You’re scrolling through your Facebook news feed while wondering, “Why are there so many pictures of chihuahuas?” Then you realize. It’s International Chihuahua Appreciation Day—and you missed it!
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. So many pet holidays have cropped up in the past few years, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all.
To help with that, here’s our updated list of all the pet-themed holidays we could find for 2020. And since the word “holidays” denotes fun, we included some of our other favorite holidays.
Somehow, we just know your practice will find a way to celebrate National Hot Fudge Sundae Day or National Pizza Party Day.
Call it a hunch. 🙂
January
Monthly Celebrations:
- Walk Your Pet Month
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
- Unchain a Dog Month
Days
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 2: National Pet Safety Travel Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5: National Bird Day; National Whipped Cream Day
January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15: National Hat Day (Who doesn’t love cute pets wearing adorable hats?)
January 21: National Hug Day; Squirrel Appreciation Day (Your dog appreciates squirrels—or at least the chance to chase them.)
January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (See Cat World Domination Day if they seem shifty or evasive, like they’re hiding something.) 🙂
January 23: National Pie Day (Celebrating is as easy as [insert your favorite pie name here].)
January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
January 29: National Seeing Eye Dog Day
January 31: National Have Fun at Work Day (This is an excellent holiday to celebrate every day.)
February
Monthly Celebrations:
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month (The perfect time to check in with clients to assist them with any questions about pet parenting.)
- National Prevent a Litter Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- Feb. 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
Days
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 9: National Pizza Day
February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day; Valentine’s Day
February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day; Family Day
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day; National Wildlife Day
February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day (Yes, dogs appreciate dog biscuits every day—but now they have their own official day!)
February 25: Spay Day USA/World Spay Day; Pancake Day
March
Monthly Celebrations:
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- March 1–7: Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 16-22: National Poison Prevention Week
Days
March 1: National Pig Day
March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day; International Ear Care Day (Sure, your pet can hear you opening a can of pet food a mile away. Help keep it that way.)
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 13: K9 Veterans Day (Honoring and commemorating the service and sacrifices of U.S. military and working dogs.)
March 14: National Save a Spider Day. (Sure, they can be creepy, but without them, Spider-Man would just be Man, and that would just be sad.)
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20: International Day of Happiness
March 23: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day (They move like ninjas and were awesomely clawed before Marvel invented Wolverine. Respect!)
March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
April
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Heartworm Awareness Month
- National Greyhound Adoption Month
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Weekly Celebrations:
April 1–7: International Pooper Scooper Week
April 5-11: National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week; National Dog Bite Prevention Week
April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
April 19-25: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
Days
April 1: April Fools’ Day; National Walking Day (It’s healthy and fun for pets and their owners.)
April 2: National Ferret Day
April 4: Every Day Is Tag Day
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
April 7: World Health Day; National No Housework Day (Because you’ve earned it.)
April 8: National Zoo Lover’s Day
April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day; National Farm Animals Day; Good Friday
April 11: National Pet Day; Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day; Easter Monday
April 17: National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day (The perfect time to make sure you don’t have any expired or leftover pet medication sitting around.)
April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day
April 19: National Cat Lady Day (Break out the catnip. It’s time to celebrate cat ladies everywhere!)
April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
April 22: Earth Day (It’s the 50th anniversary!); National Administrative Professionals Day
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 24: National Hairball Awareness Day
April 25: World Penguin Day (Who doesn’t love a bird in a tuxedo?)
April 26: National Pet Parents Day
April 27: World Veterinary Day
April 29: International Guide Dogs Day
April 30: National Tabby Day; National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
May
Monthly Celebrations:
- Chip Your Pet Month
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- National Pet Month
- Lyme Disease Prevention Month
- National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- May 3–9: National Pet Week; Be Kind to Animals Week
- May 4-10: Puppy Mill Action Week
Days
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day; National Chocolate Parfait Day; May Day
May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day; Mayday for Mutts; National Lemonade Day
May 4: Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!)
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day
May 10: Mother’s Day
May 11: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 13: National Apple Pie Day
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 15: National Pizza Party Day
May 18: Victoria Day
May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 23: World Turtle Day (Tortoises included.)
