April 2026 Pet Holidays
April showers bring…well, mosquitoes…so April’s National Heartworm Awareness Month shines a timely light on this hazard. Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and National Therapy Animal Day help focus attention on both shelter dogs and therapy dogs and other animals.
Month-Long Observances
- Active Dog Month.
- National Canine Fitness Month.
- National Adopt a Greyhound Month.
- National Heartworm Awareness Month. An important topic year-around, this awareness month shines the spotlight on this deadly parasite.
- 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.
- National Pet Month. (UK)
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASPCA)
Week-Long Holidays
- First week of April: International Pooper Scooper Week.
- April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week.
- April 12-18: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week. 2nd full week in April.
- April 12-18: National Dog Bite Prevention Week. 2nd full week in April.
- April 17-23: National Pet ID Week.
- April 19-26: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States. Third week in April.
- April 23-29: National Scoop The Poop Week. Always starts the day after Earth Day.
One-Day Holidays
- April 1: International Bull Terrier Day. The dogs often lovingly referred to as “class clowns” are honored on this special day.
- April 2: Don’t Walk Your Dog Day. Launched in the UK by the author of STOP Walking your Dog, this day brings awareness to the fact that some dogs benefit from activities other than the traditional dog walk, such as training games.
- April 4: World Stray Animals Day.
- April 4: Every Day is Tag Day. Always the first Saturday in April.
- April 6: National Siamese Cat Day.
- April 7: National Pet Health Insurance Day .
- April 8: Catahoula Leopard Dog Day.
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day.
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day.
- April 11: National Pet Day.
- April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day.
- April 17: Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day.
- April 18: Pet Owner’s Independence Day. Brought to you by Wellcat (who also invented holidays ranging from Cat Herders’ Day to Happy Mew Years for Cats Day), this holiday encourages pet lovers to take the day off from work and send their cat (or dog) in their place!
- April 19: National Dog Parent Appreciation Day. Launched in 2021 by Dr. Marty Pets as Paw Parent Appreciation Day, this day celebrates that inseparable bond between humans and their pets.
- April 19: National Cat Lady Day.
- April 19: Sylvester the Cat’s Birthday.
- April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day.
- April 21: National Pet CBD Day.
- April 22: Earth Day.
- April 22: National Beagle Day.
- April 23: Pet Tech CPR Day.
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day.
- April 24: Hairball Awareness Day. Last Friday in April.
- April 25: World Veterinary Day. This event from the World Veterinary Association is always celebrated on the last Saturday in April.
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day.
- April 26: National Pet Parents Day. Always the last Sunday in April.
- April 26: International Search and Rescue Dog Day. Dating back to 2008 with its founding in Austria, this holiday recognizes the important work that search and rescue dogs perform worldwide. Last Sunday in April.
- April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day.
- April 27: Free Feral Cat Spay Day.
- April 29: International Guide Dog Day. Always the last Wednesday in April.
- April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day.
- April 30: National Tabby Day.
More Pet Holidays
