Photo Credit here.

Pet dental hygiene is often overlooked until an animal’s breath becomes rancid. However, February is National Pet Dental Health Month and thus a perfect opportunity to learn how to take the best care of your pet’s pearly whites.

Believe it or not, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends having owners regularly brush their pet’s teeth – this applies to both dogs and cats. The AMVA even offers an instructional video about how it should be done.

Gum infections are very common in dogs and cats, and tooth brushing, along with regularly taking your pets to the vet, can help prevent the occurrence of such infections. A vet can also offer dental instructions and tips specific to your animal.

Photo Credit here.

Although a big reason for National Pet Dental Health Month is to spread awareness, pet owners should engage in pet dental practices year long. It’s always nice when your pet wants to play or lick your face and you aren’t driven away by the odor in their mouth.

 Alyssa Zandi is a writer and pet enthusiast. Follow her on twitter at @AlyssaZandi.

Photo Credit

T’is the season to show off the family four-legged creatures’ holiday spirit! Upload a photo of your horse or pet showing off their holiday spirit to the Silver Lining Herbs Facebook for a chance to win FREE Silver Lining Herbs product.

How To Enter

• Upload your holiday or winter themed photo of your horse or pet (Christmas or winter-themed outfits,  Christmas family photo with the dog, Santa riding a mare, etc) to Facebook.com/SilverLiningHerbs
• OR e-mail your photo to Mwoodrow@netvantagemarketing.com. Please note that it is not required that you upload your photo to Facebook to participate.

Prizes

• The entrant whose photo receives the most votes will win a FREE Silver Lining Herbs product of their selection. Please note that although we will accept photos of any type of pet, our products are for DOGS and HORSES only.
• The runner-up will receive Silver Lining Herbs Swag.

Judging

First round: Judges will pick our top 5 favorite photos which will be posted on several outlets including our blog and Facebook. With your input, we will narrow it down. Please note that a “Like” of a photo simply indicates your support for that photo and not an official vote.

Second Round: The three top photos will be selected and re-posted for users to see. Official voting will take place here: Official Voting

• Please note that you may only vote once.
• Please note that you are submitting your information to Silver Lining Herbs, not Facebook.
• This promotion is being sponsored by Silver Lining Herbs and is in no way endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with Facebook.

Rules

• Keep it family friendly (That doesn’t mean we don’t have a sense of humor. Get creative!).
• Two photo entries per person will be accepted.
• The photograph must belong to you or you must have permission to use it.
• Deadline to enter is Friday, January 6th.

The Fine Print

• Silver Lining Herbs reserves the right to disqualify entries we deem inappropriate or a violation of our contest rules.
• By submitting your photo, you agree to allow us to use the photo in the second round of voting, on the SilverLiningHerbs.com, and other SLH social media outlets.
• Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Participants must be a legal U.S. or Canadian resident.
• Shipping costs are on us.
• This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
• Participants are providing information to Silver Lining Herbs and not to Facebook.

Photo Credit

Dog in Santa Hat: TheGiantVermin

Hope everyone has been having an awesome past couple days, we sure have! We’ve had a blast getting face time with some of our amazing fans and customers and rooting for contestants! The 2011 NFR will soon be coming to an end, but there are still ways you can win with Silver Lining Herbs! We know it has been a hectic week with so much going on so we thought we’d give you a quick recap of what we’ve been up to and ways you can still get involved! Want to shout it from the rooftops? Share this with your friends now!

Tweet

Ways You Can Still Win

• Upload a photo of your horse or dog to Facebook.com/SilverLiningHerbs with what they would say about Silver Lining Herbs if they could speak! Our favorite gets a SLH tee!
• Head over to Twitter to follow us & RT this tweet to be entered to win FREE product! Not on Twitter? Like this status to be entered to win!
• Tell us why you love Silver Lining Herbs on Facebook to be entered to win a Sherry Cervi autographed copy of her Horse of the Year congratulations ad! Be sure to start your post with “I heart SLH because…”
• “Like” this status to be entered to win a Brady Minor Autographed copy of his Horse of the Year Congratulations ad!

What We’ve been Up To

This week, the Silver Lining Herbs crew has been hanging out at the NRS Store @ the MGM Grand. Check out some photos below from the event!

Josi Young being interviewed at our NRS Store booth 303 by Cuttin up Radio!

