The Ultimate List of Pet Holidays – 2023
It’s not like we really need an extra reason to celebrate our love of dogs, but just in case you do, here are over one hundred 2023 National holidays related to dogs and pets.
January 2023 – Monthly Observations:
National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Dog Month
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
January 1st: New Year’s Day
January 2nd: National Pet Travel Safety Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5th: National Bird Day
January 14th: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 21st: Squirrel Appreciation Day; National Hug Day
January 22nd: National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
January 24th: Change a Pet’s Life Day; National Peanut Butter Day
January 29th: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
January 31st: National Plan for Vacation Day
February 2023 – Monthly Observations:
Dog Training Education Month
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
National Cat Health Month
Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
International Hoof Care Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
February 2: National Hedgehog Day; Groundhog Day
February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
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 – Monthly Observations:
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
March 1st: National Pig Day; National Horse Protection Day
March 3rd: If Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 5th-11th: Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 12th: K9 Veterans Day
March 19th-25th: National Poison Prevention Week
March 23rd: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day
March 28th: Respect Your Cat Day
April 2023 – Monthly Observations:
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
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
April 1st-7th: International Pooper Scooper Week
April 2nd: National Ferret Day
April 4th: World Rat Day
April 9th-15th: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
April 10th: National Hug Your Dog Day
April 11th: National Pet Day
April 23rd: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 26th: National Kids and Pets Day
April 29th: World Veterinary Day
April 28th: Hairball Awareness Day
April 30th: National Pet Parents Day; National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day; National Therapy Animal Day
May 2023 – Monthly Observations:
Pet Sitter Safety Month
National Pet Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
May 3rd: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 7th: Mayday for Mutts
May 7th-13th: National Pet Week
May 8th: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 13th: National Dog Mom’s Day
May 14th: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 20th: National Rescue Dog Day
May 23rd: World Turtle Day
June 2023 – Monthly Observations:
National Pet Preparedness Month
American Humane’s Adopt-A-Cat Month
Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
National Foster a Pet Month
National Microchipping Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
June 4th: Hug Your Cat Day
June 4th-10th: Pet Appreciation Week
June 13th: World Pet Memorial Day
June 21st: Dog Party Day
June 22nd-28th: Take Your Pet To Work Week
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
July 2023 – Month Observations:
Lost Pet Prevention Month
National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
July 1st: ID Your Pet Day
July 10th: National Kitten Day
July 11th: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15th: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 16th: World Snake Day
July 21st: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day
July 30th: International Day of Friendship
July 31st: National Mutt Day
August 2023 – Monthly Observations:
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Wellness Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
August 1st: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
August 2nd–8th: International Assistance Dog Week
August 5th: Work Like a Dog Day
August 8th: International Cat Day
August 10th: Spoil Your Dog Day
August 14th: World Lizard Day
August 15th: Check the Chip Day
August 17th: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 19th: International Homeless Animals’ Day
August 22nd: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
August 23rd: International Blind Dog Day
August 26th: National Dog Day
September 2023 – Monthly Observations:
Pet-Sitter Education Month
Responsible Dog Ownership Month
CATalyst Council’s Happy Cat Month
National Preparedness Month
Animal Pain Awareness Month
National Service Dog Month
National Pet Health Insurance Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
September 1st: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 8th: National Iguana Awareness Day
September 10th: National Pet Memorial Day; National Hug Your Hound Day
September 13th: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
September 16th: Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 17th: National Pet Bird Day
September 18th-24th: Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
September 20th-27th: National Dog Week
September 23rd: International Rabbit Day
September 24th-30th: Deaf Dog Awareness Week
October 2023 – Monthly Observations:
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
American Humane’s Adopt-a-Dog Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Pit Bull Awareness Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
October 1st-7th: National Walk Your Dog Week
October 1st: National Black Dog Day
October 4th: World Animal Day
October 11th: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 16th: Global Cat Day
October 15th-21st: National Veterinary Technician Week
October 21st: Reptile Awareness Day; National Pets for Veterans Day
October 27th: National Black Cat Day (UK)
October 28th: National Pit Bull Awareness Day
October 29th: National Cat Day
November 2023 – Monthly Observations:
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
National Pet Awareness Month
National Senior Pet Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Pet Diabetes Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
November 1st: National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 2nd-6th: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week
November 7th: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 12th: Fancy Rat and Mouse Day
November 17: National Black Cat Day (US)
December 2023 – Monthly Observations:
National Cat Lover’s Month
Daily/Week-Long Pet Holidays
December 2nd: National Mutt Day
December 9th: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 13th: National Day of the Horse
December 15th: Cat Herders Day
December 26th: Boxing Day
December 31st: New Year’s Eve
The 2023 List of Pet Holidays was fun, we hope you enjoyed it! On various yearly calendars, there may be some variations of pet holidays noted. However, you are free to observe these holidays on whatever day you choose. After all, every day you spend with your pet is a special day!