Every day is a great day to celebrate our pets, but some days are more special than others. 2023 is full of many amazing celebrations and pet holidays to raise awareness and show your love and appreciation for the pets in your life.
Here’s a list of pet holidays in 2023 to get you prepared for the new year.
January
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Walk Your Dog Month
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
- Unchain a Dog Month
Holidays
- January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
- January 5: National Bird Day
- January 6: National Cuddle Up Day
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
- January 21: National Squirrel Appreciation Day; National Hug Day
- January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
- January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
- January 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
February
Month-Long Celebrations
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- National Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
- International Hoof Care Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- February 19-25: National Justice for Animals Week
Holidays
- February 2: National Hedgehog Day; Sled Dog Day
- February 3: National Golden Retriever Day; Doggy Date Night
- February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
- February 19: International Tug of War Day
- February 20: National Love Your Pet Day
- February 22: National Walking the Dog Day
- February 22: National Wildlife Day
- February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- February 28: World Spay Day
March
Month-Long Celebrations
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
- National Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- March 5-11: Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 19-25: National Poison Prevention Week
Holidays
- March 1: National Pig Day; National Horse Protection Day
- March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day; World Wildlife Day
- March 12: K9 Veterans Day
- March 23: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day
- March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
- March 30: Take A Walk in the Park Day
April
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- National Heartworm Awareness Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- National Frog Month
- Canine Fitness Month
- National Adopt a Greyhound Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week; National Raw Feeding Week
- April 9-15: National Dog Bite Prevention Week; Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
- April 17-23: National Pet ID Week; Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
Holidays
- April 1: Every Day is Tag Day
- April 2: National Ferret Day
- April 4: World Rat Day
- April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
- April 10: National Farm Animals Day; National Hug Your Dog Day
- April 11: National Pet Day; Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
- April 19: Dog Parent Appreciation Day
- April 21: National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
- April 25: International Guide Dog Day
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
- April 27: International Guide Dog Day
- April 28: National Kids and Pets Day; National Hairball Awareness Day
- April 29: World Veterinary Day
- April 30: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day; National Pet Parents Day
May
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Pet Month
- National Chip Your Pet Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- May 1-7: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
- May 7-13: National Pet Week; Be Kind to Animals Week; Puppy Mill Action Week
Holidays
- May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
- May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day
- May 7: Mayday for Mutts
- May 13: National Dog Mom’s Day; National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
- May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
- May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
- May 23: World Turtle Day
June
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
- National Microchipping Month
- National Zoo and Aquarium Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- June 4-10: Pet Appreciation Week
- June 19-25: Animal Rights Awareness Week
Holidays
- June 4: National Hug Your Cat Day; International Corgi Day
- June 8: National Best Friends Day
- June 13: World Pet Memorial Day
- June 19: National Take Your Cat to Work Day
- June 20: Ugliest Dog Day
- June 21: National Dog Party Day
- June 23: Take Your Dog to Work Day
- June 24: Cat World Domination Day
July
Month-Long Celebrations
- Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
- Dog House Repair Month
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- July 17-23: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
Holidays
- July 1: ID Your Pet Day
- July 10: National Kitten Day
- July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
- July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day; I Love Horses Day
- July 16: World Snake Day
- July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day
- July 26: National Dog Photography Day
- July 31: National Mutt Day
August
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Clear the Shelters Month
- Itchy Pet Awareness Month
- National Dog Month
- National Wellness Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- August 6-12: International Assistance Dog Week
Holidays
- August 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
- August 5: Work Like a Dog Day
- August 8: International Cat Day
- August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day
- August 14: World Lizard Day
- August 15: National 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
- August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September
Month-Long Celebrations
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- Happy Cat Month
- National Service Dog Month
- National Pet Health Insurance Month
- Responsible Dog Ownership Month
- National Disaster Preparedness Month
- Pet Sitter Education Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- September 18-24: Adopt a Less-Adoptable Pet Week
- September 24-30: Deaf Dog Awareness Week; National Dog Week
Holidays
- 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; Responsible Dog Ownership Day
- September 17: National Pet Bird Day
- September 23: International Rabbit Day
- September 28: World Rabies Day; Remember Me Thursday
October
Month-Long Celebrations
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- National Pit Bull Awareness Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- October 3-9: Animal Welfare Week
- October 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week
- October 15-21: National Veterinary Technician Week
Holidays
- October 1: National Black Dog Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 11: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
- October 16: Global Cat Day; National Feral Cat Day
- October 21: Reptile Awareness Day; National Pets for Veterans Day
- October 28: National Pet Bull Awareness Day
- October 29: National Cat Day
November
Month-Long Celebrations
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- Senior Pet Health Month
- National Pet Awareness Month
- National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- Pet Diabetes Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- November 5-11: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
- November 12-18: Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week
Holidays
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
- November 12: Fancy Rat and Mouse Day
- November 17: National Take a Hike Day
December
Month-Long Celebrations
- National Cat Lover’s Month
Holidays
- December 2: National Mutt Day
- December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
- December 13: National Day of the Horse
- December 15: Cat Herders Day
- December 27: Visit the Zoo Day
How Will You Celebrate Pets in 2023?
2023 is jam-packed with fun holidays, celebrations, and awareness campaigns to show appreciation for your pets, as well as help other pets in need. From month-long celebrations to once-a-year festivities, there are no shortage of ways to celebrate your pet in the new year.
