The 2023 List of Pet Holidays
Maybe you bake a special bone cake for your dog every year for his birthday, or maybe your pet cat has a stocking of her own that you carefully hang by the chimney every year. There is always a reason to reflect on how much our furry pets mean to us, regardless of the holiday. We adore our pets year-round, and with the help of this useful calendar, you can find an occasion to honor them almost every day of the year!
This comprehensive collection of pet-related holidays covers the entire calendar year. It includes both humorous occasions like National Meow Like a Pirate Day and Doggy Date Night as well as educational holidays like Pet Dental Month and Wildlife Conservation Day. And even while you most certainly don’t need an excuse to spoil your pet, in 2023 we all have a good reason to do so with these annual specialist pet holidays.
Pet Holiday List 2023
January – Set goals and make commitments for you and your pet in January, including taking advantage of numerous pet holidays.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Walk Your Pet Month
- Weight Loss Awareness Month
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Daily Observations |
2nd January | National Pet Travel Safety Day, Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
5th January | National Bird Day
8th January | Bubble Bath Day
14th January | National Dress Up Your Pet Day
21st January | Squirrel Appreciation Day; National Hug Day
22nd January | National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
24th January | Change A Pet’s Life Day
29th January | Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
February – Valentine’s Day will undoubtedly be spent with our pets, but the remainder of February is also crammed with pet-related celebrations.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
- February 7th -14th | Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- February 19th -25th | National Justice for Animals Week
Daily Observations |
3rd February | National Golden Retriever Day; Annual Doggie Date Night
14th February | National Pet Theft Awareness Day in US
19th February | International Tug-of-War Day
20th February | Love Your Pet Day
22nd February | Walking The Dog Day
23rd February | National Dog Biscuit Day
28th February | World Spay Day
March – In addition to Spring Break getaways and getting out of the cold, this month is a great time to review things that are harmful to pets.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
- March 5th -11th | Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 19th -25th | National Animal Poison Prevention Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
1st March | National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day; Horse Protection Day; National Pig Day
3rd March | World Wildlife Day
4th March | Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Raise begins
13th March | K9 Veterans Day
14th March | UK Dog Theft Awareness Day
23rd March | National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day
28th March | Respect Your Cat Day
30th March | Take a Walk in the Park Day
April – Please abstain from playing hurtful April fool jokes on your pet. Instead, take part in one of these pet-friendly holidays in April.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Heartworm Awareness Month
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- Canine Fitness Month
- April 1st -7th | International Pooper Scooper Week; National Raw Feeding Week
- April 9th -15th | Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week; National Dog Bite Prevention Week
- April 17th -23rd | National Pet ID Week
- April 23rd -29th | National Scoop the Poop Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
4th April | World Stray Animals Day; World Rat Day
6th April | National Siamese Cat Day
8th April | National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
10th April | National Hug Your Dog Day
11th April | National Pet Day; Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
18th April | Pet Owners Day
19th April | National Cat Lady Day
23rd April | National Lost Dog Awareness Day
24th April | World Day for Laboratory Animals
27th April | Free Feral Cat Spay Day; National Little Pampered Dog Day
28th April | Hairball Awareness Day
29th April | World Veterinary Day
30th April | National Pet Parents Day); Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
May – All breeds of dogs—Chihuahuas, purebreds, mutts, specially-abled, and rescues—get a little extra love in May.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- National Pet Month
- National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
- National Foster Care Month
- Chip Your Pet Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
- May 1st -7th | Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
- May 7th -13th | National Pet Week; American Humane Be Kind to Animals Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
1st May | National Purebred Dog Day
3rd May | National Specially-Abled Pets Day
4th May | Bird Day
7th May | Mayday for Mutts
8th May | National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
13th May | National Dog Mom Day
14th May | International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
20th May | National Rescue Dog Day; World Dog Day
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June – Your furry friend will be prepared to go out and enjoy all the other June holidays if they are already dressed in rainbow colors for Pride Month.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Month & Week-Long Pet Holiday Celebrations
- National Adopt a Cat Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
- June 4th -10th | Pet Appreciation Week
- June 19th -23rd | Take Your Pet To Work Week
- June 19th -25th | Animal Rights Awareness Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
4th June | Hug Your Cat Day
13th June | World Pet Memorial Day
19th June | Take Your Cat To Work Day
21st June | Dog Party Day
23rd June | Take Your Dog To Work Day
24th June | Cat World Domination Day
July – The centerpiece of a lot of July holidays with a pet theme is finding homes for stray animals afraid of fireworks. Therefore, remember to make the Fourth of July celebrations as safe as possible for your dogs while you get ready for all the exciting events!
