You’re scrolling through your socials when you wonder, “Why are there so many pictures of chihuahuas, and why do I suddenly have the inexplicable urge to eat tacos?” Then it hits you. It’s International Chihuahua Appreciation Day—and you missed it!
Pet holidays are a great opportunity for veterinary practices to become part of the conversation and connect with pet owners on social, as well as an opportunity to remind clients about important pet health issues. Yet with so many pet holidays, it can be nearly impossible to keep track of them all. To help with that, here is our annual list of upcoming pet holidays to bookmark for easy reference through 2021 to stay competitive with other practices on social.
Since the word “holidays” denotes fun, we also included some other favorite holidays. Somehow, we just know your clients will appreciate a reminder about National Donut Day or National Pizza Day.
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 Travel Safety Day
January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5: National Bird Day
January 5: National Whipped Cream Day
January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15: National Hat Day
January 21: National Hug Day
January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
January 23: National Pie Day
January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
January 28: National Have Fun at Work Day
January 29: National Seeing Eye Dog Day
February
Monthly Celebrations:
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- National Prevent a Litter Month
- Spay and Neuter Awareness Month
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- 21-28: National Justice for Animals Week
Days
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 9: National Pizza Day
February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 15: Family Day
February 16: Pancake Tuesday
February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day
February 23: Spay Day USA
February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
February 25: World Spay Day
March
Monthly Celebrations:
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- March 7-13: Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 21-27: National Poison Prevention Week
Days
March 1: National Pig Day
March 3: World Wildlife Day
March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 3: International Ear Care Day
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 13: K9 Veterans Day
March 14: National Save a Spider Day.
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20: International Day of Happiness
March 23: National Puppy Day
March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
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 10-17: National Wildlife Week
- April 11-17: National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week
- April 11-17: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
- April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
- April 18-24: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
Days
April 1: April Fools’ Day
April 2: National Ferret Day
April 2: Good Friday
April 3: Every Day Is Tag Day
April 5: National Walking Day
April 5: Easter Monday
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
April 7: World Health Day
April 7: National No Housework Day
April 8: National Zoo Lover’s Day
April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
April 10: National Farm Animals Day
April 11: National Pet Day
April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 17: National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day
April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day
April 19: National Cat Lady Day
April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
April 21: National Administrative Professionals Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 24: World Veterinary Day
April 25: National Hairball Awareness Day
April 25: National Pet Parents Day
April 25: World Penguin Day
April 28: International Guide Dogs Day
April 30: National Tabby Day
April 30: 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 2-8: National Pet Week
- May 2-8: Be Kind to Animals Week
- May 3-9: Puppy Mill Action Week
Days
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day
May 1: May Day
May 2: Mayday for Mutts
May 2: National Lemonade Day
May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day
May 4: Bird Day
May 4: Star Wars Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day
May 9: Mother’s Day
May 13: National Apple Pie Day
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 21: National Pizza Party Day
May 23: World Turtle Day
May 24: Victoria Day
May 28: National Hamburger Day
May 31: Memorial Day
June
Monthly Celebrations:
- Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- Social Petworking Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- June 6-12: Pet Appreciation Week
- June 21-25: 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
June 5: National Donut Day
June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 10: World Pet Memorial Day
June 18: Ugliest Dog Day
June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day
June 20: Father’s Day
June 21: National Dog Party Day
June 21: Take Your Cat to Work Day
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
June 25: Take Your Dog to Work Day
June 28: National Insurance Awareness Day
July
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Doghouse Repairs Month
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- July 11-17: Everybody Deserves a Massage Week
- July 18-24: National Zookeeper Week
Days
July 1: Canada Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 7: World Chocolate Day
July 10: National Kitten Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 13: Cow Appreciation Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 15: I Love Horses Day
July 16: World Snake Day
July 18: National Ice Cream Day
July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day
July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day
July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 30: International Day of Friendship
July 30: 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 1-7: International Assistance Dog Week
Days
August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
August 8: International Cat Day
August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day
August 10: National Lazy Day
August 15: National Check the Chip Day
August 15: National Relaxation Day
August 16: National Tell a Joke Day
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 21: International Homeless Animals Day
August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
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 Service Dog Month
- National Pet Insurance Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- 13-19: Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week
- 19-25: National Deaf Pet Awareness Week; National Dog Week
Days
September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 4: National Wildlife Day
September 4: International Bacon Day
September 6: Labor Day
September 12: National Pet Memorial Day
September 12: National Hug Your Hound Day
September 13: International Chocolate Day
September 16: Remember Me Thursday
September 18: National Cheeseburger Day
September 18: Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 18: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September 23: Dogs in Politics Day
September 25: International Rabbit Day
September 28: World Rabies Day
October
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Pit Bull Awareness Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Weekly Celebrations:
- 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week
- 3-9: Animal Health Week
- 17-23: National Veterinary Technician Week
Days
October 1: International Coffee Day
October 1: World Smile Day
October 1: National Black Dog Day
October 1: National Fire Pup Day
October 4: World Animal Day
October 5: National Do Something Nice Day
October 9: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 11: Canadian Thanksgiving
October 16: National Feral Cat Day
October 25: 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:
- 7-13: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week
Days
November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 4: National Candy Day
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
November 25: U.S. Thanksgiving
November 26: National Cake Day
November 26: Black Friday
November 28: Hanukkah begins
November 29: Cyber Monday
December
Monthly Celebrations:
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
Days
December 2: National Mutt Day
December 4: National Cookie Day
December 5: International Volunteer Day
December 10: International Animal Rights Day
December 13: National Cocoa Day
December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 30: National Bacon Day
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Please note: Any of these days/celebrations can change, so before posting anything, please do a quick Google search to ensure the date remains correct.
