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2023 Pet Holidays: 100s of Dog Holidays to Celebrate

Are you looking for special pet holidays that recognizes the special role that dogs and cats play in our lives? You’ve come to the right place.

This extensive calendar of 2023 dog holidays and cat holidays, updated throughout the year, features fun holidays as well as serious pet awareness days, weeks and months that focus attention on challenges in the pet world.

Please note: pet holidays are generally set by private groups–and sometimes more than one group decides to declare an “official” holiday for the same event. More pet holidays mean more reasons to celebrate the pets we all hold so dear!

2023 Pet Holidays

Calendar of 2023 Pet Holidays including dog and cat awareness months, weeks and days as well as fun pet holidays

January

With the many families that welcome new dogs over the holidays–and the resolutions to get more active in the new year–it’s no surprise that two of January’s biggest pet holidays are National Train Your Dog Month and Walk Your Dog Month.

Month-Long Observances

One-Day Holidays

February

The month of love shines the spotlight on several important causes: the need for spay and neuter and the growing issue of dog theft.

Month-Long Observances

Week-Long Holidays

One-Day Holidays

  • Feb. 1: World Galgo Day. This awareness day shines a light on the tragic fate of thousands of Galgos, a Spanish sighthound, left to die or killed at the end of Spain’s hunting season every year. Also known as World Greyhound Day.
  • Feb. 2: Sled Dog Day.
  • Feb. 2: National Brown Dog Day.
  • Feb. 3: Doggy Date Night.
  • Feb. 3: National Golden Retriever Day.
  • Feb. 5: World Animal Reiki Day.
  • Feb. 12: Safety Pup Day. An awareness effort by the National Child Safety Council (N.C.S.C.), this day features the work of Safetypup®, a puppy character who helps teach children about safety.
  • Feb. 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day.
  • Feb. 17: Cat Day (Dzień kota) in Poland.
  • Feb. 17: Cat Day in Italy.
  • Feb. 19: National Boston Terrier Day.
  • Feb. 19: National Whippet Day. Created by Redhound for Dogs, a UK company that specializes in Whippet clothing.
  • Feb. 20: National Love Your Pet Day.
  • Feb. 21: World Spay Day. Annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States; held the last Tuesday of February. Created to combat the crisis of pet overpopulation in every corner of the globe, animal lovers are encouraged to spread the word through social media and help to raise funds for the paws cause.
  • Feb. 21: Skye Terrier Day.
  • Feb. 22: Cat Day in Japan.
  • Feb. 22: Marie Day. Designated by Walt Disney Japan, this day celebrates Marie of The AristoCats!
  • Feb. 22: Walking the Dog Day.
  • Feb. 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day and National Dog Biscuit Day.

March

With spring on the horizon, March’s dog holidays help to keep our dogs safe as they get out in the world with National Animal Poison Prevention Week–and look ahead to summer with Professional Pet Sitters Week.

Month-Long Observances

  • Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

Week-Long Holidays

  • March 5-11: Professional Pet Sitters Week. Entrusting your pets and your home during your absence often means hiring a professional; this awareness week honors the pros who provide professional pet sitting.
  • March 14-21: Pet Theft Awareness Week (UK). See Feb. 14 for more on both the US and the UK observances.
  • March 19-25: National Animal Poison Prevention Week: Held the third week of March to coincide with National Poison Prevention Week.
  • March 20-25: Tick Bite Prevention Week. This UK awareness week was launched in 2021 and is held the third week of March.

One-Day Holidays

April

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

Week-Long Holidays

  • April 2-8: International Pooper Scooper Week.
  • April 2-8: National Raw Feeding Week.
  • April 9-15: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week. 2nd full week in April.
  • April 9-15: National Dog Bite Prevention Week. 2nd full week in April.
  • April 16-22: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States. Third week in April.
  • April 16-22: National Pet ID Week. Third week in April.

One-Day Holidays

May

May’s National Pet Month celebrates our pets all month long–and National Animal Preparedness Day helps remind us the create an emergency plan for ALL the members of our household in the case of a disaster.

Month-Long Observances

  • Chip Your Pet Month.
  • National Pet Month. (US)
  • National Service Animal Eye Exam. The American College of Veterinary Optholmologists hosts this annual event when over 300 veterinary ophthalmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada during the month of May.
  • Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research. (Also see November events.)
  • Pet Sitter Safety Month.
  • Responsible Animal Guardian Month.