May 25: Memorial Day
May 28: National Hamburger Day
May 30: International Hug Your Cat Day
June
Monthly Celebrations:
- Adopt-a-Cat Month
- Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- Social Petworking Month (Dedicated to using social media to help homeless pets find good homes.)
Weekly Celebrations:
- June 7–13: Pet Appreciation Week
- June 22-26: Take Your Pet to Work Week
Days
June 1: Global Day of Parents
June 3: National Running Day
June 4: National Hug Your Cat Day (But really, every day should be Hug Your Cat Day.)
June 5: National Donut Day
June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 9: World Pet Memorial Day
June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day (Why not celebrate with lasagna?)
June 21: National Dog Party Day; Ugliest Dog Day; Father’s Day
June 22: Take Your Cat to Work Day
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
June 26: Take Your Dog to Work Day
June 28: National Insurance Awareness Day (A good time to think about pet insurance.)
July
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Doghouse Repairs Month
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- July 12–18: Everybody Deserves a Massage Week (Yup, that includes you.)
- July 19-25: National Zookeeper Week
Days
July 1: Canada Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 10: Cow Appreciation Day; National Kitten Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day; I Love Horses Day
July 16: World Snake Day
July 19: National Ice Cream Day
July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day; No Pet Store Puppies Day
July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day (More ice cream!)
July 30: International Day of Friendship; National Cheesecake Day
July 31: National Mutt Day
Dogust (a.k.a. August)
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- National Back-to-School Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- August 2–8: International Assistance Dog Week
Days
August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (Ice cream—in sandwich form!)
August 8: International Cat Day
August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day; National Lazy Day
August 15: National Check the Chip Day; National Relaxation Day (If you missed Lazy Day, you can relax knowing that Relaxation Day has you covered.)
August 16: National Tell a Joke Day (Laughter really is good medicine.)
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day; International Homeless Animals Day
August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day (Tailor-made to touch base with cat owner clients whom you may not have seen in a while.)
August 26: National Dog Day
August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Disaster Preparedness Month
- Pet Sitter Education Month
- Happy Healthy Cat Month
- National Guide Dogs Month
- National Pet Health Insurance Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- National Service Dog Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- Sept. 21-27: Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week; National Deaf Pet Awareness Week; National Dog Week
Days
September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 5: National Bacon Day (Canada)
September 7: Labor Day
September 13: National Pet Memorial Day; National Hug Your Hound Day
September 18: National Cheeseburger Day
September 19: Puppy Mill Awareness Day; Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September 26: International Rabbit Day
September 28: World Rabies Day
October
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Pit Bull Awareness Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Adopt-a-Dog Month
- National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- Oct. 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week; Animal Welfare Week
- Oct. 4-10: Animal Health Week
- Oct. 19–23: National Veterinary Technician Week
Days
October 1: International Coffee Day; National Black Dog Day; National Fire Pup Day (Honoring canine members of firefighting teams.)
October 4: World Animal Day; World Smile Day
October 5: National Do Something Nice Day
October 9: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 12: Canadian Thanksgiving
October 15: National Grouch Day
October 16: National Feral Cat Day
October 24: National Pit Bull Awareness Day
October 28: National Chocolate Day
October 29: National Cat Day
October 31: Halloween
November
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- National Senior Pet Month
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- National Pet Diabetes Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- Nov. 1-7: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week
Days
November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day; National Cook for Your Pets Day (Operating a can opener doesn’t count as cooking.) 🙁
November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 11: Remembrance Day; Veterans Day
November 13: World Kindness Day
November 14: World Diabetes Day
November 17: National Take a Hike Day
November 23: Wolfenoot (A holiday involving presents and a delicious feast just for being kind to dogs? Yes please!)
November 26: U.S. Thanksgiving; National Cake Day (Pumpkin pie and cake—both on the same day!)
December
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
Days
December 2: National Mutt Day (Round 2!)
December 4: National Cookie Day
December 5: International Volunteer Day
December 10: International Animal Rights Day
December 13: National Cocoa Day (The perfect day to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa!)
December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day (Dedicated to anyone who manages chaos like a champ.)
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day (Canada)
December 30: National Bacon Day (U.S.) (Everything’s better with bacon!)
December 31: New Year’s Eve (Happy New Year!)
We’ve also created a printable calendar to provide in your clinics of all the 2020 Pet Holidays.
Download Your 2020 Pet Holidays Calendar
