2021 Dog Holidays
| JANUARY 2021 | |
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MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES |
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| National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Dog Month
Unchain a Dog Month |
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ONE DAY HOLIDAYS |
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| January 2 | National Pet Travel Safety Day |
| January 8 | National Labrador Retriever Day |
| January 14 | National Dress Up Your Pet Day |
| January 24 | Change a Pet’s Life Day
Peanut Butter Day A day to honor the creamy creation that has helped train and treat many dogs |
| January 29 | Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary |
| FEBRUARY 2021 | |
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MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES |
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| Beat the Heat Month
Dog Training Education Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
National Prevent a Litter Month |
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WEEK LONG HOLIDAYS |
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| February 7-14 | Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week |
| February 21-27 | National Justice for Animals Week |
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ONE DAY HOLIDAYS |
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| February 2 | Sled Dog Day |
| February 3 | Doggy Date Night
National Golden Retriever Day |
| February 14 | Pet Theft Awareness Day |
| February 19 | National Boston Terrier Day |
| February 20 | Love Your Pet Day |
| February 22 | Walking the Dog Day |
| February 23 | International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
National Dog Biscuit Day |
| February 25 | World Spay Day
An annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States. Created to combat the crisis of pet overpopulation in every corner of the globe, animal lovers are encouraged to spread the word through social media and help to raise funds for the paws cause. |
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MARCH 2021
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| Poison Prevention Awareness Month | |
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WEEK LONG HOLIDAYS |
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| March 7-13 | Professional Pet Sitters Week |
| March 21-27 | National Poison Prevention Week |
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ONE DAY HOLIDAYS |
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| March 3 | If Pets Had Thumbs Day |
| March 13 | K-9 Veterans Day |
| March 23 | National Puppy Day |
| March 30 | Take a Walk in the Park Day
(Although not exclusively a pet holiday, this day makes a great time to explore a new park with your dog) |
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APRIL 2021 |
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| Canine Fitness Month
Active Dog Month
National Adopt a Greyhound Month
National Heartworm Awareness Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month This event is an effort by the American Red Cross to draw attention to specialized pet first aid
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
National Pet Month (UK) |
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| WEEK LONG HOLIDAYS | |
| April 1-7 | International Pooper Scooper Week
National Raw Feeding Week |
| April 11-17 | Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
National Dog Bite Prevention Week |
| April 18-24 | Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
National Pet ID Week |
| April 26-May 2 | National Scoop the Poop Week |
| ONE DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| April 3 | Every Day is Tag Day |
| April 4 | World Stray Animals Day |
| April 8 | National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
National Catahoula Day |
| April 10 | National Hug Your Dog Day |
| April 11 | National Pet Day |
| April 21 | Bulldogs are Beautiful Day |
| April 22 | Earth Day
National Beagle Day |
| April 23 | National Lost Dog Awareness Day |
| April 25 | World Veterinary Day |
| April 26 | National Kids and Pets Day
National Pet Parents Day |
| April 27 | National Little Pampered Dog Day |
| April 28 | International Guide Dog Day |
| April 30 | Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
National Therapy Animal Day |
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MAY 2021 |
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| National Pet Month. (US)
National Foster Care Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Lyme Disease Prevention Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
National Service Animal Eye Exam The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists hosts this annual event when over 300 veterinary ophthalmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada during the month of May. |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| May 2-8 | American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week
Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
National Pet Week |
| May 3-8 | Puppy Mill Action Week |
| ONE DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| May 1 | National Purebred Dog Day |
| May 2 | Mayday for Mutts |
| May 3 | National Specially-Abled Pets Day |
| May 8 | National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
National Dog Mom’s Day |
| May 10 | German Shepherd Day |
| May 14 | International Chihuahua Appreciation Day |
| May 20 | National Rescue Dog Day |
| May 28 | Feast Day of St. Bernard of Montjoux.
