Pet Holidays

There are lots of different Pet Holidays throughout the year to honor and celebrate your beloved Pets. This page will summarize primarily just the Dog Holidays and Cat Holidays.  Everything else will be featured on our Animal Holidays summary page. 

Ultimately, there will be a devoted page done for each of the different Pet Holidays and Observances.  As pages are completed, they will be linked up below, as well as in our Daily Holiday pages, our Holidays by Month pages, and our Holidays and Observances Alphabetical Listing.

Above, is a KITTEN TOTEM POLE and was a miracle of a picture as anyone who has had kittens in the house can attest, because they rarely sit still if they are awake! So...to get three of them sitting together was amazing.  My daughter's cat she rescued had 5 kittens (fixed now!), and this was three of them - Top to Bottom is Moxie, Balou - the black kitten that I still have (fixed too!), along with the Mother Cat, Creature, and on the bottom is L.E. Lopez whose name was spelled Ellie once she was adopted.  I took a whole series of pictures of them sitting in a row, before they all collapsed in a pile.

I am a total pet and animal lover, as anyone who knows me can attest by the number of animal pages I follow on Facebook! If money was no object, and I could have some land for the pets to roam, I would love to run an Animal Rescue.  I admire all those who are working to find homes for animals and work to stop the cruelty to animals.  It just astounds me how people can be cruel to animals, especially Dogs, who define what Unconditional Love is all about!

This kitten is Cassius Clay taken on 3-29-12, one day after the kittens were born.  Creature, the Momma cat, had her paw and tail wrapped around the kitten who was fast asleep in her arms.

Please Note: If the Holiday or Observance just has a date after it, that means that it falls on the same day every year.  If the Holiday or Observance is a movable date, that is different every year, it will have the date, plus year, and the rule of when the Holiday falls, like First Wednesday in April. 

January 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Train Your Dog Month
• Walk Your Pet Month

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Happy Mew Year for Cats Day - January 2
• National Pet Travel Safety Day - January 2
• National Dress Up Your Pet Day - January 14
• National Hug Your Puppy Day - January 21
• National Answer Your Cat's Question Day - January 22
• Change a Pet's Life Day - January 24
• Seeing Eye Guide Dog Birthday 1929 - January 29

2023 Festivals and Events:

• Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden - January 18-22, 2023

February 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Beat the Heat Month
• Dog Training Education Month
• Feline Fix by Five Month
• National Cat Health Month
• National Pet Dental Health Care Month
• National Prevent a Litter Month
• Pet Dental Health Month
• Responsible Animal Guardian Month
  
• Responsible Pet Owner Month
• Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
• Unchain a Dog Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week - February 7-14
• National Justice for Animals Week - February 19-25, 2023 (Begins on the Fourth Week in February)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Sled Dog Day - February 2
• Doggy Date Night - February 3
• International Golden Retriever Day - February 3
• National Pet Theft Awareness Day - February 14
• Pet Theft Awareness Day - February 14
• Love Your Pet Day - February 20
• Walking the Dog Day - February 22
• International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day - February 23
• National Dog Biscuit Day - February 23
• Spay Day USA - February 28, 2023 (Last Tuesday in February)
• World Spay Day - February 28, 2023 (Last Tuesday in February)

March 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• International Rescue Cat Awareness Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Animal Poison Prevention Week - March 19-25, 2023 (Third Full Week in March)
• National Pet Sitters Week - March 1-7
• Professional Pet Sitters Week - March 5-11, 2023 (First Full Week in March)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• International Rescue Cat Day - March 2
• If Pets had Thumbs Day - March 3
• International Tripawd Awareness Day - March 3
• K-9 Veterans Day - March 13
• Cuddly Kitten Day - March 23
• National Puppy Day - March 23
• Respect Your Cat Day - March 28
  

2023 Festivals and Events:

• Iditarod Race - March 4-19, 2023 (Starts on the First Saturday in March)
• Crufts (The World's Largest Dog Show) held in Birmingham, England - March 9-12, 2023
• AKC National Agility Championship - March 16-19, 2023

This is "Mario" who belongs to my son Ryan, and his wife, Marlene. They also have a "Luigi", who is a twin who shared the same Placenta.  We went to pick up one of them, but when we saw they were identical twins who were joined at the hip, they ended up coming home with both of them. Mario and Luigi will be two of the family dogs, that will be featured through out Dog Holiday pages.

