2023 Pet Holidays List for Dog Brands
Our 2023 pet holiday and observances list gives dog businesses a jumping off point for social media post ideas. We've provided links with additional info on many holidays and observances, many of which are dog and cat related celebrations.
Don't miss our do's and don'ts on how to best integrate holidays into your social media strategy for your pet brand after the holiday list.
January 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
- National Train Your Dog Month
- National CBD Month
- Unchain a Dog Month
- Walk Your Pet Month aka Walk Your Dog Month
Day-Long Observances
- 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 15: National Hat Day
- January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 19: Get To Know Your Customers Day
- January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
- January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
- January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
- January 24: National Peanut Butter Day
- January 29: Seeing-Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
February 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Dog Training Education Month
- National Cat Health Month
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Week-Long Observances
- February 7–14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- February 19–25: National Justice for Animals Week
Day-Long Observances
- February 1: Chinese New Year
- February 2: Groundhog Day
- February 2: Sled Dog Day
- February 3: Doggy Date Night
- February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
- February 12: Super Bowl Sunday
- February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
- February 14: Valentine’s Day
- February 19: International Tug-of-War Day
- February 20: National Love Your Pet Day
- February 20: President’s Day
- February 21: Mardi Gras
- February 22: National Wildlife Day (also celebrated 9/4)
- February 22: National Walking the Dog Day
- February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day/National Dog Biscuit Day
- February 27: Polar Bear Day
- February 28: World Spay Day/Spay Day USA
March 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
Week-Long Observances
- March 5–11: Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 19–25: National Poison Prevention Week
Day-Long Observances
- March 1: National Pig Day
- March 1: National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
- March 1: Horse Protection Day
- March 3: National If Pets Had Thumbs Day
- March 3: World Wildlife Day
- March 3: Employee Appreciation Day
- March 4: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins
- March 13: National K9 Veterans Day
- March 12: Daylight Savings Begins
- March 14: National Napping Day
- March 14: UK Dog Theft Awareness Day
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
- March 18: World Sleep Day
- March 20: Spring Equinox
- March 23: National Puppy Day
- March 23: National Cuddly Kitten Day
- March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
- March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
April 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Active Dog Month
- Canine Fitness Month
- National Adopt a Greyhound Month
- National Heartworm Awareness Month
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Week-Long Observances
- April 1–7: International Pooper Scooper Week
- April 1–7: National Raw Feeding Week
- April 9–15: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
- April 9–15: National Dog Bite Prevention Week
- April 17-23: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
- April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
- April 23-29: National Scoop the Poop Week
Day-Long Observances
- April 1: April Fool’s Day
- April 1: Every Day is Tag Day
- April 4: World Stray Animals Day
- April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
- April 10: National Siblings Day
- April 11: National Pet Day
- April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
- April 12: Hamster Day
- April 15: Passover Begins
- April 17: Easter
- April 18: Pet Owners Day
- April 19: National Cat Lady Day
- April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
- April 22: Earth Day
- April 22: National Beagle Day
- April 23: Passover ends
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
- April 24: World Day for Laboratory Animals
- April 25: World Penguin Day
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
- April 26: International Guide Dog Day
- April 27: Free Feral Cat Spay Day
- April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day
- April 28: Hairball Awareness Day
- April 29: World Veterinary Day
- April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
- April 30: National Pet Parents Day
- April 30: National Tabby Day
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
May 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Chip Your Pet Month
- Lyme Disease Prevention Month
- National Pet Month
- National Service Animal Eye Exam Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Week-Long Observances
- May 1–7: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week
- May 1–7: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
- May 7–13: National Pet Week
- May 7–13: Puppy Mill Action Week
Day-Long Observances
- May 1: May Day
- May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
- May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
- May 4: Bird Day
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May 7: Mayday for Mutts
- May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
- May 13: World Migratory Bird Day
- May 13: National Dog Mom’s Day
- May 14: Mother’s Day
- May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
- May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
- May 23: World Turtle Day
- May 29: Memorial Day
June 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Adopt-a-Cat Month from the American Humane Association
- Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- Pride Month
Week-Long Observances
- June 4–10: Pet Appreciation Week
- June 19-25: Animal Rights Awareness Week
- June 19–23: Take Your Pet To Work Week®
Day-Long Observances
- June 1: International Sheltie Day
- June 3: National Trails Day®
- June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
- June 8: Best Friends Day
- June 13: World Pet Memorial Day
- June 18: Father’s Day
- June 18 - 22: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
- June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day
- June 19: Juneteenth
- June 19: Take Your Cat To Work Day®
- June 21: National Dog Party Day
- June 24: Cat World Domination Day
- June 23: Take Your Dog to Work Day
July 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Dog House Repair Month
- Independent Retailer Month
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Week-Long Observances
- July 24 – July 30: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
Day-Long Observances
- July 1: ID Your Pet Day
- July 4: Independence Day
- July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
- July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
- July 16: World Snake Day
- July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day
- July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day
- July 26: National Dog Photography Day
- July 30: International Day of Friendship
- July 31: National Mutt Day
August 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
Week-Long Observances
- August 6–12: International Assistance Dog Week
Day-Long Observances
- August 1: DOGust 1st: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
- August 4: Assistance Dog Day
- August 5: Work Like a Dog Day
- August 6: Fresh Breath Day
- August 6: National Friendship Day
- August 8: International Cat Day
- August 8: National CBD Day
- August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day
- August 10: National Lazy Day
- August 12: World Elephant Day
- August 15: National Check the Chip Day
- August 15: National Relaxation Day
- August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
- August 17: National Nonprofit Day
- August 19: International Homeless Animals’ Day
- August 19: National Honey Bee Day
- August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
- August 23: International Blind Dog Day
- August 26: National/International Dog Day
- August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
- August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
- Happy Cat Month
- National Service Dog Month
- National Pet Insurance Month
- Disaster Preparedness Month
- Pet Sitter Education Month
- Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Week-Long Observances
- September 17–23: Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
- September 24–30: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week
- September 24–30: National Dog Week
Day-Long Observances
- September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
- September 1: Boykin Spaniel Day
- September 2 : International Bacon Day
- September 3 : National Pet Rock Day
- September 4 : National Wildlife Day (also celebrated February 22)
- September 4: Labor Day
- September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
- September 10: National Pet Memorial Day
- September 10: National Hug Your Hound Day
- September 11: Patriot Day
- September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
- September 15: Rosh Hashanah begins
- September 16: Puppy Mill Awareness Day
- September 16: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
- September 17: Rosh Hashanah ends
- September 17: National Pet Bird Day
- September 19: National Meow Like a Pirate Day
- September 21: Remember Me Thursday
- September 22: National Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog Day
- September 23: Fall Equinox
- September 23: Dogs in Politics Day
- September 23: International Rabbit Day
- September 25: Yom Kipper
- September 28: World Rabies Day
October 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Celebrations
- Adopt-A-Dog Month / Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month
- Black Cat Awareness Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Pitbull Awareness Month
- Squirrel Awareness Month
- Wishbones for Pets Month - (October 15 - November 30)
Week-Long Celebrations
- October 1–7: National Walk Your Dog Week
- October 1–7: Animal Welfare Week
- October 15–21: National Veterinary Technician Week
Day-Long Observances
- October 1: National Fire Pup Day
- October 1: National Black Dog Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 9: Indigenous People Day
- October 11: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
- October 16: National Feral Cat Day
- October 16: Global Cat Day
- October 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
- October 21: National Fetch Day
- October 27: National Black Cat Day
- October 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day
- October 28: National Pitbull Awareness Day
- October 29: National Cat Day
- October 31: Halloween
November 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Celebrations
- Wishbones for Pets Month - (October 15 - November 30)
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- National Senior Pet Month
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- Pet Diabetes Month
- Peanut Butter Lovers Month
- Sweet Potato Awareness Month
Week-Long Celebrations
- November 5–11: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Day-Long Observances
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
- November 1: Día de los Muertos begins
- November 2: Día de los Muertos ends
- November 5: Daylight Savings Time Ends
- November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
- November 11: Veteran's Day
- November 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day
- November 17: National Take a Hike Day
- November 21: National Entrepreneurs' Day
- November 23: National Dog Show Broadcast
- November 23: Thanksgiving
- November 24: Black Friday
- November 25: Small Business Saturday
- November 27: Cyber Monday
December 2023 Pet Holidays and Observances
Month-Long Observances
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
Week-Long Observances
- December 7–December 15: Hanukkah
- December 26–January 1: Kwanzaa
Day-Long Observances
- December 2: National Mutt Day (also celebrated July 31)
- December 4: National Cookie Day
- December 5: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
- December 7: Hanukkah begins
- December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
- December 10: International Animal Rights Day
- December 15: Hanukkah ends
- December 16: Underdog Day
- December 21: Winter Solstice
- December 24: Christmas Eve
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: Kwanzaa begins
- December 30: National Bacon Day
- December 31: New Year’s Eve
We do our best to ensure accuracy of the dates, however recommend double checking as dates of some celebrations, events and observances are subject to change.
Integrate Holidays into Your Social Media Strategy (the right way)
Wondering how to use these holidays and observances? Instead of simply posting a generic "Happy whatever holiday" plan ahead and be selective about which holidays you choose to include on your business social media account (and other marketing too).
Pick holidays that relate to your business and your audience. Keep in mind that you should know the purpose of every post you make. Is it to build authority and trust? Spread awareness? Gain new followers? Decide what the purpose will be and brainstorm how you can tie the holiday into your marketing.
Planning in advance will allow you to reach out to potential partners so you can collab with them, increasing reach for you both. You might team up with a dog trainer for National Train Your Dog Month, or a veterinarian for National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day for example.
Once you have a plan, make sure you implement it by scheduling posts in advance or setting an alert on your calendar.
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