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
- Independent Retailer Month
Daily/Week-long Observations |
July 1 | National ID Your Pet Day
July 10 | National Kitten Day
July 15 | National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 16 | World Snake Day
July 26 | National Dog Photography Day
July 31 | National Mutt Day
August – While August may not be a busy month for typical people holidays, it is jam-packed with events for our dogs, including National Dog Day, a Daily Paws favorite.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- National Back-To-School Month
- August 6-12 | International Assistance Dog Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
August 4 | Assistance Dog Day
August 5 | Work Like a Dog Day
August 6 | Fresh Breath Day
August 8 | National CBD Day
August 8 | International Cat Day
August 10 | Spoil Your Dog Day
August 10 | National Lazy Day
August 15 | National Check the Chip Day
August 17 | National Black Cat Appreciation Day & International Black Cat Day
August 19 | Clear the Shelters Day
August 19 | International Homeless Animals’ Day
August 22 | National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day
August 23 | International Blind Dog Day
August 26 | National Dog Day & World Dog Day
August 28 | Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
August 30 | National Holistic Pet Day
September – Take advantage of the beautiful summer nights by going outside to see these occasions with your pet.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Happy Healthy Cat Month
- National Pet Insurance Month
- Pet-Sitter Education Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- National Service Dog Month
- National Pet Memorial Month
- September 17-23 | Adopt a Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
- September 24-30 | National Dog Week
- September 24-30 | National Deaf Pet Awareness Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
September 8 | National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
September 10 | National Pet Memorial Day; National Hug Your Hound Day
September 13 | Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
September 16 | Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 17 | National Pet Bird Day
September 23 | Dogs in Politics Day
September 28 | World Rabies Day
October – It is a great month for adopting a new dog and celebrating black cats in addition to getting your pet ready for Halloween.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Pitbull Awareness Month
- October 1-7 | National Walk Your Dog Week; Animal Welfare Week
- October 15-21 | National Veterinary Technician Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
October 1 | National Walk Your Dog Day; National Fire Pup Day; National Black Dog Day
October 4 | World Animal Day
October 12 | Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 21 | National Pets for Veterans Day; National Reptile Awareness Day; National Fetch Day
October 27 | National Black Cat Day
October 28 | National Pitbull Awareness Day
October 29 | National Cat Day
November – Keep your pet’s safety front of mind as you get ready for Thanksgiving throughout the month and refrain from giving them hazardous foods.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- National Senior Pet Month
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- National Adoption Month
- National Diabetes Month
- November 5-11 | National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week
Daily/Week-long Observations |
November 1 | National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 7 | National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 17 | Take A Hike Day
November 18 | National Adoption Day
November 23 | National Dog Show
December – Since there aren’t many festivals that are just for pets in December, be sure to include your pet in all the fun celebrations of the season.
Week/Month-Long Observations |
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
Daily/Week-long Observations |
December 2 | National Mutt Day
December 9 | International Day of Veterinary Medicine
Bottom Line
We had fun creating the 2023 List of Pet Holidays, and we hope you enjoyed it well! There may be some variants of pet holidays listed on different yearly calendars. You may, however, observe these festivals on whatever day you like. After all, every day you spend with your pet is surely a special day!