As pet owners, we know the depth of our bond with our pets and celebrate them daily, and they’re so special that they have their own holiday. Have you heard of National Pet Day?
What is National Pet Day?
National Pet Day is a holiday that falls on April 11 every year. The celebration isn’t just for dogs and cats, so feel free to honor all your pets, whether they’re furry, scaly, feathery, or hairless.
National Pet Day was first established in 2005 by animal welfare advocate and pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige. It's a great day to celebrate your pets and recognize the joy they bring to the human experience. The holiday is intended to bring awareness to pets without homes and the health benefits of pet ownership.
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Pet adoption awareness on National Pet Day
On National Pet Day, prospective pet owners are encouraged to adopt from a shelter or rescue before looking to a reputable breeder for their next family member. More dogs are purchased from breeders (around 34%) than animal shelters or humane societies (around 23%). According to the ASPCA, around 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters annually. Unfortunately, around 920,000 of those animals (almost 15%) will be euthanized before finding their home.
While this number is still high, the good news is that shelter animal euthanasia rates have decreased in the last decade, previously having been around 36% in 2011. Still, based on the ASPCA's statistics, more than one in 10 shelter animals face euthanasia before finding their home. Pet owners can save lives and help reduce the burden on animal shelters by adopting.
Health benefits of pet ownership
Don’t forget the second goal of National Pet Day — bringing awareness to the health benefits we get from pets. Chances are our pets are doing more for us than we know. Below are some of the health benefits of pet ownership:
- Decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
- Lower blood pressure
- Fewer signs of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Decreased stress levels, both self-reported and measured by the stress hormone cortisol
- Decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Increased opportunities for exercise (especially with dogs)
- Improved cognitive function in elderly people, including those with dementia
Meaningful National Pet Day activities for pet owners
There are many ways to celebrate pets on National Pet Day. Before picking an activity, consider your best friend’s species, personality, and health conditions. Not all suggestions are appropriate for every pet. Some of these activities can be performed on a budget, so if you're financially restricted this National Pet Day, you can still find something fun on our list to do with your pet.
1. Participate in pet-themed activities
Suggestions for pet-themed activities include:
- Taking a pet painting class
- Creating DIY pet toys
- Collecting your pet's pawprint or footprint with pet-safe paints
- Coloring in pet-themed coloring books (for children or adults)
- Commissioning an art piece of your animal companion
2. Take a special trip with your pet
Some pets, especially dogs, can enjoy a trip, whether it’s a daylong hiking trip or a short trip to a pet-friendly coffee place for some whipped cream. You can also take your pet to the pet store and let them choose a new toy or treat. If you’ve adopted your pet from a shelter recently, you could visit the shelter so your pet can see their shelter worker friends, who always love to see a success story. It’s also a good day for horseback riding if you have a horse companion.
3. Spoil your pet
You could visit a pet bakery for some unique and tasty treats, make your pet an extra special meal, give them new toys or enrichment items, or have a nice grooming session. You could also clean their beds, blankets, and resting areas so they have a clean, fresh area to snooze in.
4. Honor your memories together
Your pet is hopefully part of your favorite memories. For National Pet Day, make sure you don’t forget those special times. Consider making a scrapbook or photo album of your favorite times with your pet. You could also put up framed photos in your home.
5. Check on your pet's wellness plan
Your pet helps you stay healthy, so National Pet Day is a great day to ensure you’re doing the same for your animal companion. Ensure your pet has had its recommended wellness exam this year, is up to date on recommended vaccines and preventives, and that your home is safe for your pet. You could consider enrolling in a wellness plan to help you keep up with your pet’s health needs.
6. Give back to the community on National Pet Day
You can also look outside your own home to see what impact you can have on the animals in your community. Don’t forget that awareness of shelter animals and other pets without homes is a key component of National Pet Day.
Ideas for how to get involved in your local pet community include:
- Volunteering at your local animal shelter or rescue organization
- Fostering a shelter animal so they can get a break from shelter life
- Adopting from a local animal shelter or rescue organization
- Taking in a special needs animal, such as a diabetic cat or a dog with food allergies
- Donating blankets, food, and/or toys to a local animal shelter
- Donating money to animal welfare organizations or local animal shelters
- Bringing baked goods or purchasing lunch for a local veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or animal rescue
- Purchasing pet food or toys for pets in underprivileged homes
- Visiting an elderly care center or medical facility with your well-trained therapy animal
Tips to elevate your pet care routine
National Pet Day is an opportunity to reassess your pet care routine to ensure you're providing the best care possible to your pet. The following tips will help you elevate your pet care routine each and every day:
- Develop a rotating schedule of toys to help keep your pet's play sessions novel and exciting
- Consider incorporating scent enrichment into your pet's enrichment routine
- Consider adding pheromone diffusers to your home to promote a relaxing environment for dogs or cats
- Search for pet music that you could play for your pet when they're home alone
- Brush your dog or cat's teeth at least once daily, as recommended by veterinary dentists
- Use dental treats or dental water additives to promote good oral health for dogs and cats
- Look into cat TV for your feline friends
- Learn how to make healthy homemade dog and cat treats
- Set reminders in your phone to make sure you're not missing monthly preventative doses
Resources for National Pet Day
Get involved with animal welfare organizations such as the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States to have a broader impact on animals.
The ASPCA also lists adoptable animals through a nationwide database. You can find a local shelter or search for adoptable dogs, cats, and horses. You can also share these resources with people searching for pets.
For ideas of dog-friendly places to take your pup for National Pet Day, you can search BringFido for dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, activities, and more.
National Pet Day on April 11 is great for celebrating your love for your pet. It's also a great day to positively impact the lives of shelter animals and other pets in need of homes. Consider contacting your local non-profit animal welfare organizations to see how you can become part of the solution to pet homelessness.
FAQ
When is National Pet Day?
National Pet Day falls on April 11 every year. It is one of several holidays established by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige. Other holidays she has established include National Dog Day, National Cat Day, National Horse Protection Day, National Wildlife Day.
Is there an International Pet Day?
While there isn’t an established day for celebrating pets worldwide, National Pet Day can be recognized anywhere. Colleen Paige notes that although her holidays were established in the United States, other countries such as the UK, Italy, and New Zealand have started recognizing them.
How can I include my special needs animal on National Pet Day?
Depending on their particular needs, many of our listed activities may still be appropriate for your pet. For pets with behavioral special needs, consider the activities that can be performed in the safety of your home or barn. If your pet has a medical need, consider getting the activity approved by your veterinarian, mainly if the activity will involve food consumption, exercise, or exposure to other animals.
What animals are celebrated on National Pet Day?
National Pet Day is a day to celebrate any pet, regardless of species. It’s an especially good day to celebrate pets adopted from shelters or rescues, as it brings special attention to pets without homes in animal shelters and rescue organizations.
When is National Love Your Pet Day?
National Love Your Pet Day is on February 20th every year. While National Pet Day on April 11 is still a day to celebrate your pets, its focus is on pets without homes and the health benefits of pet ownership. National Love Your Pet Day, on the other hand, is specifically for pampering your own pets.
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National Pet Day on April 11 is a day to celebrate your individual pets, pet adoption, and the health benefits of pet ownership.
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Around 15% of shelter animals are still euthanized annually. Adoption saves animals and reduces the burden on animal shelters.
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Celebrating National Pet Day can mean pampering your pet, but it can also mean giving back to the larger pet community, including animal shelters, rescue organizations, and animal welfare organizations.
3 resources
- ASPCA. Pet statistics.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to stay healthy around pets.
- Colleen Paige. About Colleen & her work.
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