You’re scrolling through your Facebook news feed while wondering, “Why are there so many pictures of chihuahuas?” Then you realize. It’s International Chihuahua Appreciation Day—and you missed it! 

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. So many pet holidays have cropped up in the past few years, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all. 

To help with that, here’s our updated list of all the pet-themed holidays we could find for 2020. And since the word “holidays” denotes fun, we included some of our other favorite holidays. 

Somehow, we just know your practice will find a way to celebrate National Hot Fudge Sundae Day or National Pizza Party Day. 

Call it a hunch. 🙂 

 

January

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Walk Your Pet Month 
  • National Train Your Dog Month 
  • Adopt a Rescued Bird Month 
  • Unchain a Dog Month 

Days

January 1: New Year’s Day 

January 2: National Pet Safety Travel DayHappy Mew Year for Cats Day 

January 5: National Bird DayNational Whipped Cream Day 

January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day 

January 15: National Hat Day (Who doesn’t love cute pets wearing adorable hats?) 

January 21: National Hug DaySquirrel Appreciation Day (Your dog appreciates squirrels—or at least the chance to chase them.) 

January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (See Cat World Domination Day if they seem shifty or evasive, like they’re hiding something.) 🙂 

January 23: National Pie Day (Celebrating is as easy as [insert your favorite pie name here].) 

January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day 

January 29: National Seeing Eye Dog Day 

January 31: National Have Fun aWork Day (This is an excellent holiday to celebrate every day.) 

 

February

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Pet Dental Health Month 
  • Dog Training Education Month 
  • National Cat Health Month 
  • Responsible Pet Owners Month (The perfect time to check in with clients to assist them with any questions about pet parenting.) 
  • National Prevent a Litter Month 
  • Spay/Neuter Awareness Month 
  • Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • Feb. 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week 

Days

February 2: Groundhog Day 

February 9: National Pizza Day  

February 14: Pet Theft Awareness DayValentine’s Day 

February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day; Family Day 

February 20: Love Your Pet Day 

February 22National Walk Your Dog DayNational Wildlife Day 

February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day (Yes, dogs appreciate dog biscuits every day—but now they have their own official day!) 

February 25: Spay Day USA/World Spay Day; Pancake Day 

 

March

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Poison Prevention Awareness Month 
  • Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • March 17: Professional Pet Sitters Week 
  • March 16-22: National Poison Prevention Week 

Days

March 1: National Pig Day 

March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs DayInternational Ear Care Day (Sure, your pet can hear you opening a can of pet food a mile away. Help keep it that way.) 

March 8: International Women’s Day 

March 13: K9 Veterans Day (Honoring and commemorating the service and sacrifices of U.S. military and working dogs.) 

March 14: National Save a Spider Day(Sure, they can be creepy, but without them, Spider-Man would just be Man, and that would just be sad.) 

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day 

March 20: International Day of Happiness 

March 23: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day 

March 28: Respect Your Cat Day (They move like ninjas and were awesomely clawed before Marvel invented Wolverine. Respect!) 

March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day 

 

April

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Heartworm Awareness Month 
  • National Greyhound Adoption Month 
  • National Pet First Aid Awareness Month 
  • Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month 
  • Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

April 17: International Pooper Scooper Week 

April 5-11: National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week; National Dog Bite Prevention Week 

April 17-23National Pet ID Week 

April 19-25: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week 

Days 

April 1: April Fools’ Day; National Walking Day (It’s healthy and fun for pets and their owners.) 

April 2: National Ferret Day 

April 4: Every Day Is Tag Day 

April 6: National Siamese Cat Day 

April 7: World Health DayNational No Housework Day (Because you’ve earned it.) 

April 8: National Zoo Lover’s Day 

April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day; National Farm Animals Day; Good Friday 

April 11: National Pet DayDog Therapy Appreciation Day 

April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day; Easter Monday 

April 17: National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day (The perfect time to make sure you don’t have any expired or leftover pet medication sitting around.) 

April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day 

April 19: National Cat Lady Day (Break out the catnip. It’s time to celebrate cat ladies everywhere!) 

April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day 

April 22: Earth Day (It’s the 50th anniversary!); National Administrative Professionals Day 

April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day 

April 24: National Hairball Awareness Day 

April 25: World Penguin Day (Who doesn’t love a bird in a tuxedo?) 

April 26: National Pet Parents Day 

April 27: World Veterinary Day 

April 29: International Guide Dogs Day 

April 30: National Tabby DayNational Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 

 

May

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Chip Your Pet Month 
  • Pet Cancer Awareness Month 
  • National Pet Month 
  • Lyme Disease Prevention Month 
  • National Service Dog Eye Examination Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • May 39: National Pet WeekBe Kind to Animals Week 
  • May 4-10: Puppy Mill Action Week 

Days 

May 1: National Purebred Dog Day; National Chocolate Parfait Day; May Day 

May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day; Mayday for Mutts; National Lemonade Day 

May 4: Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!) 

May 5: Cinco de Mayo 

May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day 

May 10: Mother’s Day 

May 11: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day 

May 13: National Apple Pie Day 

May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day 

May 15: National Pizza Party Day 

May 18: Victoria Day 

May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day 

May 20National Rescue Dog Day 

May 23: World Turtle Day (Tortoises included.) 

