Important Animal Dates
A month-by-month listing of days and weeks that celebrate an animal or an animal welfare effort. From serious (Spay Day USA) to lighthearted (National Dress Up Your Pet Day) these special times offer a great chance to organize a fundraiser or educational event for your favorite shelter or sanctuary.
NOTE: To find the specific celebration date for the current year enter the name, such as National Squirrel Day, into your favorite search engine, or use the web address provided.
January
1.National Bird Day
2.Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
3.National Penguin Awareness Day
4.Squirrel Appreciation Day
5.National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
6.National Dress Up Your Pet Day
7.National Train Your Dog Month
February
1.Spay Day USA www.hsus.org
2.National Bird Feeding Month
3.Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
4.Love Your Pet Day
5.International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
6.National Polar Bear Day
7.Responsible Pet Owners Month
8.Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
9.Pet Theft Awareness Day
10.Pet Dental Health Month
12. Groundhog Day
March
1.Great American Meat-Out
2.National Animal Poison Prevention Week
3.Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
4.National Pig Day
5.International Day of the Seal
6.National Puppy Day
7.HSUS Genesis Awards Celebration
April
1.Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month www.aspca.org
2.National Animal Control Appreciation Week www.nacanet.org
3.World Habitat Awareness Month
4.National Week of the Oceans
5.Earth Day
6.National Wildlife Week
7. National Pet ID Week
8.Tag Day www.americanhumane.org
9.National Dolphin Day
10.World Veterinary Day
11.National Kids & Pets Day
12.National Pet Month
13.National Pet Day
15.World Rat Day
16.Make Mine Chocolate www.makeminechocolate.org
[i.e. Do not give live rabbits as Easter gifts]
17.Free Feral Cat Spay Day http://bit.ly/imgwG8
May
1.Be Kind to Animals Week www.americanhumane.org
2.National Dog Bite Prevention Week www.avma.org
3.Save the Rhino Day
4.World Turtle Day
5.National Pet Week
6.National Disabled Pets Day
8.International Respect for Chickens Month http://www.upc-online.org
June
1.Adopt-a-Cat-Month www.americanhumane.org
2.Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month www.aspca.org
3.Take Your Dog to Work Day www.petsit.com
4.UN World Environment Day
5.Animal Rights Awareness Week
6.National Bald Eagle Day
July
1.Mutts Day
2.Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
3.Cow Appreciation Week
4.National Pet Fire Safety Day
August
1.International Homeless Animals Day www.isaronline.org
2.National Dog Day
3.Federal Animal Welfare Act passed in 1966
September
1.National Dog Week
2.World Rabies Day
3.Senior Pet Care Month
4.National Pet Memorial Day
5.National Farm Animal Week
6.National Dog Week
7.International Rabbit Day
October
1.Adopt-a-Dog-Month www.americanhumane.org
2.Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month www.aspca.org
3.National Feral Cat Day
4.Blessing of the Animals
5.National Animal Safety and Protection Month
6.UN World Habitat Day
7.National Make-a-Difference Day
8.Wolf Awareness Week
9.Reptile Awareness Day
10.National Mole Day
11.National Cat Day
12.National Pet Wellness Month
13.National Veterinary Technician Week
14.National Pit Bull Awareness Day
November
1.Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month www.aspca.org
2.National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week www.animalsheltering.org
3.World Kindness Day
4.Adopt aTurkey Month
December
1.Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
2.International Volunteer Day
3.World Conservation Day
4.National Day of the Horse
5.National Mutt Day