18th Apr 2016
2016 Pet Related Holiday and Celebration List
Looking for a list of pet related holidays? Here is one :) You should contact your local community center, animal shelter or chamber of commerce to see if you have any related events in your area. It's great to get out and participate and support a great cause.
Some of our favorites here at Earth's Answers are highlighted, be sure to look for specials, giveaways and discounts during some of our favorite pet holidays.
January
Walk Your Pet Month.
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month.
Jan. 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day.
Jan. 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day.
Jan. 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day.
Jan. 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day.
Jan. 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Birthday.
February
Beat the Heat Month.
Dog Training Education Month.
National Cat Health Month.
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. (Humane Society of the United States)
Pet Dental Health Month.
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.
National Prevent a Litter Month.
Unchain a Dog Month.
2nd week in Feb.: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week.
Feb. 15-16, 2016: Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show. Held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, this event is televised.
Feb. 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day.
3rd week in Feb.: National Justice for Animals Week.
Feb. 20: Love Your Pet Day.
Feb. 22: Walking the Dog Day.
Feb. 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
Feb. 23, 2016: World Spay Day. Annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States; held the last Tuesday of February.
Feb. 23, 2016: Spay Day USA. Last Tuesday of February.
March
Poison Prevention Awareness Month.
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month.
March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day.
March 6-12, 2016: Professional Pet Sitters Week.
March 13: K-9 Veterans Day.
March 20-26, 2016: National Poison Prevention Week.
March 23: National Puppy Day.
April
National Greyhound Adoption Month.
National Heartworm Awareness Month.
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This event is an effort by the American Red Cross to draw attention to the need to know specialized pet first aid.
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASCPA)
National Pet Month. (UK)
April 1-7, 2016: International Pooper Scooper Week.
April 2, 2016: Every Day is Tag Day. Always the first Saturday in April.
April 8: National Dog Fight Awareness Day.
April 11: National Pet Day.
April 10-16, 2016: Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. 2nd full week in April.
April 17-23, 2016: National Pet ID Week.
April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day.
April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 17-23, 2016: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States. Third week in April.
Third week in April. National Pet ID Week.
April 30, 2016: World Veterinary Day. This event from the World Veterinary Association is always celebrated on the last Saturday in April.
April 26, 2016: Hairball Awareness Day.
April 29, 2016: National Kids and Pets Day.
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
May
National Pet Month. (US)
Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research. (Also see November events.)
Chip Your Pet Month.
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month. The American College of Veterinary Optholmologists hosts this annual event when over 200 veterinary optholmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada.
May 1: Mayday for Mutts.
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day.
May 3: National Specially Abled Pets Day.
1st full week: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week. This week-long event has been celebrated since 1915. Always the first full week of May.
May 1-7, 2016: National Pet Week. Always held the first full week of May by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
May 2-8, 2016: Puppy Mill Action Week. An initiative of the HSUS, this week is always scheduled to begin the Monday before Mother’s Day.
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
May 15-21, 2016: Dog Bite Prevention Week. This event by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) along with the United States Post Office (USPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) focuses attention on preventing dog bites. 3rd full week in May.
June
Adopt-a-Cat Month®. From the American Humane Association.
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. From the ASPCA.
National Pet Preparedness Month. This month, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster…and that includes making plans for what you would do with your dog in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day.
June 5-11, 2016: Pet Appreciation Week. First week in June.
June 9: World Pet Memorial Day.
June 11: Just One Day.
Mid-June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
June 20-24: Take Your Dog to Work Week.
June 21: National Dog Party Day.
June 24 [not confirmed]: Take Your Cat to Work Day.
June 24, 2016: Take Your Dog to Work Day.
July
Dog House Repair Month.
National Lost Pet Prevention Month™. Learn how to keep your pets from becoming lost in this month-long observance launched by PetHub.
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day. Sponsored by the The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club® (AKC).
July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day.
July 31: National Mutt Day. Also see Dec. 2.
August
Aug. 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs. The North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, declared August 1 as a birthday for all the shelter animals whose birthdays are unknown. Happy DOGust!!
Aug. 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
Aug. 7-13: International Assistance Dog Week.
Aug. 8: International Cat Day.
Aug. 15: National Check the Chip Day. AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create “Check the Chip Day.”
Aug. 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day.
Aug. 20, 2016: International Homeless Animals’ Day®.
Aug. 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.
Aug. 26: National Dog Day.
Aug. 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.
Aug. 30. National Holistic Pet Day.
September
Happy Healthy Cat Month. Established by the CATalyst Council.
National Disaster Preparedness Month. Led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, this effort encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. Visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.
Sept. 11: National Pet Memorial Day. Established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC). Second Sunday in September.
Last full week in September: National Dog Week.
Last full week in September. Deaf Pet Awareness Week. By Petfinder.com.
Sept. 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day. A day dedicated to the issue of pet birth defects including information on identification, prevention and treatment. Sponsored by the MBJungle Foundation.
Sept. 13: National Hug Your Hound Day.
Sept. 18-24: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week. Last full week in September.
Sept. 19, 2016: Puppy Mill Awareness Day.
Sept. 19: Responsible Dog Ownership Day.
Sept. 23: Dogs in Politics Day (also known as Checkers Day). Recognizing the dogs of politicians.
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day. Sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
October
Adopt-A-Dog Month®. By American Humane Association.
Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month. By ASPCA.
National Animal Safety and Protection Month.
National Pet Wellness Month.
National Pit Bull Awareness Month.
National Service Dog Month.
1st Week of October. National Walk Your Dog Week.
October 4: World Animal Day.
1st Full Week of October. Animal Welfare Week. (AVMA)
Oct. 12, 2016: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.
Oct. 9-15, 2016: National Veterinary Technician Week. Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America.
Oct. 1: National Fire Pup Day.
Oct. 1: National Black Dog Day.
October 15: Dog Film Festival, New York City.
Oct. 16: National Feral Cat Day.
Oct. 27, 2016: National Pit Bull Awareness Day. Last Saturday in Oct. (unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen).
Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day. Be sure to get your dog and plush toy today, so he can show his love for them and rip the eyes off :)
Oct. 29: National Cat Day.
Oct. 30: National Black Cat Day in the UK.
November
Adopt a Senior Pet Month. By ASPCA.
National Pet Awareness Month.
National Senior Pet Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and the Animal Cancer Foundation. (Also see May events).
National Dog Show. Always broadcast in the US on Thanksgiving, this event is held at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania and is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, this event usually features 2,000 dogs.
Nov. 6-12, 2016: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. by The Humane Society of the United States. First full week of November.
Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day.