What People Have Been Saying

We’re been tweeting and posting away all week long and have had a blast getting to connect with fans and customers both at the event and in the social sphere. Here is what some of you have been saying:

Stay tuned! We’ll be announced winners on Facebook, Twitter, and here on the blog!

The Silver Lining Herbs crew is taking over the Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo (NFR) 2011 and we are ready and rarin’ to go! Best of luck to all the contestants! To event goers, we can’t wait to see you!

Silver Lining will have two booths in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo 2011. From Dec. 1-10, visitors can meet the team in the Convention Center at booth #1724. Dec. 4-11, customers can also find Silver Lining Herbs in the MGM Grand. For details on the event, check out the NFR website at nfrexperience.com, Facebook at facebook.com/LasVegasNFR or Twitter, @LasVegasNFR. The official hashtah of the event is #NFR.

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!

As you can see, we were hard at work setting up yesterday and are excited to see you all out here! Throughout the week, we will feature daily ways to win prizes at the actual event or from home on Facebook and Twitter. We will be giving away autographs, hats, t-shirts, Silver Lining Herbs product, temporary tattoos, stickers, Silver Lining Herbs Leg Gels, and MORE!  Be sure to check back daily on Facebook or Twitter to see what the prize offering of the day is!

How to Connect With Us @ The Event

You can stay apprised to updates, giveaways, and events by connecting with us on these platforms:

Twitter: Twitter.com/SLherbs
Facebook: Facebook.com/SilverLiningHerbs
Foursquare: Foursquare.com/SLherbs

Grand Event Giveaway

All individuals that check-in at the event using Facebook, Foursquare, or Twitter and give Silver Lining Herbs a shout-out will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the event!

How To Enter

Facebook
1. “Like” Silver Lining Herbs on Facebook: www.facebook.com/silverliningherbs
2. Use your smart phone to Check-In at NFR Event with the status, “Shout out to @Silver Lining Herbs!”

Foursquare
1. Check-in at NFR Event with message: “Shout-out to @SLherbs!”

Twitter
1. Tweet the post, “Shout-out to @SLherbs! #nfr” – we’d love to see some pics from your phone as well!

Schedule

Want to make sure you don’t miss out? Here is Silver Lining Herbs endorser meeting and booth schedule for the NFR 2011. For a map of the event, please visit nfrexperience.com (Please check out social media outlets for changes):

Cowboy Christmas Gift Show
Las Vegas Convention Center
(Dec 1-3)
Details here.

Thursday, December 1

Riley Minor @ 2 p.m.

Friday, December 2

Tyson Durfey @ 11:30 a.m.
Brady Minor @ 1 p.m.

Saturday, December 3

Brenda Mays @ 10 a.m.
Sherry Cervi @ 11 a.m.

MGM Grand Las Vegas
NRS Shopping Experience – Marquee Ballroom
(Dec. 6-9)

Tuesday, December 6th
Tyson Durfey @ 11 a.m.
Brady Minor @ 12:30 p.m.
Sherry Cervi @ 1 p.m.

Wednesday, December 7th
Brenda Mays @ 10 a.m.
Sherry Cervi @ 1 p.m.
Riley Minor @ 1 p.m.

Thursday, December 8th
Tyson Durfey @ 11:30 a.m.
Brady Minor @ 12:30 p.m.

Friday, December 9th
Brenda Mays @ 11 a.m.
Riley Minor @ 1 p.m.

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biscuitsmlp/1124827531/

Created by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2003, Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDOD) encourages the community, dog experts and local clubs and organizations to partake in engaging activities that demonstrate various ways to be a responsible, loving and educated dog owner. The AKC invites all dog and pet-related organizations and interest groups to observe RDOD by hosting an event to raise awareness.

