2026 Pet Holidays & Observances
To prepare you for the year ahead, we’ve included a list of pet-related (and a few other interesting) celebrations you can promote on your pet-care company's social-media pages each month of the year.
Keep in mind there are occasionally “disputes” over which day a particular celebration is observed, so don’t be alarmed if you see someone posting about one of these holidays on a day other than what is listed below.
You can also download PSI's free 2026 Planning Calendar for Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers.
Be sure to follow PSI on Facebook and Instagram, where we often post about upcoming pet holidays—and PSI members, you access customizable social-media images in your 2026 monthly member toolkits.
January 2026 Pet Holidays
- Walk Your Pet Month
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
January 1: New Year's Day
January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5: National Bird Day
January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 22: National Answer Your Cat's Question Day
January 24: Change A Pet's Life Day
January 27: National Plan for Vacation Day
February 2026 Pet Holidays
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Dog Training Education Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
February 2: National Hedgehog Day; Groundhog Day
February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
February 3: Annual Doggie Date Night
February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
February 14: National Pet Theft Awareness Day in the US; Valentine’s Day
February 22-28: National Justice for Animals Week
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
February 22: Walking The Dog Day
February 23: National Dog Biscuit Day
February 24: World Spay Day
March 2026 Pet Holidays
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month
March 1: Horse Protection Day
March 1: National Pig Day
March 1-7: PSI’s 32nd annual Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 3: World Wildlife Day
March 4: Thank Your Pet Sitter Day
March 13: K9 Veterans Day
March 14: UK Dog Theft Awareness Day
March 15-21: National Animal Poison Prevention Week
March 17: PSI’s 32nd Birthday
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
April 2026 Pet Holidays
- Heartworm Awareness Month
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- Canine Fitness Month
April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week
April 2: National Ferret Day
April 4: World Stray Animals Day
April 4: World Rat Day
April 5-9: National Raw Feeding Week
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 12: World Hamster Day
April 12-18: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
April 12-18: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
April 18: Pet Owners Day
April 19: National Cat Lady Day
April 21: Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
April 20-26: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 23-29: National Scoop the Poop Week
April 24: Hairball Awareness Day
April 25: World Veterinary Day
April 26: National Pet Parents Day
April 27: Free Feral Cat Spay Day
April 29: International Guide Dog Day
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
April 30: National Tabby Day
May 2026 Pet Holidays
- PSI’s Pet-Sitter Safety Month
- National Pet Month
- Chip Your Pet Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 3: Mayday for Mutts
May 3-9: Puppy Mill Action Week
May 3-9: National Pet Week
May 3-9: American Humane Be Kind to Animals Week
May 4-10: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
May 5: Cinco de Meow Day
May 9: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 9: Bird Day
May 9: National Dog Mom Day
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 23: World Turtle Day
June 2026 Pet Holidays
- National Adopt a Cat Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
June 4: International Corgi Day
June 7-13: Pet Appreciation Week PAW
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 9: World Pet Memorial Day
June 15-21: Animal Rights Awareness Week
June 18: Clean Your Aquarium Day
June 22-26: PSI’s Take Your Pet To Work Week®
June 22: Take Your Cat To Work Day
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
June 26: Take Your Dog To Work Day
Download PSI's free 2026 Planning Calendar for Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers.
July 2026 Pet Holidays
- Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
July 1: National ID Your Pet Day
July 7: National Koi Day
July 10: National Kitten Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15: I Love Horses Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 16: World Snake Day
July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day
July 26: National Dog Photography Day
July 31: National Mutt Day
August 2026 Pet Holidays
- National Dog Month
- Clear the Shelters Month
- Wellness Month
August 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
August 2-8: International Assistance Dog Week (observed the first full week in August)
August 4: International Assistance Dog Day
August 5: Work Like a Dog Day
August 8: International Cat Day
August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day
August 15: Check the Chip Day
August 15: Clear the Shelters Day (observed the third Saturday of August)
August 15: International Homeless Animals' Day (observed on the third Saturday of August)
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day & International Black Cat Day
August 22: National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day
August 23: International Blind Dog Day
August 26: National Dog Day & World Dog Day
August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September 2026 Pet Holidays
- PSI’s Pet-Sitter Education Month
- Responsible Dog Ownership Month
- Happy Healthy Cat Month
- National Pet Insurance Month
- National Preparedness Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- National Service Dog Month
- National Pet Memorial Month
September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 8: National Iguana Awareness Day
September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
September 13: National Pet Memorial Day
September 13: National Hug Your Hound Day
September 14-20: Adopt a Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
September 17: National Pet Bird Day
September 19: AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September 19: Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 20-26: National Dog Week
September 20-26: National Deaf Pet Awareness Week
September 24: Remember Me Thursday
September 26: Neighborhood Pet Store Day
September 26: International Rabbit Day
September 28: World Rabies Day
October 2026 Pet Holidays
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- American Humane’s Adopt-a-Dog Month®
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Pitbull Awareness Month
- National Women's Small Business Month
October 1: National Fire Pup Day
October 1: National Black Dog Day
October 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week (observed the first week of October)
October 3-9: Animal Welfare Week
October 4: World Animal Day
October 14: Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 17: National Fetch Day
October 18-24: National Veterinary Technician Week
October 18-24: Small Pet Rodent Awareness Week (UK)
October 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
October 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
October 24: National Pitbull Awareness Day
October 27: National Black Cat Day (UK)
October 29: National Cat Day
November 2026 Pet Holidays
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- National Senior Pet Month
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- Pet Diabetes Month
November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 1-7: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week (observed the first whole week of November)
November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 12: Fancy Rate and Mouse Day
November 17: Take A Hike Day
November 21: National Adoption Day (observed the Sunday before Thanksgiving)
November 28: Small Business Saturday
December 2026 Pet Holidays
- National Cat Lovers' Month
December 2: National Mutt Day
December 4: Wildlife Conservation Day
December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 10: International Animal Rights Day
December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day
Comments
Brenda
Nikki Hartung
Brenda
For all Fur Kids who are loved
Jean Jones
I've had several days locked in my phone's calendar to celebrate my pets' special days, but THIS is much better!
I'm uber happy I found your website and hope you will do the same for 2026 and beyond!!
My cats also wish to say "Thank You"!
Slave of my Feline Owners,
Jean
whit