Week-Long Observances

  • Apr. 30-May 6: National Scoop the Poop Week. Starting the day after “National Sense of Smell Day” (the last Saturday of April), this week recognizes the importance of scooping that dog poop.
  • May 6-9: Westminster Week. This year to be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, this series includes the Masters Agility Championship, Masters Obedience Championship and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
  • May 7-13: 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 7-13: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week. Founded by Assisi Animal Health.
  • May 7-13: National Pet Week. Always held the first full week of May by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
  • May 8-13: Puppy Mill Action Week. An initiative of the HSUS, this week is always scheduled to begin the Monday before Mother’s Day.

One-Day Holidays

  • May 1: National Purebred Dog Day.
  • May 1: International Day of the Podenco. Like February’s World Galgo Day, this awareness day draws attention to the cruel fate that thousands of Podenco face in Spain after hunting season.
  • May 1: International Samoyed Day. Celebrate this smiling dog named for the Samoyedic people of Siberia, where the breed originated.
  • May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day.
  • May 7: Mayday for Mutts. First Sunday in May.
  • May 8: National Catahoula Day.
  • May 10: German Shepherd Day.
  • May 13: National Dog Mom’s Day. Second Saturday in May.
  • May 14: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. This FEMA-founded awareness day reminds pet lovers to prepare and pack pet essentials for evacuation emergencies.
  • May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day.
  • May 14: Pick Up the Poo Day. (UK)
  • May 15: Do Lunch With Your Dog Day.
  • May 20: National Rescue Dog Day.
  • May 27: International Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Day.
  • May 28: Feast Day of St. Bernard of Montjoux. The patron of hospices at two Alpine passes, later to be named Great and Little St. Bernard passes. The hospices were home to–you guessed it–St. Bernard dogs who were trained to find lost travelers.
  • May 29: National Dog Friendly Day. (UK)

June

It’s no surprise that National Pet Wedding Week is celebrated in the month of June. Take Your Dog to Work Day® is one of the month’s best-known pet holidays.

Month-Long Observances

Week-Long Observances

  • June 4-10: Pet Appreciation Week. First week in June.
  • June 12-16: National Pet Wedding Week. Always the second week in June.
  • 3rd Week in June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
  • June 19-23: Take Your Pet to Work Week®.

One-Day Holidays

  • June 1: International Sheltie Day.
  • June 2: National Greyhound Day.
  • June 4: Hug Your Cat Day.
  • June 4: International Corgi Day.
  • June 8: Best Friends Day.
  • June 10: Missing Mutts Awareness Day (always the second Saturday in June)
  • June 11: Just One Day.
  • June 12: Peruvian Hairless Dog Day. The nation of Peru celebrates the “perro peruano sin pelo” with their own special day.
  • June 12: Jerky Day. Although created to highlight a favorite human snack, this date is also the perfect time to whip up a batch of homemade chicken jerky for your dog, too!
  • June 13: World Pet Memorial Day. Second Tuesday in June.
  • June 17: National Dog Dad Day. Held the Saturday before Father’s Day, this day celebrates all the dog dads and their special bond with their dogs.
  • June 18: National Internet Cat Day.
  • June 18: Veterinary Appreciation Day™. In 2015, Trupanion created Veterinary Appreciation Day to celebrate the critical role that veterinary professionals play in our lives. From the front desk to technicians to veterinarians, veterinary professionals dedicate countless hours providing compassionate care for our pets, even throughout the most challenging of times.
  • June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day.
  • June 19: National Pets in Film Day.
  • June 19: Take Your Cat to Work Day®.
  • June 20: Ugliest Dog Day. Although every dog is a beauty in the eyes of their special person, this annual observation is always held on June 20. The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, California as part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair is held on a nearby date each year.
  • June 21: National Dog Party Day.
  • June 21: National Dachshund Day. Always held on the summer solstice, this day celebrates these long dogs on the longest day of the year.
  • June 23: Take Your Dog to Work Day®.
  • June 24: Cat World Domination Day.
  • June 24: World Day Against Pet Abandonment. Founded in 2019 by two French rescue groups, this day coincides with the start of summer holidays, a time many pets are abandoned. Always the last Saturday in June.