Whether you choose to organize an event to celebrate the day, or simply attend one, consider these activities ad tips to make the most of your commitment to responsible dog ownership:

• Involve police departments, veterinarians, dog trainers, service dog associations, breed clubs and other dog-related organizations in your events
• Emphasize the importance of responsibilities such as proper pet identification, training, grooming and good health
• Provide information and demonstrations on microchip identification, pet first aid and dog safety for children
• Organize a visit to or demonstration by police K9 units or therapy and service dogs
• Stay educated about dog obedience and agility by hosting or visiting a professional demonstration
• Make information available about dog rescue and adoption
• Interact and learn about different dog breeds to discover which one is right for your family
• Hold kids activities with special prizes
• Create contests for kids to win awards for dog essays, photos and drawings
• Reach out in the community for sponsors willing to donate items for a raffle or contests prizes
• Host a fundraiser to raise money or collect product donations for dog parks, animal shelters, etc.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or government official to showcase the importance of responsible dog ownership
• Contact local media to get word out of the events
• Post, and encourage others to post, acts of responsible dog ownership on the AKC Facebook and Twitter pages

In addition to engaging in RDOD activities, think about what it means to be a responsible dog owner. Make a list of goals you’d like to achieve within the year to be a more responsible caretaker for your pet. As an example, read through this Responsible Dog Ownership Day Pledge and remember your duties in providing a safe, comfortable and loving environment for your dog.

1. The kitten and the crow

After a stray kitten showed up in the yard of a Massachusetts couple, they noticed she had an unusual friend with her.  Cassie the cat, as they called her, had made friends with a crow.  Cassie and the crow, who the couple named Moses, ate together, played together and simply spent every minute together.  Cassie eventually grew comfortable around the couple and moved into their house.  Moses, however, remained shy and more comfortable outside.  Still, nothing could disrupt their relationship.  Every morning, Moses tapped on the front door, and Cassie was let out to play with him.  Moses came around to play with Cassie for four years, before disappearing.  The family never discovered what happened to the friendly crow, but they and Cassie surely enjoyed his company while it lasted.

2. The orangutan and the hound dog

Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe the hound dog met by happenstance on an ordinary day and created an unordinary, yet irreplaceable friendship.  When Suryia and his trainer were taking their daily elephant ride to the river, they came upon a Bluetick Coonhound, who was eager for a friend.  Suryia took to the dog immediately.  They hugged and played and rolled around for hours.  Days later, the dog miraculously found his way into Suryia’s habitat, where the orangutan shared a meal with him.  Suryia’s family decided to accept the dog as their own and named him Roscoe.  Roscoe and Suryia are now able to be together every day and enjoy sharing food, swimming and rolling in the grass.  Sometimes Suryia even takes Roscoe for walks on his leash.

3. The hippo and the tortoise

After a tsunami washed away the home of Owen, a young hippopotamus, he was relocated to an animal sanctuary in Mombasa, Kenya where he would meet his BFF.  The young hippo was given a quiet place to adjust before sharing a home with his to-be companion hippo.  In this quiet place, Owen met Mzee—a 130-year old tortoise.  Mzee took some time getting used to living with Owen, but after a while, the two became the best of friends.  Owen and Mzee cuddled and groomed each other, and Mzee even taught Owen how to eat cut leaves and carrots.  After Owen reached full size, conservationists became concerned that he would pose danger to the tortoise, so they finally placed him with a companion of his own kind.

4. The dog and the elephant

In 2005, two improbable residents at an elephant sanctuary became inseparable.  Bella the dog and Tara the elephant surprised everyone at the sanctuary when they formed a bond that defied the limits of size.  The 30-pound dog took to her 4-ton friend immediately and even saw herself as the elephant’s protector.  However, in 2007, Bella went missing and was later found partially paralyzed.  While being cared for in the sanctuary office, Bella whined for Tara, who amazingly wandered to the office window and begged for the dog to come back outside.  Bella eventually healed, and the pair have been roaming their habitat ever since.

5. The lion and the men

The story is certainly not a new one.  When Ace Burke and John Rendall found Christian the lion in a cage at a department store in London, their lives were changed forever.  Since that day in 1969, Christian has been attracting all kinds of attention.  Burke and Rendall cared for Christian until his 130-pound frame became too much for their urban homestead.  With the help of a conservationist, the two men found a home for Christian at the Kora National Reserve in Kenya.  The goodbye was difficult for both species, but it was in the best interest for everyone.  A year after their goodbye, Burke and Rendall returned to the reserve to visit Christian.  They had no expectations, understanding that the lion may not remember them in any way.  To their surprise, Christian spotted the men and raced to greet them with his usual four-legged hug.  The sight was one of unending love and inspiration.