(The patron of hospices at two Alpine passes, later to be named Great and Little St. Bernard passes. The hospices were home to St. Bernard dogs who were trained to find lost travelers) |
| May 30 | International Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Day |
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JUNE 2021 |
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| National Pet Preparedness Month
This month, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster, and that includes making plans for what you would do with your dog in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disasters
National Microchipping Month |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| June 6-12 | Pet Appreciation Week |
| June 12 – 13 | Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show, Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, New York |
| June 20-26 | Animal Rights Awareness Week |
| June 21-25 | Take Your Pet to Work Week |
| ONE DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| June 1 | International Sheltie Day |
| June 8 | Best Friends Day |
| June 9 | World Pet Memorial Day |
| June 10 | Jerky Day
Although created to highlight a favorite human snack, this date is also the perfect time to whip up a batch of homemade chicken jerky for your dog, too! |
| June 21 | National Dog Party Day |
| June 21 | National Dachshund Day
(Always held on the summer solstice, this day celebrates these long dogs on the longest day of the year) |
| June 25 | Take Your Dog to Work Day |
| JULY 2021 | |
| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| National Lost Pet Prevention Month
National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Dog House Repair Month
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| WEEK LONG HOLIDAYS | |
| Late July | National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
(Launched in 2017 by GreaterGood.org and The Animal Rescue Site aims to feed shelter pets) |
| ONE DAY EVENTS | |
| July 1 | ID Your Pet Day |
| July 4 | Independence Day
(the sounds of fireworks cause many dogs to panic and run, resulting in many lost dogs every year) |
| July 11 | All-American Pet Photo Day |
| July 15 | National Pet Fire Safety Day
(Sponsored by the The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club®) |
| July 21 | National Craft for your Local Shelters Day |
| July 21 | No Pet Store Puppies Day |
| July 26 | National Dog Photography Day
(UK Holiday) |
| July 31 | National Mutt Day |
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AUGUST 2021 |
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| Raw Gust
Celebration of Raw Feeding for pets for the month of August |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| August 1-7
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International Assistance Dog Week |
| August 10-16
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Give a Dog a Bone Week
Hosted by Pets of the Homeless (The event features more than 400 Pets of the Homeless donation sites nationwide asking their community to bring donations of pet food and supplies to assist the pets of the homeless) |
| ONE DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| August 1 | DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
(North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, declared August 1 as a birthday for all the shelter animals whose birthdays are unknown) |
| August 4 | Assistance Dog Day
(honors the many types of assistance dogs) |
| August 5 | Work Like a Dog Day |
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August 10 |
Snoopy’s Birthday
(Peanuts Worldwide celebrates the birthday of the world’s favorite beagle on this day) |
| August 10 | Spoil Your Dog Day |
| August 15 | National Check the Chip Day
(AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create “Check the Chip Day”) |
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August 16 |
Saint Roch’s Day
(Patron saint of Dogs) |
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August 21 |
International Homeless Animals’ Day
(Every 3rd Saturday in August) |
| August 23 | International Blind Dog Day |
| August 26 | National Dog Day |
| August 28 | Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day |
| August 30 | National Holistic Pet Day |
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SEPTEMBER 2021
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| MONTH – LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| National Service Dog Month
National Pet Insurance Month
Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Pet Sitter Education Month
Animal Pain Awareness Month
National Disaster Preparedness Month Led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council (This effort encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies.) |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| September 20-26 | Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
National Deaf Dog Awareness Week
National Dog Week |
| ONE DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| September 1
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Boykin Spaniel Day
(A South Carolina observance honoring the South Carolina state dog) |
| September 8
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National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
Founded in 2016 by Wag! recognizes the work of professional dog walkers |
| September 12
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National Pet Memorial Day
(Established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC))
National Hug Your Hound Day |
| September 13
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Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
A day dedicated to the issue of pet birth defects including information on identification, prevention, and treatment.
Scooby-Doo Day (The dog detective made his debut on this date in 1969) |
| September 18 | Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Responsible Dog Ownership Day |
| September 22
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National Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog Day
(Honoring dogs in wheelchairs and with mobility challenges) |
| September 23
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Dogs in Politics Day
(also known as Checkers Day, recognizing the dogs of politicians)
Remember Me Thursday (International Social Media Awareness day that brings attention to the millions of adoptable pets waiting in shelters and remembers those pets who never got a second chance) |
| September 25
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World’s Largest Per Walk
(sponsored by Pet Partners) |
| September 28
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World Rabies Day
(sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control) |
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OCTOBER 2021 |
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| Adopt A Dog Month
by American Humane Association
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by ASPCA
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Pit Bull Awareness Month |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| 1st Week of October | National Walk Your Dog Week |
| October 17 – 23 | National Veterinary Technician Week
Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (always celebrated during the third week in October) |
| ONE – DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| October 1 | National Fire Pup Day
National Black Dog Day |
| October 2 | Poodle Day |
| October 4 | World Animal Day |
| October 13 | National Pet Obesity Awareness Day |
| October 17 | National Fetch Day |
| October 21 | National Pets for Veterans Day |
| October 28 | Plush Animal Lovers Day
A day that most dogs will be happy to celebrate as they unstuff those plush toys |
| October 30 | National Pit Bull Awareness Day
Last Saturday in October (unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen) |
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NOVEMBER 2021
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| MONTH LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| Adopt a Senior Pet Month
(by ASPCA)
National Senior Pet Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month (Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) & Animal Cancer Foundation)
Pet Diabetes Month |
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| WEEK LONG OBSERVANCES | |
| November 1 – 7
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National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
(by The Humane Society of the United States) |
| ONE – DAY HOLIDAYS | |
| November 1 | National Cook for Your Pets Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day |
| November 7 | National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day |
| November 16 | National Slobber Appreciation Day |
| November 17 | National Take a Hike Day |
| November 25 | National Dog Show
Broadcasts in the US on Thanksgiving, held at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia |
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DECEMBER 2021
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| December 2 | National Mutt Day
(also see July 31) |
| December 5 | Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
Humane Society of the United States |
| December 9 | International Day of Veterinary Medicine |