July

Thanks to the sound of fireworks, more pets go missing around July 4th than any other time of the year–so you might expect that National Lost Pet Prevention Month and ID Your Pet Day are both recognized in July.

Month-Long Observances

  • 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.
  • National Pet Hydration Awareness Month.

Week-Long Holidays

  • 3rd Week in July: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week: Launched in 2017, this holiday by GreaterGood.org and The Animal Rescue Site aims to feed shelter pets.

One-Day Events

  • July 1: ID Your Pet Day.
  • July 1: Pet Travel Safety Day. (UK pet holiday. The US version is celebrated on January 2 as National Pet Travel Safety Day.)
  • July 4: International Whippet Day.
  • July 4: Independence Day. This US holiday is no holiday for dogs; the sounds of fireworks causes many dogs to panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs every year.
  • July 5: Pet Remembrance Day. (UK)
  • July 8: Coon Dog Day. This Saluda, North Carolina festival is the perfect excuse to celebrate coonhounds everywhere. This is always held on the Saturday following July 4th.
  • July 10: National Kitten Day. Always held on July 10, this day celebrates the joy of kittens.
  • July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day.
  • July 14: Dog on a Lead Day. Launched by the UK’s Best Behaviour Dog Training, this pet holiday emphasizes the importance of walking your dog on a leash and respecting on-leash dogs.
  • 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 15: Feline Leukemia Day. Community Cats Podcast and Feline Leukemia advocacy supporter Margaret Tompkins hosts this annual online event with important expert information on this disease, ways to manage it and adoption of FeLV+ cats.
  • July 21: World Collie Day.
  • July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day. Regardless of your crafting skills, you can create items that will be joy and comfort to pets waiting for their forever homes in animal shelters.
  • July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day. As part of the ongoing effort to end the suffering inflicted upon dogs through the puppy mill pipeline, the ASPCA declared July 21 No Pet Store Puppies Day. 
  • July 22: AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day or AAHA Day. A day that celebrates facilities accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association.
  • July 26: National Dog Photography Day. UK holiday.
  • July 31: National Mutt Day. Also see Dec. 2.

August

The dog days of summer are celebrated with one of the year’s biggest dog holidays: National Dog Day. The annual Clear the Shelters event also draws national attention this month.

Month-Long Observances

  • Clear the Shelters. This annual event, held in partnership with NBC-owned TV stations and the Telemundo Station Group, features low-cost and fee-waived adoptions at shelters across the US.
  • Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Founded by Zoetis, this awareness month brings awareness to allergic skin disease.
  • National Dog Month. Launched in 2020, this observation held during the dog days of summer celebrates all the special joy of dogs.
  • Rawgust. Celebration of raw feeding for pets for the month of August.
  • World Mutt-i-grees Rescue Month. Created by North Shore Animal League America, this awareness month focuses on the importance of adopting shelter pets.

Week-Long Observances

  • Aug. 6-12: International Assistance Dog Week. This annual event honors the many specially-trained service dogs who perform a wide variety of tasks.
  • Aug. 6-12, 2023: Give a Dog a Bone Week. Hosted by Pets of the Homeless, the event features more than 400 Pets of the Homeless donation sites nationwide asking their community to bring donations of pet food and supplies to assist the pets of the homeless.

One-Day Holidays

  • 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. 1: National Yorkie Day. Coinciding with Yorkshire Day which recognizes the English county of Yorkshire, Yorkie Day celebrates the Yorkshire Terrier. (Also see January’s National Yorkshire Terrier Day!)
  • Aug. 4: Assistance Dog Day. Part of International Assistance Dog Week, this observation, always on August 4, honors the many types of assistance dogs.
  • Aug. 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
  • Aug. 8: International Cat Day.
  • Aug. 8: National Cat Day in Canada.
  • Aug. 8: National Odie Day. Celebrating Garfield’s cheerful sidekick.
  • Aug. 10: Snoopy’s Birthday. Peanuts Worldwide celebrates the birthday of the world’s favorite beagle on this day.
  • Aug. 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day. We’ve got dozens of ways to spoil your dog–even more than you do the rest of the year!
  • Aug. 15: National Check the Chip Day. AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create “Check the Chip Day.”
  • Aug. 16: Saint Roch’s Day. Patron saint of dogs.
  • Aug. 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day.
  • Aug. 17: National Nonprofit Day.
  • Aug. 19: International Homeless Animals’ Day. Third Saturday in August.
  • Aug. 22: National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day.
  • Aug. 23: International Blind Dog Day.
  • Aug. 26: National Dog Day. One of the most popular pet holidays of the year, we’ve got an entire page devoted to National Dog Day with ideas on how you and your dog can celebrate together.
  • Aug. 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.
  • Aug. 30: National Holistic Pet Day.

