Have you started planning your marketing and promotional activities for 2024?
Here’s a list of animal, business, and US holidays to help inspire your planning. Tip: you don’t need (or have the time) to do something for every special month, week, or day. Choose the ones that align with your business goals and values.
January
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Walk Your Pet Month
Weight Loss Awareness Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Special Days
January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5: National Bird Day
January 8: Bubble Bath Day
January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 18: Get To Know Your Customers Day (celebrated the third Thursday of each quarter)
January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
January 24: Change A Pet’s Life Day
January 26: National Fun at Work Day
US Holidays
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Pet Dental Health Month
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Dog Training Education Month
National Cat Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (AKA Beat the Heat Month)
February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
February 18-24: National Justice for Animals Week
my bunny, Bodie
Special Days
February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
February 3: Annual Doggie Date Night
February 14: National Pet Theft Awareness Day
February 19: International Tug-of-War Day
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
February 22: Walking The Dog Day
February 23: National Dog Biscuit Day
February 27: World Spay Day (celebrated the last Tuesday in February)
US Holidays
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 11: Super Bowl Sunday
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 19: President’s Day
February 13: Mardi Gras
March
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Adopt a Guinea Pig Month
March 3-9: Professional Pet Sitters Week (observed the first full week of March)
March 17-23: National Animal Poison Prevention Week (observed the third full week of March)
Special Days
March 1: National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 1: Horse Protection Day
March 1: National Pig Day
March 3: World Wildlife Day
March 13: K9 Veterans Day
March 23: National Puppy Day
March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
US Holidays
March 1: Employee Appreciation Day
March 10: Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
April
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Heartworm Awareness Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Canine Fitness Month (AKA Active Dog Month)
Active Dog Month
Dr. Hill, Island Animal Hospital
April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week
April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week
April 7-13: National Dog Bite Prevention Week (observed the second week of April)
April 14-20: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week (observed the second full week of April)
April 15-21: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (observed the third week in April)
April 17-23: National Pet ID Week (observed annually for 7 days beginning on April 17th)
April 23-29: National Scoop the Poop Week
Special Days
April 4: World Stray Animals Day
April 4: World Rat Day
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
April 11: National Pet Day
April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 18: Pet Owners Day
April 18: Get to Know Your Customers Day (celebrated the third Thursday of each quarter)
April 19: National Cat Lady Day
April 21: Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 24: World Day for Laboratory Animals
April 24: International Guide Dog Day (observed the last Wednesday in April)
April 27: Feral Cat Spay Day
April 26: Hairball Awareness Day (observed the last Friday in April)
April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day
April 27: World Veterinary Day (observed the last Saturday in April)
April 28: National Pet Parents Day (observed the last Sunday in April)
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
April 30: National Tabby Day
US Holidays
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 9: Easter
April 10: National Siblings Day
April 15: Tax Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 22-30: Passover
May
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Pet Month
National Foster Care Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
May 5-11: Puppy Mill Action Week (observed the week before Mother’s Day)
May 5-11: National Pet Week (observed the first full week in May)
May 5-11: Be Kind to Animals Week (observed the first full week of May)
May 6-12: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
May 11-14: Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show
Special Days
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
May 3: National Specially Abled Pets Day
May 4: Bird Day
May 5: Cinco de Meow Day
May 5: Mayday for Mutts (observed the first Sunday of May)
May 11: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day (observed the second Saturday of May)
May 11: National Dog Mom Day (observed the second Saturday of May)
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 21: World Dog Day (observed the third Saturday of May)
US Holidays
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 12: Mother’s Day
May 27: Memorial Day
June
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Adopt a Cat Month
National Pet Preparedness Month
National Microchip Month
National Foster a Pet Month
June 2-8: Pet Appreciation Week (observed the first full week of June)