6. The lioness and the baby antelope

In the most extreme example of implausible animal friendships comes the story of a lioness who took a baby oryx under her wing.  In 2001, Kamuniak the lioness left conservationists speechless when rather than eating an unsuspecting antelope, she adopted it.  Kamuniak was thought to have undergone trauma that inspired her to see “baby” rather than “food” when she came across the calf.  In the weeks after that, the lioness wouldn’t let the calf out of her sight, cuddling with her, following her around and even refusing to hunt.  Both baby and lioness were starving themselves, however, in that Kamuniak wouldn’t risk losing the calf to hunt, and the calf had no means of getting milk.  The nurturing relationship ended abruptly, unfortunately, when a male lion found the calf at a watering hole.

With today’s prevalence of natural disasters and the tragedy that comes with, we must be able to answer these questions with confidence and prioritize disaster preparedness efforts—for humans and animals alike.  June has been designated as Disaster Preparedness Month for Animals to encourage people to think about the course of action they would take in keeping themselves and their pets safe before they are devastated by a natural disaster.  Summertime carries with it the threat of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and other natural disasters that can be prepared for in advance with a little preparation and a lot of common sense.

Although this dog was kept safe after the Joplin, Missouri tornadoes, countless animals were lost or are missing.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/efusco/5777979467/in/pool-1677498@N20/

In a survey by the American Humane Society, it was reported that 47 percent of Americans would decline rescue from a disastrous situation if it meant leaving behind their pet. While it’s important that animals be protected in times of distress, it shouldn’t take precedence over the safety of you or your family.   We’ve created a resource to help you prepare your family for disaster and keep both you and your beloved animals safe and sound in the aftermath.

Before the disaster

The best thing you can do in the event of a disaster is be prepared.  Follow these steps ahead of time to make sure that your precious pets will be accounted for in times of calamity.

First, make sure you have a designated “safe” place in your home for all family members and pets if the disaster does not require you to evacuate.  It’s best that this safe place be away from windows and doors and located toward the center of your home.  Usually a basement or centrally-located bathroom is safest.  Also prepare for an event that will require you to flee your home.  Disasters such as fires and hurricanes will make it necessary to get away from your home and to a place of refuge as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately, your pet may not be able to stay with you.  For this reason, make a list of animal shelters, boarding facilities and pet-friendly hotels that are prepared to house animals and evacuate them if needed.

Then talk with your family and neighbors to make sure everyone is on board with the plan.  Designate someone to be in charge of retrieving pets from the house or anywhere else they may be.

Also keep your pet’s identification up-to-date.  Pets can be displaced for miles after a disaster, making them almost impossible to find on your own.  If your pet has proper identification containing your name, phone number, address and the contact information of someone out of state (in case you are displaced as well), your pet is more likely to be recovered and returned to you.

Make sure to gather any relief plans and emergency materials available from your local Red Cross chapter or police, fire, health and agriculture departments.  This will ensure that you know where to turn in an emergency situation and will have access to the best resources.

Next, make known that your house is home to animals.  Purchase a pet rescue window sticker to place on your entry doors to ensure your pets are not left without help.  If you and your family have to evacuate your home before rounding up your pets, this sticker will alert emergency officials that there are pets inside in need of rescue.  It is beneficial to list your pet’s names and favorite hiding places on the sticker, as well a quality picture of each animal.

Finally, create an emergency kit.  This kit should contain everything you might possibly need after disaster that puts you out of a home.  Prepare this pet survival kit in a waterproof container or your pet’s travel carrier.  If you opt for the carrier, make sure it is large enough for an animal to stand up and turn around in, guaranteeing their comfort in such a stressful situation.  Keep this kit always-prepared and near a means of exit to make it easy to grab on your way out of the house.  Make sure it includes:

-          At least two weeks of any medication your pet is taking

-          Flea prevention and heartworm treatment

-          Two weeks’ worth of pet food and water

-          Bowls/containers for the food and water

-          Treats, toys and blankets

-          Extra leashes and collars

-          Muzzle

-          Pet safety flotation halters or vests if in a flood zone

-          Peroxide

-          Gauze, bandages and adhesive tape

-          Training pads (if you aren’t able to be outside safely) and cat litter

-          Paper towels and hand towels

-          Your pet’s vaccination records

-          The contact information of your vet

-          Your pet’s identification with your contact info (think about getting your animal micro-chipped)

-          Contact information of pet-friendly hotels and shelters

-          Pictures of your pet with a good description

-          Portable radio to listen for PSAs regarding emergency news and available refuge

Watch this video for a pet survival kit tutorial from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

During the disaster

When disaster strikes, make sure you are prepared to act.  Utilize your preparedness kit and disaster relief plan to get your entire family to safety.