May 25: Memorial Day 

May 28: National Hamburger Day 

May 30: International Hug Your Cat Day 

 

June

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Adopt-a-Cat Month 
  • Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month 
  • National Pet Preparedness Month 
  • National Microchipping Month 
  • Social Petworking Month (Dedicated to using social media to help homeless pets find good homes.) 

Weekly Celebrations: 

  • June 713Pet Appreciation Week 
  • June 22-26: Take Your Pet to Work Week 

Days 

June 1: Global Day of Parents 

June 3: National Running Day 

June 4National Hug Your Cat Day (But really, every day should be Hug Your Cat Day.) 

June 5: National Donut Day 

June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day 

June 8: National Best Friends Day 

June 9: World Pet Memorial Day 

June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day (Why not celebrate with lasagna?) 

June 21: National Dog Party DayUgliest Dog Day; Father’s Day 

June 22: Take Your Cat to Work Day 

June 24: Cat World Domination Day 

June 26: Take Your Dog to Work Day 

June 28: National Insurance Awareness Day (A good time to think about pet insurance.) 

 

July

Monthly Celebrations: 

  • National Doghouse Repairs Month 
  • National Lost Pet Prevention Month 
  • National Pet Hydration Awareness Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • July 1218: Everybody Deserves a Massage Week (Yup, that includes you.) 
  • July 19-25: National Zookeeper Week 

Days

July 1: Canada Day 

July 4: Independence Day 

July 10: Cow Appreciation Day; National Kitten Day 

July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day 

July 15: National Pet Fire Safety DayI Love Horses Day 

July 16: World Snake Day 

July 19: National Ice Cream Day 

July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters DayNo Pet Store Puppies Day 

July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day (More ice cream!) 

July 30: International Day of FriendshipNational Cheesecake Day 

July 31: National Mutt Day 

 

Dogust (a.k.a. August)

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Immunization Awareness Month 
  • National Back-to-School Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • August 28: International Assistance Dog Week 

Days

August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs 

August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (Ice cream—in sandwich form!) 

August 8International Cat Day 

August 10: National Spoil Your Dog DayNational Lazy Day 

August 15: National Check the Chip DayNational Relaxation Day (If you missed Lazy Day, you can relax knowing that Relaxation Day has you covered.) 

August 16: National Tell a Joke Day (Laughter really is good medicine.) 

August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation DayInternational Homeless Animals Day 

August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day (Tailor-made to touch base with cat owner clients whom you may not have seen in a while.) 

August 26: National Dog Day 

August 30: National Holistic Pet Day 

 

September

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Disaster Preparedness Month 
  • Pet Sitter Education Month 
  • Happy Healthy Cat Month 
  • National Guide Dogs Month 
  • National Pet Health Insurance Month 
  • Animal Pain Awareness Month 
  • National Service Dog Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • Sept. 21-27Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week; National Deaf Pet Awareness Week; National Dog Week 

Days

September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day 

September 5: National Bacon Day (Canada) 

September 7: Labor Day 

September 13: National Pet Memorial Day; National Hug Your Hound Day 

September 18: National Cheeseburger Day 

September 19: Puppy Mill Awareness Day; Responsible Dog Ownership Day 

September 26: International Rabbit Day 

September 28: World Rabies Day 

 

October

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Pit Bull Awareness Month 
  • National Pet Wellness Month 
  • National Adopt-a-Dog Month 
  • National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month 
  • National Animal Safety and Protection Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • Oct. 1-7National Walk Your Dog Week; Animal Welfare Week 
  • Oct. 4-10: Animal Health Week 
  • Oct. 1923National Veterinary Technician Week 

Days

October 1: International Coffee DayNational Black Dog Day; National Fire Pup Day (Honoring canine members of firefighting teams.) 

October 4: World Animal Day; World Smile Day 

October 5: National Do Something Nice Day 

October 9: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day 

October 12: Canadian Thanksgiving 

October 15: National Grouch Day 

October 16: National Feral Cat Day 

October 24: National Pit Bull Awareness Day 

October 28: National Chocolate Day 

October 29: National Cat Day 

October 31: Halloween 

 

November

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Pet Cancer Awareness Month 
  • National Senior Pet Month 
  • Adopt a Senior Pet Month 
  • National Pet Diabetes Month 

Weekly Celebrations:

  • Nov. 1-7: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week 

Days

November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day; National Cook for Your Pets Day (Operating a can opener doesn’t count as cooking.) 🙁 

November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day 

November 11: Remembrance DayVeterans Day 

November 13: World Kindness Day 

November 14: World Diabetes Day 

November 17: National Take a Hike Day 

November 23Wolfenoot (A holiday involving presents and a delicious feast just for being kind to dogs? Yes please!) 

November 26: U.S. Thanksgiving; National Cake Day (Pumpkin pie and cake—both on the same day!) 

 

December

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Cat Lovers’ Month 

Days

December 2: National Mutt Day (Round 2!) 

December 4: National Cookie Day 

December 5: International Volunteer Day 

December 10: International Animal Rights Day 

December 13: National Cocoa Day (The perfect day to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa!) 

December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day (Dedicated to anyone who manages chaos like a champ.) 

December 24: Christmas Eve 

December 25: Christmas Day 

December 26: Boxing Day (Canada) 

December 30: National Bacon Day (U.S.) (Everything’s better with bacon!) 

December 31: New Year’s Eve (Happy New Year!) 

 

We’ve also created a printable calendar to provide in your clinics of all the 2020 Pet Holidays.

Download Your 2020 Pet Holidays Calendar