 15: National Pug Day
- October 16: National Feral Cat Day
- October 19: National Fetch Day (third Saturday in October)
- October 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
- October 2: National Fetch Day (third Saturday of October)
- October 26: National Pit Bull Awareness Day
- October 27: National Black Cat Day (UK)
- October 29: National Cat Day
November (2024)
 |
| Football is my favorite sport. I, too, love playing catch and chasing balls! |
Month-long:
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- National Senior Pet Month
- National Adoption Month
- Peanut Butter Lovers Month
- Pet Diabetes Month
Weeklong:
- Nov. 3-9: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week (first full week of Nov)
Day-by-day:
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- November 3: One Health Day
- November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
- November 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day
- November 17: National Black Cat Day (US) and National Take a Hike Day
- November 24: National Border Collie Day
December (2024)
 |
| 'Tis the season to give your pup a Milkbone or twelve! |
Month-long:
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
Day-by-day:
- December 2: National Mutt Day (also on July 31)
- December 4: World Wildlife Conservation Day
- December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
- December 10: International Animal Rights Day
- December 15: National Cat Herders' Day
- December 20: Underdog Day (Third Friday of December)
Written by: Skye Isabella Rose Iwanski
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