If you must evacuate, do so immediately.  Waiting until the last minute may mean it’s too late to take your pet with you.  Keep up on the latest emergency information and breaking news, if possible, and be sure you know where your pet is at all times.  When animals sense disaster, they tend to hide, making finding and evacuating them close to impossible.  Keep them close by and on a leash when preparing to evacuate or take shelter in your own home.

Stay calm.  Whether you are fleeing home or taking cover in your safe place, remain as composed as possible to create a familiar and comfortable environment for your pet.  If an animal acts out or becomes uncomfortable, hold them or keep them safe in their carrier or cage.

After the disaster

After it is okay to exit your safe place at home or after you have made it to a nearby shelter or hotel, follow these guidelines to remain comfortable or to recover a missing or suffering pet.

Keep in mind that your pet is likely to be disoriented after being outside in a disaster or even afterward.  A lack of familiar sights and smells can inflict stress on them or increase their chances of becoming lost.  Keep your pet on a leash and/or in your arms until they become comfortable with the surroundings or until they are no longer expressing aggression or misbehaving.  Reassure your pet with familiar petting, cuddling and patience.

Take note of the condition of your pet, making sure they are not injured, sick or hungry.  Utilize your pet survival kit to administer any medications, wound care or to keep them nourished.  If you need to, refer to your list of veterinarians to contact for further assistance.

If you have become separated from your pet, stay calm, ask for help and visit local shelters, animal control facilities and kennels on a daily basis.  Use the picture and description of your pet to create “missing” posters and show the people around you.  If your pet has not gone far, they may be able to match your description to the pet you’ve been looking for.  Know that collars and tags are sometimes lost, so tattoos, markings or microchips will increase the odds of your pet being found.

If you happen to find another stray animal, take it to a shelter immediately and place its information around town, online and in the newspapers to increase the chances of a pet-owner reunion.  Utilize this site to report a lost or found pet.

Do your part to prioritize disaster preparedness efforts for animals this month—prepare a pet survival kit, share this information or donate to an animal rescue mission today.  More than 800 animals were displaced by the Joplin, Missouri tornadoes this year, more than 10,000 were lost in the force of Hurricane Katrina and so many others have never been recovered in times of catastrophe.  Disaster can strike anywhere, anytime—make sure your pet is prepared.

Boo

Facebook’s more than 500 million active users make it the world’s largest social network, providing unlimited pictures, videos, news and chitchat in an instant. Facebook, however, is not limited to human beings. Plenty of pets across the globe have Facebook accounts, fan pages and applications. Check out Boo, the cutest dog in the world, who uses Facebook to chat with more than one million fans about his favorite things—Oprah, cheese and wearing shirts. Mark Zuckerburg, creator of Facebook, even has a page for his pooch, Beast, a Hungarian Sheepdog who enjoys cuddling, loving and eating. Curious to know how many other dogs have a Facebook page? Check out this infographic by lab42.

Pet owners are also able to use species-specific applications, aside from fan pages or profiles, to keep pets a part of their online lives, find useful information and tips and save precious pet memories all in one place. Here are just a few of some Facebook apps for pets:

• Dogbook
• Catbook
• Ferretbook
• Horsebook
• Fishbook
• Rodentbook

There’s no denying that the combination of Facebook and pets makes for great entertainment, but most don’t recognize its capability to inspire good work and philanthropy as well. For example, this Facebook page exists to help those devastated by the tornados in Joplin, Missouri to find their missing pets. Residents of Joplin who have lost pets in the twisters are encouraged to post photos and information to more than 15,800 “followers” who are willing to help in any way possible get these animals back home.

Twitter

Twitter is growing rapidly as a popular social network to share news, babble aimlessly and partake in shameless self-promotion. Pets included. Check out today’s animal kingdom tweeters and see for yourself why these pets have more followers than you.

The most popular pets on Twitter:

1. Sockington the cat
@sockington

This sassy stray-turned-star has a massive following of 1,487,856 and was once featured in People Magazine.

2. The Bronx Zoo Cobra
@bronxzooscobra

With 239,623 followers, The Bronx Zoo cobra is the most popular snake on the Web. His sarcastic tone and comedic tweets make him more entertaining online than at the zoo.