September

September turns attention to many serious topics in the dog world with holidays ranging from Puppy Mill Awareness Day to Remember Me Thursday®.

Month-Long Observances

  • Animal Pain Awareness Month.
  • Happy 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.
  • National Pet Insurance Month.
  • National Service Dog Month.
  • Pet Memorial Month.
  • Pet Sitter Education Month.
  • Responsible Dog Ownership Month.
  • World Animal Remembrance Month.

Week-Long Observances

One-Day Holidays

  • Sept. 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day. Celebrating orange-coated cats who have made our world a little brighter with their flame-tinted fur and their colorful personalities.
  • Sept. 1: Boykin Spaniel Day. A South Carolina observance honoring the South Carolina state dog.
  • Sept. 5: Canine Enrichment Day. (UK)
  • Sept. 5: National White Cat Day.
  • Sept. 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day. This day (always Sept.8) recognizes the work of professional dog walkers.
  • Sept. 9: Happy Dog Day. (UK)
  • Sept. 9: Tuxie Appreciation Day. A day to celebrate the formally-attired black and white cats.
  • Sept. 10: National Pet Memorial Day. Established by the International Association Of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC). Second Sunday in September.
  • Sept. 10: National Hug Your Hound Day. Second Sunday in September.
  • Sept. 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day. A day dedicated to the issue of pet birth defects including information on identification, prevention and treatment.
  • Sept. 13: Scooby-Doo Day. The dog detective made his debut on this date in 1969.
  • Sept. 16: Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Third Saturday in September.
  • Sept. 16: Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Always the third Saturday in September.
  • Sept. 17: National Pet Carbon Monoxide Safety Day.
  • Sept. 18: Love Your Dog Groomer Day. (UK)
  • Sept. 19: National Meow Like a Pirate Day.
  • Sept. 19: National Cat DNA Day.
  • Sept. 21: National Cat and Dog Gut Health Awareness Day.
  • Sept. 22: National Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog Day. Honoring dogs in wheelchairs and with mobility challenges.
  • Sept. 23: Dogs in Politics Day (also known as Checkers Day). Recognizing the dogs of politicians.
  • Sept. 23: Adopted Dog Day.
  • Sept. 23: World’s Largest Pet Walk. Sponsored by Pet Partners.
  • Sept. 24: International Doodle Dog Day.
  • Sept. 25: National Schnauzer Day.
  • Sept. 27: Sighthound Day.
  • Sept. 28: Remember Me Thursday® Remember Me Thursday® is an international social media awareness day that brings attention to the millions of adoptable pets waiting in shelters and remembers those pets who never got a second chance. Share your rescue pet using #RememberMeThursday.
  • Sept. 28: World Rabies Day. Sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
  • Sept. 29: Maneki-Neko Day or Beckoning Cat Day.
  • Sept. 30: Old Yeller Day. Author Fred Gipson’s hometown of Mason, Texas celebrates the famous tale on the last Saturday of September.
  • Sept. 30: Pet Tricks Day. (UK)
  • Sept. 30: National Puppy Mill Survivor Day.

October

Pit bulls fetch the spotlight with several October dog holidays with National Pit Bull Awareness Month and National Pit Bull Awareness Day. Adopt a Dog and Adopt a Shelter Dog Month help bring attention to the millions of adoptable dogs waiting in shelters.

Month-Long Observances

Week-Long Observances

  • Oct. 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week. First full week of October.
  • Oct. 1-7: Animal Welfare Week. (AVMA). First full week of October.
  • Oct. 15-21: National Veterinary Technician Week. Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America. Always celebrated during the third week in October.
  • Oct. 15-21: National Wolf Awareness Week. This awareness week hosted by the Timber Wolf Alliance is always the third week of October.

