Did you know that there are over 140 national days dedicated to pets, animals and veterinarians?
To help pet owner, animal enthusiast, wildlife admirers and, of course, vets, find the national days dedicated to our furry, feathered, and/or scaly friends, we have arranged this list chronologically, starting from January and finishing with December.
What then are these National Pet Days and Veterinary Awareness Days, really? Well, quite often these days are really like a little party for pets and the people who care for them. For example, there’s a ‘Dress Up Your Pet Day’ in January — imagine all the adorable outfits! 🐶👗 And then in April, there’s ‘National Pet Day’ where it’s all about spoiling our pets rotten. 😊
For veterinarians, there are days like World Veterinary Day, Vet Nurse Day and Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.
Finally, there are all the different animal days — there’s one for nearly every creature you can think of, from frogs to tigers!
These national days are a great way to spread awareness and show some love for our animal buddies, plus a perfect excuse for some extra cuddles. So mark your calendars and maybe plan some events around these days. It could be a lot of fun!
If you’re only looking for the biggest ones, here they are: National Dog Day is on August 26. World Cat Day is on August 8. On March 3 we celebrate World Wildlife Day. World Veterinary Day is always celebrated on the last Saturday in April. And maybe most importantly, April 11 is always National Pet Day. However, these are merely the frosting on the cake – there are over a hundred other animal-related holidays to celebrate each year!
National Days for Pets and Vets
We love animals. Animals offer unconditional love and companionship, enriching our lives with joy and comfort. They connect us to the natural world, reminding us of our role in the larger ecosystem and the importance of conservation. So why not celebrate them a bit extra? Our list of animal days, pet days and daysfor veterinarians puts all these different fun national days in the same list, making them easy to find.
January
- January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
- January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
- January 5: National Bird Day
- January 10: National Save The Eagles Day
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
- January 20: National Penguin Day
- January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
- January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
- January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
February
- February 1: National Serpent Day
- February 2: National Hedgehog Day
- February 3: Doggy Date Night
- February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
- February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
- February 20: National Love Your Pet Day
- February 22: National Walking the Dog Day
- February 22: National Wildlife Day (also celebrated on February 22)
- February (last Tuesday in February): World Spay Day
- February 23: International / National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- February 27: International Polar Bear Day
March
- March 1: National Horse Protection Day
- March 1: National Pig Day
- March 3: World Wildlife Day
- March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day
- March 13: K9 Veterans Day
- March 20: World Frog Day
- March 22: International Day of the Seal
- March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day
- March 23: National Puppy Day
- March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
- March (last Wednesday in March): Manatee Appreciation Day
April
- April 2: National Ferret Day
- April 4: World Rat Day
- April 4: World Stray Animals Day
- April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
- April 7: International Beaver Day
- April 8: National Zoo Lovers Day
- April 10: National Farm Animals Day
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
- April 11: National Pet Day
- April 14: National Dolphin Day
- April 17: International Bat Appreciation Day
- April 19: National Cat Lady Day
- April 21: National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
- April 23: National Lost Dogs Awareness Day
- April (last Sunday in April): National Pet Parents Day
- April 25: World Penguin Day
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
- April (last Wednesday in April): International Guide Dog Day
- April (last Saturday in April): World Veterinary Day
- April 30: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
May
- May 3:National Specially-Able Pets Day a.k.a. Disabled Pets Day
- May 8: National Dog Mom’s Day
- May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
- May (3rd Friday in May): Endangered Species Day
- May 23: World Turtle Day
June
- June 4: International Corgi Day
- June 4: National Hug Your Cat Day
- June (1st Saturday in June): National Black Bear Day
- June 18: Ugliest Dog Day
- June (Friday following Father’s Day): Take Your Dog To Work Day
- June 21: World Giraffe Day
- June (3rd Monday in June): Take Your Cat To Work Day
- June 25: Cat World Domination Day
July
- July 10: National Kitten Day
- July 10: Don’t Step on a Bee Day
- July 11: All American Pet Photo Day
- July (2nd Tuesday in July): Cow Appreciation Day
- July 14: Shark Awareness Day
- July 15: National I Love Horses Day
- July 16: World Snake Day
- July 29: International Tiger Day
- July 31: National Mutt Day (also December 2)
August
- August 1: DOGust 1st a.k.a. Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs #dogust
- August 4: Assistance Dog Day #AssistanceDogDay
- August 4:International Clouded Leopard Day
- August 8: International Cat Day
- August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day
- August 10: World Lion Day
- August 12: World Elephant Day
- August 14: World Lizard Day
- August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day
- August 19: International Orangutan Day
- August 21: International Homeless Animals’ Day
- August 22: Never Bean Better Day
- August 22: Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
- August 26: National Dog Day
- August (last full weekend of August): International Bat Nights
- August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
- August 30: International Whale Shark Day
- August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September
- September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
- September (first Saturday in September): International Turkey Vulture Day
- September (first Saturday in September): National Hummingbird Day
- September 4: National Wildlife Day (also celebrated on February 22)
- September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
- September (2nd Sunday in September): Hug Your Hound Day
- September (2nd Sunday in September): National Pet Memorial Day
- September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
- September (3rd Saturday in September): Puppy Mill Awareness Day
- September (3rd Saturday in September): Responsible Dog Ownership Day
- September (3rd Saturday in September): International Red Panda Day
- September 17: National Pet Bird Day
- September 22: National Elephant Appreciation Day
- September 22: World Rhino Day
- September 26: Alpaca Day
- September (4th Thursday in September): Remember Me Thursday
- September (last Friday in September): Save The Koala Day
- September (4th Saturday in September): International Rabbit Day
- September (4th Saturday in September): National Bunny Day
- September (4th Saturday in September): World’s Largest Pet Walk
- September 30: Pet Tricks Day
October
- October 1: National Black Dog Day
- October 1: International Raccoon Appreciation Day
- October 2: World Farm Animals Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 6: National Badger Day
- October 8: World Octopus Day
- October (2nd Wednesday in October): National Pet Obesity Day
- October (2nd Friday in October): Vet Nurse Day
- October 16: National Feral Cat Day
- October 16: Global Cat Day
- October (3rd Saturday in October): International Sloth Day
- October (3rd Saturday in October): National Fetch Day
- October 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
- October 22: National Make a Dog’s Day
- October 26: National Mule Day
- October (last Friday in October): World Lemur Day
- October (last Saturday in October): Hug a Sheep Day
- October (last Saturday in October): National Pit Bull Awareness Day
- October 29: National Cat Day
November
November is more than Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas, it is also a time to remember our feline friends (National Black Cat Day) and, moreover, to pamper our beloved furry friends (National Cook for Your Pets Day)!
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- November 3: World Jellyfish Day
- November (1st Saturday in November): National Bison Day
- November 17: National Black Cat Day
December
In addition to the six separate national pet days celebrated in December, cat owners can celebrate National Cat Lovers’ Month throughout the last month of the year!
- December 2: National Mutt Day (also July 31)
- December 4: International Cheetah Day
- December 4: World Wildlife Conservation Day
- December 10: International Animal Rights Day
- December 14: Monkey Day #WorldMonkeyDay #MonkeyDay
- December 15: Cat Herder’s Day
More National Days Calendars for You:
