Ever wonder when Hug Your Cat Day is? Need to know when to mark Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day on your calendar? Did you even know that there’s a day in April proclaimed to discourage people from stepping in dog poop? (Shouldn’t that be a holiday 365 days of the year?)
Make note of these and other celebratory dates or download our free calendar–but first,
take a look at our complete list of pet holidays.
Dog holidays
Dog lovers, here is your ultimate list of special days to share with Fido.
February 22—Walking the Dog Day
Most people walk their dog every day, but this day makes taking your dog for a stroll a priority. Don’t have a dog? Join a friend and their pooch for the occasion.
February 23—International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
What better way to spoil your dog than by celebrating the ever-blissful dog biscuit? Show your dog just how much he means to you by letting him enjoy his favorite treat.
March 23—National Puppy Day
This day is a celebration of the cutest, softest and most playful pets there are—puppies! Spend this day loving on and spending time with your puppy as awareness is raised around the world to save and protect orphaned puppies.
April 18—International Guide Dog Day
Take time on this day to celebrate the important role that guide dogs play in helping vision-impaired people achieve safe and independent travel.
April 25—Don’t Step in Dog Poop Day
Most would prefer that every day be “don’t step in dog poop day,” so why does this holiday exist? This is a day created to urge dog owners to evaluate dog doo pick-up options. With a cleaner yard comes a healthier pet!
June 24—Take Your Dog to Work Day
A dog in the office doesn’t sound like too brilliant an idea, but the reason for this holiday is. When businesses open their doors to employees’ furry friends, they are doing their part to celebrate canine companionship and promote pet adoption.
July 31—Mutt’s Day
Mutt’s Day is the day the spotlight shines on half-breeds all across the nation. Every dog has its day, and for mutts, that day is July 31.
August 5—Work Like a Dog Day
No, this day isn’t an excuse to lay around like a dog all day long. This day exists to honor those that work hard, always going the extra mile (though we like the lazy dog day better).
August 12—National Assistance Dog Day
This is a special holiday devoted to honoring those dogs that help better the lives of disabled individuals. On this day, guide dogs, service dogs, hearing alert dogs, seizure response dogs and medical response dogs are acknowledged for all they do to improve humanity.
August 26—National Dog Day
National Dog Day is a day for all dogs—a day to recognize family dogs, assistance dogs and those dogs in need of rescue. On this day, communities across the nation hold events to commemorate dogs of all kinds.
September 23—Dogs in Politics Day
Sparked by a speech by President Nixon about his family dog, Checkers, this day was established to celebrate the four-legged friends of U.S. politicians.
October—National Pit Bull Awareness Day
Every October, this day is celebrated to raise awareness of the joys of owning pit bulls, dispel pit bull myths, discuss breed discrimination and have a little fun.
Cat holidays
Feline friends need love too! Check out our cat holiday calendar to make sure you don’t miss these cat-crazy dates.
January 22—National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
This holiday of feline understanding is meant to shed light on the importance of communicating with your cat. If, for example, your cat questions you about the meaning of life on this particular day, you’d better come up with a response.
April 28—Hairball Awareness Day
If you ask the Hairball Awareness Day spokesperson, Romeo the cat, he would tell you that this holiday is meant to teach the public about the dangers of hair ingestion and the importance of good grooming practices.
May 30—Hug Your Cat Day
This day is exactly what it sounds like—a day to hug, cuddle and love your favorite kitten.
October 16—National Feral Cat Day
Celebrate the safety and well-being of cats on this day by taking part in a community event to make the world a safer place for feral cats.
October 29—National Cat Day
The goal of National Cat Day is simply to “celebrate the cats in your life, and to give them unconditional love for the companionship they bestow.”
November 17—National Black Cat Day
This holiday began in Italy as a means of dispelling the myth that black cats bring bad luck. On this day black cats are celebrated and cat lovers everywhere are encouraged to do their part in restoring the reputation and quality of life of black cats.
General pet holidays
There are plenty of holidays that don’t discriminate on the basis of cat-ness or dog-ness. Maybe you have an elephant. Well, here are some holidays for you.
January 2—National Pet Travel Safety day
This day is dedicated to the safety of all animals no matter where they travel—the grocery store, the park, grandma’s house and everywhere else.
January 14—National Dress up Your Pet Day
Take time this day to play doggy dress-up, deck your cat in the latest trends and make every one of your pets fit for the runway.
January 24—Change a Pet’s Life Day
Change the life of an animal by turning to adoption centers and animal shelters the next time you are eager to welcome a pet into the family. This day of awareness seeks to inform people across the nation that animals available for adoption in shelters make the greatest best friends.
February 14—Pet Theft Awareness Day
Share the love on Valentine’s Day by doing your part to prevent pet theft. Educate your family, friends and neighbors about pet theft and ways yo keep all pets safe.
February 20—Love Your Pet Day
Although there need be no official day for pet-pampering, this day is exclusively for the love of pets. Scratch your dog’s belly, rub your cat behind the ears, sing to your fish or even spend time with your pet rock. No matter what you do, make sure to show the pets in your life just how much you care.
February 22—Spay Day
It’s simple. In the words of Bob Barker, “Control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”
March 3—If Pets Had Thumbs Day
Would your dog feed himself? Would your cat text you? Would your bunny rabbit suck his thumb? The world may never know, but the fun in this holiday is thinking about what life would be like if your favorite furry friends had such an opposable appendage.
April 11—National Pet Day
National Pet Day serves as a way to bring animal-enthusiasts together in caring for and raising awareness of unwanted pets.
April 18—Pet Owner’s Independence Day
No kidding, this is the supposed day for pets to go to work in the place of their dutiful owners, who stay at home in their place. Hello, couch. Hello, catnap. Hello, perfect day.
April 26—National Kids and Pets Day
Take time to hang with your favorite four-legged and two-legged creatures. Make plans for a fun-filled day to bond as a family, or spend the day looking for a pet to add to the family (or a child).
April 30—World Veterinary Day
World Veterinary Day is meant to celebrate the profession’s diversity and contributions to human and animal health and welfare.
May 3—National Disabled Pets Day
On this day, disabled pets of every kind are honored and are the heart of a movement to encourage pet-lovers to adopt a special-needs animal.
May (second Saturday)—Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
The declaration of this holiday was meant to raise awareness about the importance of planning for the safety of all pets before disaster strikes.
June 12—World Pet Memorial Day
Celebrate the life of your pets, past and present, on World Pet Memorial Day by coming together to remember each of these special animals.
July 15—National Pet Fire Safety Day
This day serves to encourage pet owners to incorporate their beloved animals into fire safety plans to keep every member of the family safe.
August 20—National Homeless Animal Day
This holiday serves as part of a crusade to publicize and control dog and cat overpopulation in the United States. On this day, events are coordinated to raise awareness and find homes for homeless pets.
August 30—National Holistic Pet Day
National Holistic Pet Day is a day dedicated to evaluating the health of your pet while taking strides to adopt a wellness approach for your pet that addresses the body, mind and spirit.
September (second Sunday)—National Pet Memorial Day
Each year, this day is a helpful way for families to grieve and remember the special pets in their lives.
September 28—World Rabies Day
Use this day to help raise rabies awareness and learn about how to prevent and treat the disease in animals.
October 24—World Pets Day
World Pets Day is exactly as it seems—a day to celebrate all pets, all over our planet.
October 28—Plush Animal Lovers Day
So you don’t have a real, live pet? You’re mom won’t let you get a puppy? No problem. We’ve got a holiday for you too. Plush Animal Lovers Day is 24 hours for you to spend loving your stuffed animals. They need love and attention too!
