You’re scrolling through your socials when you wonder, “Why are there so many pictures of chihuahuas, and why do I suddenly have the inexplicable urge to eat tacos?” Then it hits you. It’s International Chihuahua Appreciation Day—and you missed it!

Pet holidays are a great opportunity for veterinary practices to become part of the conversation and connect with pet owners on social, as well as an opportunity to remind clients about important pet health issues. Yet with so many pet holidays, it can be nearly impossible to keep track of them all. To help with that, here is our annual list of upcoming pet holidays to bookmark for easy reference through 2021 to stay competitive with other practices on social.

Since the word “holidays” denotes fun, we also included some other favorite holidays. Somehow, we just know your clients will appreciate a reminder about National Donut Day or National Pizza Day.

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 Travel Safety Day

January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day

January 5: National Bird Day

January 5: National Whipped Cream Day

January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day

January 15: National Hat Day

January 21: National Hug Day

January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day

January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day

January 23: National Pie Day

January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day

January 28: National Have Fun at Work Day

January 29: National Seeing Eye Dog Day

February

Monthly Celebrations:

  • Pet Dental Health Month
  • Dog Training Education Month
  • National Cat Health Month
  • Responsible Pet Owners Month
  • National Prevent a Litter Month
  • Spay and Neuter Awareness Month
  • Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month

Weekly Celebrations:

  • 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
  • 21-28: National Justice for Animals Week

Days

February 2: Groundhog Day

February 9: National Pizza Day

February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day

February 14: Valentine’s Day

February 15: Family Day

February 16: Pancake Tuesday

February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

February 20: Love Your Pet Day

February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day

February 23: Spay Day USA

February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

February 25: World Spay Day

March

Monthly Celebrations:

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

Weekly Celebrations:

  • March 7-13: Professional Pet Sitters Week
  • March 21-27: National Poison Prevention Week

Days

March 1: National Pig Day

March 3: World Wildlife Day

March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day

March 3: International Ear Care Day

March 8: International Women’s Day

March 13: K9 Veterans Day

March 14: National Save a Spider Day.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

March 20: International Day of Happiness

March 23: National Puppy Day

March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day

March 28: Respect Your Cat Day

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 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week
  • April 10-17: National Wildlife Week
  • April 11-17: National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week
  • April 11-17: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
  • April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
  • April 18-24: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week

Days

April 1: April Fools’ Day

April 2: National Ferret Day

April 2: Good Friday

April 3: Every Day Is Tag Day

April 5: National Walking Day

April 5: Easter Monday

April 6: National Siamese Cat Day

April 7: World Health Day

April 7: National No Housework Day

April 8: National Zoo Lover’s Day

April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day

April 10: National Farm Animals Day

April 11: National Pet Day

April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day

April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

April 17: National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day

April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day

April 19: National Cat Lady Day

April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day

April 21: National Administrative Professionals Day

April 22: Earth Day

April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day

April 24: World Veterinary Day

April 25: National Hairball Awareness Day

April 25: National Pet Parents Day

April 25: World Penguin Day

April 28: International Guide Dogs Day

April 30: National Tabby Day

April 30: National 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 2-8: National Pet Week
  • May 2-8: Be Kind to Animals Week
  • May 3-9: Puppy Mill Action Week

Days

May 1: National Purebred Dog Day

May 1: National Chocolate Parfait Day

May 1: May Day

May 2: Mayday for Mutts

May 2: National Lemonade Day

May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day

May 4: Bird Day

May 4: Star Wars Day

May 5: Cinco de Mayo

May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

May 8: National Coconut Cream Pie Day

May 9: Mother’s Day

May 13: National Apple Pie Day

May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day

May 19: National Devil’s Food Cake Day

May 20: National Rescue Dog Day

May 21: National Pizza Party Day

May 23: World Turtle Day

May 24: Victoria Day

May 28: National Hamburger Day

May 31: Memorial Day

June

Monthly Celebrations:

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

Weekly Celebrations:

  • June 6-12: Pet Appreciation Week
  • June 21-25: Take Your Pet to Work Week

Days

June 1: Global Day of Parents

June 3: National Running Day

June 4: National Hug Your Cat Day

June 5: National Donut Day

June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 8: National Best Friends Day

June 10: World Pet Memorial Day

June 18: Ugliest Dog Day

June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day

June 20: Father’s Day

June 21: National Dog Party Day

June 21: Take Your Cat to Work Day

June 24: Cat World Domination Day

June 25: Take Your Dog to Work Day

June 28: National Insurance Awareness Day

July

Monthly Celebrations:

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

Weekly Celebrations:

  • July 11-17: Everybody Deserves a Massage Week
  • July 18-24: National Zookeeper Week

Days

July 1: Canada Day

July 4: Independence Day

July 7: World Chocolate Day

July 10: National Kitten Day

July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day

July 13: Cow Appreciation Day

July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day

July 15: I Love Horses Day

July 16: World Snake Day

July 18: National Ice Cream Day

July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day

July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day

July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day

July 30: International Day of Friendship

July 30: National 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 1-7: International Assistance Dog Week

Days

August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs

August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 8: International Cat Day

August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day

August 10: National Lazy Day

August 15: National Check the Chip Day

August 15: National Relaxation Day

August 16: National Tell a Joke Day

August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day

August 21: International Homeless Animals Day

August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

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 Service Dog Month
  • National Pet Insurance Month
  • Animal Pain Awareness Month

Weekly Celebrations:

  • 13-19: Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week
  • 19-25: National Deaf Pet Awareness Week; National Dog Week

Days

September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day

September 4: National Wildlife Day

September 4: International Bacon Day

September 6: Labor Day

September 12: National Pet Memorial Day

September 12: National Hug Your Hound Day

September 13: International Chocolate Day

September 16: Remember Me Thursday

September 18: National Cheeseburger Day

September 18: Puppy Mill Awareness Day

September 18: Responsible Dog Ownership Day

September 23: Dogs in Politics Day

September 25: International Rabbit Day

September 28: World Rabies Day

October

Monthly Celebrations:

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

Weekly Celebrations:

  • 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week
  • 3-9: Animal Health Week
  • 17-23: National Veterinary Technician Week

Days

October 1: International Coffee Day

October 1: World Smile Day

October 1: National Black Dog Day

October 1: National Fire Pup Day

October 4: World Animal Day

October 5: National Do Something Nice Day

October 9: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day

October 11: Canadian Thanksgiving

October 16: National Feral Cat Day

October 25: 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:

  • 7-13: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week

Days

November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day

November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day

November 4: National Candy Day

November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

November 11: Remembrance Day; Veterans Day

November 13: World Kindness Day

November 14: World Diabetes Day

November 17: National Take a Hike Day

November 23: Wolfenoot

November 25: U.S. Thanksgiving

November 26: National Cake Day

November 26: Black Friday

November 28: Hanukkah begins

November 29: Cyber Monday

December

Monthly Celebrations:

  • National Cat Lovers’ Month

Days

December 2: National Mutt Day

December 4: National Cookie Day

December 5: International Volunteer Day

December 10: International Animal Rights Day

December 13: National Cocoa Day

December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day

December 24: Christmas Eve

December 25: Christmas Day

December 26: Boxing Day

December 26: Kwanzaa begins

December 30: National Bacon Day

December 31: New Year’s Eve

Please note: Any of these days/celebrations can change, so before posting anything, please do a quick Google search to ensure the date remains correct.