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The Ultimate List of Pet Holidays celebrated throughout 2023

Are you looking for special pet holidays that recognize the special role that pets play in our lives? Some holidays are easy to remember. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, for example, are holidays that we have no trouble remembering.

But there is a whole slew of holidays that pass quietly every year. These holidays are special because they allow us to celebrate our furry, scaly or feathery best friends.

Every month is full of exciting Pet Holidays. With this list, you can guarantee that you won’t miss celebrating a single one. đŸŸ 💕

January 2023

  • National Train Your Dog Month

  • Walk Your Dog Month/Walk Your Pet Month

  • Unchain a Dog Month

  • Adopt a Rescued Bird Month

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

January 5:  National Bird Day

January 14:  National Dress Up Your Pet Day

January 21:  Squirrel Appreciation Day

January 22:  National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day

January 24:  Change a Pet’s Life Day

February 2023

  • Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month

  • National Pet Dental Health Month

  • Responsible Pet Owners Month

  • Dog Training Education Month

  • National Cat Health Month

  • International Hoof Care Month

  • Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

February 2:  National Hedgehog Day; Groundhog Day

February 3:  National Golden Retriever Day; Doggy Date Night

February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day; Valentine’s Day

February 19-25:  National Justice for Animals Week

February 20:  Love Your Pet Day

February 22:  Walking the Dog Day

February 23:  National Dog Biscuit Day

February 28: World Spay Day

March 2023

  • Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month

  • Poison Prevention Awareness Month

March 1:  National Pig Day; National Horse Protection Day

March 3:  If Pets Had Thumbs Day

March 5-11:  Professional Pet Sitters Week

March 13:  K9 Veterans Day

March 19-25:  National Poison Prevention Week

March 23:  National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day

March 28: Respect Your Cat Day


April 2023

  • Pet First Aid Awareness Month

  • Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

  • Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month

  • National Heartworm Awareness Month

  • National Frog Month

  • Canine Fitness Month

  • National Adopt a Greyhound Month

April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week; International Pooper Scooper Week

April 2:  National Ferret Day

April 4:  World Rat Day

April 9-15:  National Dog Bite Prevention Week

April 10: National Hug your Dog Day

April 11:  National Pet Day

April 23:  National Lost Dog Awareness Day

April 26:  National Kids and Pets Day

April 28:  Hairball Awareness Day

April 29: World Veterinary Day

April 30:  National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day; National Therapy Animal Day; National Pet Parents Day


May 2023

  • National Pet Month

  • Chip Your Pet Month

  • Responsible Animal Guardian Month

  • Pet Cancer Awareness Month

  • Lyme Disease Prevention Month

May 3:  National Specially-Abled Pets Day

May 7:  Mayday for Mutts

May 7-13: National Pet Week; Be Kind to Animals Week; Puppy Mill Action Week 

May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

May 13: National Dog Mom’s Day

May 14:  International Chihuahua Appreciation Day

May 20:  National Rescue Dog Day

May 23:  World Turtle Day

June 2023

  • National Pet Preparedness Month

  • Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

  • National Foster a Pet Month

  • National Microchipping Month

June 4:  Hug Your Cat Day

June 4-10:  Pet Appreciation Week

June 13:  World Pet Memorial Day

June 19-23:  Take your Pet to Work Week

June 19: Take your Cat to Work Day

June 23:  Take your Dog to Work Day

June 24: Cat World Domination Day

June 28: National Insurance Awareness Day


July 2023

  • Lost Pet Prevention Month

  • National Pet Hydration Awareness Month

July 1:  ID Your Pet Day

July 10:  National Kitten Day

July 11:  All-American Pet Photo Day

July 15:  I Love Horses Day; National Pet Fire Safety Day

July 16:  World Snake Day

July 21:  National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day; No Pet Store Puppies Day

July 31:  National Mutt Day

August 2023

August 1:  DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs

August 5:  Work Like a Dog Day

August 6-12:  International Assistance Dog Week

August 8: International Cat Day

August 10:  Spoil Your Dog Day

August 14:  World Lizard Day

August 15:  Check the Chip Day

August 17:  National Black Cat Appreciation 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

August 28:  Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

September 2023

  • Responsible Dog Ownership Month

  • National Preparedness Month

  • Animal Pain Awareness Month

  • National Service Dog Month

  • National Pet Health Insurance Month

  • Pet Sitter Education Month

September 1:  Ginger Cat Appreciation Day

September 8:  National Iguana Awareness 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 18-24:  Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

September 20-27: National Dog Week

September 23:  International Rabbit Day

September 24-30: Deaf Dog Awareness Week

September 28:  World Rabies Day

October 2023

  • Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

  • National Pet Wellness Month

  • National Animal Safety and Protection Month

  • National Pit Bull Awareness Month

October 1-7:  National Walk Your Dog Week

October 1:  National Black Dog Day

October 4:  World Animal Day

October 11:  National Pet Obesity Awareness Day

October 16:  Global Cat Day

October 15-21:  National Veterinary Technician Week

October 21:  Reptile Awareness Day; National Pets for Veterans Day

October 27:  National Black Cat Day

October 28:  National Pit Bull Awareness Day

October 29: National Cat Day

November 2023

  • Adopt a Senior Pet Month

  • National Pet Awareness Month

  • National Senior Pet Month

  • National Pet Cancer Awareness Month

  • Pet Diabetes Month

November 1:  National Cook for Your Pets Day

November 5-11:  National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week

November 7:  National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

November 12:  Fancy Rat and Mouse Day

November 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day

December 2023

  • National Cat Lover’s Month

December 2:  National Mutt Day

December 9:  International Day of Veterinary Medicine

December 13:  National Day of the Horse

December 15:  National Cat Herders Day