June 17-21: Take Your Pet to Work Week
June 17-23: Animal Rights Awareness Week (observed the third week of June)
one of my coworkers, Abby
Special Days
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
June 4: International Corgi Day
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 11: World Pet Memorial Day (observed the second Tuesday in June)
June 17: Take Your Cat to Work Day
June 21: Dog Party Day
June 21: Take Your Dog to Work Day
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
US Holidays
June 14: Flag Day
June 16: Father’s Day
June 19: Juneteenth
July
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Lost Pet Prevention Month
National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Independent Retailer Month
Special Days
July 1: National ID Your Pet Day
July 6: International Kissing Day
July 10: National Kitten Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 16: World Snake Day
July 18: Get To Know Your Customers Day (celebrated the third Thursday of each quarter)
July 26: National Dog Photography Day
July 30: International Friendship Day
July 31: National Mutt Day
US Holidays
July 4: Independence Day
July 28: National Parents Day
August
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Eye Exam Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Back-To-School Month
August 4-10: International Assistance Dog Week (observed the first full week in August)
Special Days
August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Pets (aka Dogust 1st)
August 4: Assistance Dog Day
August 6: Fresh Breath Day
August 8: International Cat Day
August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day
August 10: National Lazy Day
August 15: National Check the Chip Day
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 17: Clear the Shelters Day (observed the third Saturday of August)
August 17: International Homeless Animals’ Day (observed the third Saturday of August)
August 17: International Nonprofit 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
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Happy, Healthy Cat Month
National Pet Insurance Month
Pet Sitter Education Month
Animal Pain Awareness Month
National Service Dog Month
National Pet Memorial Month
September 16-22: Adopt a Less-Adoptable-Pet Week (observed the third week in September)
September 22-28: National Dog Week (observed the last full week in September)
September 22-28: National Deaf Pet Awareness Week (observed the last full week in September)
Special Days
September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
September 8: National Pet Memorial Day (observed the second Sunday in September)
September 8: National Hug Your Hound Day (observed the second Sunday in September)
September 8: Grandparents Day
September 11: Anniversary of 9/11
September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
September 21: AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day (observed the third Saturday in September)
September 21: Puppy Mill Awareness Day (observed the third Saturday in September)
September 17: National Pet Bird Day
September 23: Dogs in Politics Day (aka National Checkers Day)
September 25: National Daughters Day
September 26: Remember Me Thursday (brings attention to the millions of shelter pets who never found a family, observed the fourth Thursday in September)
September 28: National Sons Day
September 28: World Rabies Day
US Holidays
September 2: Labor Day
October
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Pitbull Awareness Month
National Women’s Small Business Month
October 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week (observed the first week of October)
October 6-12: Animal Welfare Week (observed the first full week of October)
October 20-26: National Veterinary Technician Week
Special Days
October 1: National Walk Your Dog Day
October 1: National Fire Pup Day
October 1: National Black Dog Day
October 4: World Animal Day
October 12: Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 18: Get To Know Your Customers Day (celebrated the third Thursday of each quarter)
October 19: National Fetch Day (observed the third Saturday of October)
October 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
October 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
October 27: National Black Cat Day
October 28: National Pitbull Awareness Day
October 29: National Cat Day
US Holidays
October 2-4: Rosh Hashanah
October 11-12: Yom Kippur
October 14: Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day
October 31: Halloween
November
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Senior Pet Awareness Month (aka Adopt a Senior Pet Month)
National Adoption Month
National Diabetes Month
November 3-9: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (observed the first full week of November)
Special Days
November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 17: Take A Hike Day
November 19: National Entrepreneurs Day (observed the third Tuesday of November)
November 25: National Adoption Day (observed the Monday before Thanksgiving)
November 29: Black Friday
November 30: Small Business Saturday
US Holidays
November 3: Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 11: Veterans Day
November 28: Thanksgiving
December
Week & Month-Long Special Dates
National Cat Lovers’ Month
Special Days
December 2: National Mutt Day
December 2: Cyber Monday
December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
US Holidays
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 25: Hanukkah begins
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Wishing you a blessed and happy 2024!
Tiffani Hill LLC 