One-Day Pet Holidays

  • Oct. 1: National Fire Pup Day.
  • Oct. 1: National Black Dog Day. Helping to shine a light on Black Dog Syndrome in shelters, this day celebrates the often-overlooked black dogs looking for a forever home.
  • Oct. 2: Canine Companion Day.
  • Oct. 7, 2023: Poodle Day.
  • Oct. 4: World Animal Day.
  • Oct. 4: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
  • Oct. 4: Kindness to Animals Day.
  • Oct. 9: CATober 9th®. The date declared by North Shore Animal League as the universal birthday of shelter cats whose birthdays remain a mystery.
  • Oct. 10: World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day. This day is designed to make drivers think what would they do if they hit a dog or other animal on the road.
  • Oct. 11: National Spoodle Day.
  • Oct. 11: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.
  • Oct. 13: Vet Nurse Day. Also known as Veterinary Nurse Day, this annual event is always scheduled for the second Friday in October.
  • Oct. 15: National Pug Day. Since 2012, this annual event has celebrated one of the world’s oldest dog breeds.
  • Oct. 16: Global Cat Day. What began as National Feral Cat Day became Global Cat Day in 2018, an effort by Alley Cat Allies to shine the spotlight on all cats who may not have a home of their own.
  • Oct. 20: National Fetch Day.
  • Oct. 21: National Pets for Veterans Day.
  • Oct. 22: National Make a Dog’s Day.
  • Oct. 26: National Livestock Guardian Dog Appreciation and Awareness Day.
  • Oct. 27: National Black Cat Day in the UK.
  • Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day. A day that most dogs will be happy to celebrate…as they unstuff those plush toys…
  • Oct. 28: Muddy Dog Day. (UK) Last Saturday in October.
  • Oct. 28: National Pit Bull Awareness Day. Last Saturday in Oct. (unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen).
  • Oct. 29: National Cat Day.
  • Oct. 30: National Treat Your Pet Day. Launched in 2021 by Dr. Marty Pets, National Treat Your Pet Day encourages pet parents to treat their four-legged companions with snacks, extra love and attention.

November

Senior dogs–whether your own or adoptable older dogs–grab the spotlight with November’s Adopt a Senior Pet Month and National Senior Pet Month.

Month-Long Observances

  • Adopt a Senior Pet Month. By ASPCA.
  • National Senior Pet Month. Created by National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS).
  • National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and the Animal Cancer Foundation. (Also see May events.)
  • Pet Diabetes Month.

Week-Long Observances

One-Day Holidays

  • Nov. 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day.
  • Nov. 1:  International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day.
  • Nov. 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day.
  • Nov. 12: World Animal Enrichment Day.
  • Nov. 15: National Shop with Your Dog Day.
  • Nov. 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day.
  • Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day. Also celebrated on October 27.
  • Nov. 17: National Take a Hike Day.
  • Nov. 18: National Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness, Research and Education Day.
  • Nov. 19: National Get a Pal For Your Pet Day.
  • Nov. 23: Wolfenoot. This annual holiday, started in New Zealand, celebrates the Spirit of the Wolf and “is about celebrating our pack – human and animal – helping where we can, and making the world a better, kinder place.”
  • Nov. 23: Thankful for My Dog Day. Founded in 2020 by M.Y.O.S. Canine Muscle Formula, this pet holiday gives thanks for all that our dogs give us each and every day.
  • Nov. 24: 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.
  • Nov. 24: National Border Collie Day.
  • Nov. 26: Coton de Tulear Day.
  • Nov. 30: World Pet Day.

December

December’s pet holiday calendar is a fairly quiet one but special days celebrate shelter pets, mixed breed dogs and the hard-working members of the veterinary profession.

Month-Long Observances

  • National Cat Lover’s Month.

One-Day Events

  • Dec. 1: National Twin With Your Dog Day. Created in the UK by Leo Charley & Me, this day encourages dog owners to match their outfit to their dog’s! #twinwithyourdogday
  • Dec. 2: National Mutt Day. Also see July 31.
  • Dec. 5: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day. Humane Society of the United States.
  • Dec. 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine.
  • Dec. 10: International Animal Rights Day.
  • Dec. 11: Holiday Food Drive for the Needy Animals Day.
  • Dec. 15: National Cat Herders Day.

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Hundreds of pet holidays celebrating the dogs and cats in our lives