3. Fluffy the Cat
@fluffythecat

Her style is repetitive, considering she only tweets the word “meow,” but this cute kitty still has well over 16,000 followers.

4. Stanley Pinkerton
@mr_pinkerton

This Basset Hound is a mascot of sorts for Pinkerton South, an advertising agency in South Carolina. He doesn’t like baths, deems himself a workaholic and has 10,384 followers.

5. Aflac Duck
@aflacduck

We all know him by his Aflac commercial gig, but this duck is sharing the rest of his life with us and over 10,700 followers by tweeting his every thought—from what he just ate to his favorite songs and Sunday confessions.

6. Erica’s Fish
@ericasfish

This fish has created quite the following with her cat-hating tweets and feisty attitude. She loves making fun of her human and aspires to be the Little Mermaid.

7. Rudy the Parrot
@rudytheparrot

This colorful character is sarcastic and sometimes aggressive, tweeting about mating, singing and overtaking Sockington the cat as Twitter’s most popular pet.

8. Buddy Rabbit
@buddyrabbit

This sweet and kind bunny rabbit adores his family and enjoys filling his 2,546 followers in on talk of bunny kisses, nudism and massages.

Ok, ok, we know these animals aren’t really tweeting—but what if they could? That’s exactly what Mattel Inc. has tried to figure out. They have created “Puppy Tweets” to simulate the every thought of your dog. Puppy Tweets is a dog collar accessory designed to tweet one of 500 canned messages upon detecting movement or barking. A USB receiver connected to your computer will acknowledge the movement of your dog and post a random tweet to your dog’s account. Example tweets include, “I bark because I miss you,” “Can we get some sparkling water for the toilet bowl?” and “Guess what I’m licking right now?”

There is also an iPhone app, BowLingual, that enables your dog to tweet. The device decodes your dog’s bark and classifies it as one of several emotions—sad, frustrated, needy, happy, self-expressive and on-guard—before sending it to your pooch’s Twitter account for a hilarious glimpse into the life of a dog.

Speaking of dogs, hilarity and Twitter, Check out this list of Twitter’s most popular pups or a complete list of all dogs who tweet.

Pets only

Not only do our pets find themselves on the most popular social networking sites of our time, they also have access to a variety of social media sites exclusively for and about animals. Check these out for an extreme, fluffy dose of cuteness.

-        Cuteness.com

-        Cute Overload

-        Stuff on My Cat

-        Stuff on My Mutt

-        The Daily Bunny

-        Cute Animal Zoo

-        Cuteness.com

-        Cute Overload

-        Stuff on My Cat

-        Stuff on My Mutt

-        The Daily Bunny

-        Cute Animal Zoo

-        Cuteness.com

-        Cute Overload

-        Stuff on My Cat

-        Stuff on My Mutt

-        The Daily Bunny

-        Cute Animal Zoo

-        Dogster

-        Catster

-        Fuzzster

-        Petside

-        My Dog Space

-        My Cat Space

-        United Dogs

-        United Cats

-        Pika Pet

-        Pet Brags

And what if your dog could text on top of everything else!?

Twitter and Facebook are fun and all, but wouldn’t it be even better if your dog could send you a text? We’ve given it some thought and decided that if your dog could text, they might say something like this:
IWHF: “I want human food.”
CC: “Chasing cat.”
CT: “Chasing tail.”
LGFAW: “Let’s go for a walk.”
PWM: “Play with me.”
IDNEYH: “I did not eat your homework.”

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!

Limited Edition Juicy Couture Plush Scottie ($49.00)

Hop on it.

Bloomin’ Snout Pet Costume (12.99)

Spring has sprung.

Easter Bunny Dog Costume from Pawfect Pet Collars By Jackie ($16.50)

Get it.

Bunny Dog Costume by Fierce Costumes  ($18.99)

nom nom nom.

Bunny Shirt & Hat Dog Costume sweatshirt Easter Small ($24.00)

Simple and cute.

Cute Puppy Clothes Bunny Knit Dress from The Sassy Pup ($55.99)

Get it.

Funny Bunny Romper Suit in Blue from Posh Puppy Boutique ($58.00)

Romp in the romper.

Bunny Costume ($19.95)

Hop on it.

Fuzzy Duck Dog Costume ($27.95)

Quack, quack.