Whenever a social media site declares that its National Dog Day it makes me chuckle. After digging a little deeper, I discovered there are roughly 170 days, weeks, or months dedicated just to pets. The United Nations General Assembly and their affiliate agencies are partly to blame for this. The UN has established itself as being “officially” in charge of recognizing, summarizing, and coordinating events for awareness or celebratory days. These minor secular observances tend to be in the realms of health, education, and culture, but corndog day, caps lock day, and even rubber ducky day have also made the cut.
While social media loudens and besmirches to ensure irrepressible chaos, I aim to present a polished register of official (and unofficial) dog days of observance. I have decontaminated the docket so only the most reverent themes remain.
Be sure to mark your calendar and whirl your rolodex each time another one of the following indispensable intervals whizzes by!
January 2 – National Pet Safety Travel Day
January 14 – National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 29 – National Seeing Eye Dog Day
February 14 – Pet Theft Awareness Day
February 20 – National Love Your Pet Day
February 23 – International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
March 3-9 is Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 13 – K9 Veterans Day
March 23 – National Puppy Day
The second week of April is National Animal Control Appreciation Week
April 11 – Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 21 – Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
April 24 – International Guide Dogs Day
April 27 – World Veterinary Day
May 5-11 is National Pet Week
May 11 – National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
June 2-8 is Pet Appreciation Week
June 11 – World Pet Memorial Day
June 24 – Take Your Dog to Work Day
July is National Dog House Repair Month
July 15 – National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 31 – National Mutt Day
August 5-11 is International Assistance Dog Week
August 1 – Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
August 10 – National Spoil Your Dog Day
August 26 – National Dog Day
September is National Service Dog Month
The last week of September is National Dog Week
September 8 – National Pet Memorial Day
October 1 – National Black Dog Day
October 1 – National Fire Pup Day (Honoring firefighting canines)
October 9 – National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
November 1 – National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 7 – National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
December 2 – National Mutt Day
A full list (for all pets, not just dogs) is available on the Life Learn Animal Health website. Life Learn provides continuing education programs for veterinarians worldwide. This international service provider began as part of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.
Featured photo – Clockwise from Remy the husky: Rex, Ruby, and Duncan on high alert in their favorite room.
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