April 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Canine Fitness Month
• Dog Appreciation Month
• National Adopt a Greyhound Adoption Month
• National Heartworm Awareness Month
• National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
• Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
• Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Animal Cruelty / Human Violence Awareness Week - April 16-22, 2023 (Third Week in April)
• APAWS International Pooper Scooper Week - April 1-7
• International Pooper Scooper Week - April 1-7
• National Animal Control Appreciation Week - April 9-15, 2023 (Second Full Week in April)
• National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week - April 9-15, 2023 (Second Full Week in April)
• National Dog Bite Prevention Week - April 9-15, 2023 
• National Pet ID Week - April 16-22, 2023 (Third Week of April)
• National Raw Feeding Week - April 1-7
• National Scoop the Poop Week - April 24-30 

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Every Day is Tag Day - April 1, 2023 (First Saturday in April)
• National Siamese Cat Day - April 6
• National Pet Health Insurance Day - April 7
• Dog Farting Awareness Day - April 8
• National Dog Fighting Awareness Day - April 8
• ASPCA Day (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) - April 10
• National Hug Your Dog Day - April 10
• National Pet Day - April 11
• Pet Owners Independence Day - April 18
• Pet Owners Day - April 19
• Bulldogs are Beautiful Day - April 21 
• National Lost Dog Awareness Day - April 23
• International Guide Dog Day - April 26, 2023 (Last Wednesday in April)
• National Kids and Pets Day - April 26
• Free Feral Cat Spay Day - April 27
• National Little Pampered Dog Day - April 27
• Hairball Awareness Day - April 28, 2023 (Last Friday in April)
• Pet Tech CPR Day - April 29, 2022 (Last Saturday in April)
• World Veterinary Day - April 29, 2022 (Last Saturday in April)
• National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day - April 30
• National Animal Advocacy Day - April 30
• National Pet Parent's Day - April 30, 2023 (Last Sunday in April)
• National Therapy Animal Day - April 3
• 
  

May 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Be Kind to Animals Month
• Chip Your Pet Month
• National Pet Month
• National Service Dog Eye Examination Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Be Kind to Animals Week - May 7-13, 2023 (First Full Week in May)
• National Pet Week - May 7-13, 2023 (First Full Week in May)
• Puppy Mill Action Week - May 8-14, 2023 (Begins the Monday before Mother's Day)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Purebred Dog Day - May 1
  
• National Specially-abled Pets Day - May 3
• International Doodle Dog Day - May 6, 2023 (First Saturday in May)
• Mayday for Mutts - May 7, 2023 (First Sunday in May)
• National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day - May 8
• National Dog Mom's Day - May 13, 2023 (Saturday before Mother's Day)
• National Rescue Dog Day - May 20
• International Hug Your Cat Day - May 30
  

June 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Adopt a Cat Month
  
• Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
• National Microchipping Month
• National Pet Preparedness Month
• Social Petworking Month
  

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Animal Rights Awareness Week - June 19-25, 2023 (Third Week in June)
• National Pet Wedding Week - June 11-17, 2023
• Pet Appreciation Week - June 4-10, 2023 (First Full Week in June) 
• Take Your Dog to Work Week - June 19-23, 2023 (The Mon-Fri Week Following Father's Day which is on June 18, 2023)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Hug Your Cat Day - June 4
• National Animal Rights Day - June 4, 2023 (First Sunday in June)
• Missing Mutts Awareness Day - June 10, 2023 (Second Saturday in June)
• World Pet Memorial Day - June 13, 2023 (Second Tuesday in June)
• Ugliest Dog Day - June 16, 2023 (Third Friday in June)
• Garfield The Cat Day - June 19
• National Pets in Film Day - June 19
• Take Your Cat to Work Day - June 19, 2023 (Monday of the Third Full Week in June)
• National Dog Party Day - June 21
• Take Your Dog to Work Day - June 23, 2023 (Friday after Father's Day which is on June 18, 2023)

This is Pixie - a Teacup Chihuahua that belongs to our brothers family. This is one of her puppy pictures and she has grown into her ears!

