5 Pet Holidays You Didn’t Know Existed

There are all kinds of strange holidays we observe, for example National Talk Like a Pirate Day or International Pancake Day. Have you ever wondered if there are days dedicated strictly to animals? It turns out there are a lot more than you might guess! Here are 5 pet-oriented dates you probably didn’t know existed:

1. April 28, 2017: Hairball Awareness Day. This day is an opportunity to learn and practice better grooming of your cat as well as how to take preventative action against the ingestion of fur. If your cat coughs up a furball every now and then, that is to be expected but if it’s still an issue after taking preventative measures then you should probably visit your vet to talk about a hairball preventing diet.
2. June 4, 2017: Hug Your Cat Day. On this day, give your cat a hug! Hugs and cuddling can reduce stress and help you relax. If you don’t have a cat but maybe you’ve always wanted one, maybe this date is the perfect day to adopt a cat! If you are more of a dog person, there is also a Hug Your Canine Day on September 14th.
3. June 23, 2017: Take Your Dog to Work Day. This interesting day was started by Pet Sitters International so that people in the workplace can experience the joys of pets. This year is the 19th year this event will be held. Find out if your company participates in the event and take your dog to work! For those who can’t participate in Take Your Dog to Work Day, there is a whole week dedicated to bringing your pets to work from June 19-23.
4. November: Adopt a Senior Pet Month by ASPCA. Senior pets are often the last to be thought of when people go in to adopt an animal. Usually people look for younger animals that they can raise, and many are convinced that the old adage of “can’t teach an old dog [animal] new tricks,” is true. It isn’t true, and senior pets have just as much love to give as a kitten or puppy. Senior pets make it easier to choose the right fit for your family because they are fully grown, so any grooming or space requirements are obvious upon adoption. For more information on adopting senior pets, visit ASPCA’s website.
5. December 2, 2017: National Mutt Day. Also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day, is celebrated both on July 31st and December 2nd. It was created to raise awareness of the difficulties that mixed breeds endure. Many people don’t know that mixed breed dogs are generally healthier, better behaved and live longer. They can do anything purebreds can do, and make just as good service dogs as purebreds.

We love our pets and while we don’t necessarily need days to show our pets how much we care, but we do need days like these to raise awareness about our furry friends. For a complete list of pet holidays, visit dogtipper.com.

Are there any days we didn’t mention that happen to be your favorite? Tell us in the comments!