July 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Lost Pet Prevention Month
• National Dog House Repairs Month

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Kitten Day - July 10
• All American Pet Photo Day - July 11
• National Pet Fire Safety Day - July 15
• National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day - July 21
• No Pet Store Puppies Day - July 21
• Mutt's Day - July 31

August 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Month 

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week - August 13-19, 2023 (Second Week in August)
• International Assistance Dog Week - August 6-12, 2023 (Starts on First Sunday in August)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs - August 1
• Assistance Dog Day - August 7, 2023 (Monday of International Assistance Dog Week)
• International Cat Day - August 8
• Spoil Your Dog Day - August 10
  
• Check the Chip Day - August 15 (Pet Microchips)
• National Black Cat Appreciation Day - August 17
• Clear the Shelters Day - August 19, 2023 (Third Saturday of August)
• International Homeless Animals Day - August 19, 2023 (Third Saturday of August) 
• National Homeless Animals Day - August 19, 2023 (Third Saturday of August)
• National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day - August 22
• National Dog Day - August 26
• Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day - August 28
• National Holistic Pet Day - August 30

September 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month
• Animal Pain Awareness Month
• Happy Cat Month
• National Guide Dogs Month
• National Service Dog Month
• Pet Smile Month (UK)

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week - September 17-23, 2023 (Last Full Week in September)
• Deaf Dog Awareness Week - September 24-30, 2023 (Last Full Week of September)
• National Deaf Dog Awareness Week - September 24-30, 2023 (Last Full Week in September)
• National Dog Week - September 24-30, 2023 (Last Week of September)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Ginger Cat Appreciation Day - September 1
• National Dog Walker Appreciation Day - September 8, 2023 (Friday after Labor Day)
• National Hug Your Hound Day - September 10, 2023 (Second Sunday of September)
• National Pet Memorial Day - September 10, 2023 (Second Sunday of September)
• AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day - September 16, 2023 (Third Saturday in September)
• Puppy Mill Awareness Day - September 16, 2023 (Third Saturday in September)
• Responsible Dog Ownership Day - September 16, 2023 (Third Saturday in September)
• Meow Like a Pirate Day - September 19
• Dogs in Politics Day - September 23
• World Rabies Day - September 28
  

October 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Adopt a Dog Month
  
• Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
• Black Cat Awareness Month
• National Pet CBD Month
• National Pet Wellness Month
• National Pit Bull Awareness Month
• National Service Dog Month
• Wishbones for Pets Month - October 15, 2020 - November 30, 2020

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Walk Your Dog Week - October 1-7 (First Week of October)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Black Dog Day - October 1
• National Fire Pup Day - October 1
• National Walk Your Dog Day - October 1
• World Pet's Day - October 4
• Vet Nurse Day - October 13, 2023 (Second Friday in October)
• National Pug Day - October 15
  
• Global Cat Day - October 16
• National Feral Cat Day - October 16
• National Pets for Veterans Day - October 21
• National Pit Bull Awareness Day - October 22, 2022 (Fourth Saturday in October)
• National Black Cat Day (U.K) - October 27
• National Fetch Day - October 28, 2023 (Third Saturday in October)
• National Cat Day - October 29

"Moxie" - taken on 7/9/2013 by Erin Best, of Sacramento, CA

Moxie was one of our kittens and on the Kitten Totem Pole Picture at the top of this page, was the kitten in the back, at the top of the Totem Pole of Kittens!

November 2023 Pet Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Adopt a Senior Pet Month
• National Pet Awareness Month
• National Senior Pet Month
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month
• Pet Diabetes Month
• Wishbones for Pets Month - October 15 - November 30

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week - November 5-11, 2023 (First Full Week of November)
• National Cat Week - November 5-11, 2023 (First Full Week of November)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Cook for Your Pets Day - November 1
  
• National Black Cat Day - November 17
• Humane Society Anniversary Day - November 22
• Coton de Tulear Day - November 26

December 2023 Pet Holidays 

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Mutt Day - December 2
• International Day of Veterinary Medicine - December 9
• International Animal Rights Day - December 10

Follow our Holidays and Observances Pet Holidays Board on Pinterest - below you will see our 30 most recent pins to this photo board!

Click on the SEE ON PINTEREST bar right above, (link will take you to Pinterest), to see all the rest of our photo's on this board, and to Follow the board.  This is one board where I'll constantly be adding new pictures to!!