Hello! Welcome to the September edition of Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) Newsletter. The Fall season starts in September, which means that the holiday season is on the way. This month’s edition offers special days and gift ideas for your pet.
Special Days and Special Gifts
Every month of the year has a special day, week or monthly celebration for our pets. Fall and winter can be a fun time for you and your pet!
October Special Days
October 1 is National Black Dog Day. This special day was created to encourage adoption of black dogs. As a pet mom, dogs of any color are adoptable dogs!
Each day, I see pet parents walking black dogs (Poodles, Labradors, mixed breeds, Frenchies, Staffies, Great Danes) around my neighborhood. Any day that encourages pet adoptions is a day to celebrate!
October 4 is World Pets Day and is actually the day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of all animals. World Pet Day is also celebrated internationally by animal rights activists and animal lovers as “World Animal Day.” It’s a day to promote awareness for all animals.
October 29 is National Cat Day. Almost 30% of Americans are cat parents of one cat, sometimes two or three. Cats are loving, smart, and wonderful companions for anyone. Yes, just like dogs, it’s hard not to fall in love with cats.
Best pet gifts for October:
- Vintage feeding dish with your pet’s birth year.
- A calming pet bed for the Fall season.
- A month of fun days at a spa for kitty.
November Special Days
November is a special month for our pets.
November 1 is National Cook for Your Pets Day. This is a great day to share a home cooked meal with your pet. There are tons of recipes online for your pet including pet cookies, homemade dog food, and a birthday cake for your kitty.
A few reminders if you cook food for your pet:
- If your pet has a health condition, talk to your veterinarian before changing their diet.
- Avoid seasonings such as oregano, thyme and cloves.
- Avoid these ingredients in your pet’s food: garlic, onions, moldy or spoiled foods, salt, alcohol, coffee, tea, yeast, chocolate, and milk-based products. These ingredient can cause digestive problems for your pet.
National Senior Pet Month. November is a special month to encourage people to adopt senior and special needs pets. If you’re thinking about finding a pet, think about your added value by adopting or fostering a senior pet.
These loving animals are overlooked in rescues and shelters. Adopting a senior animal can be a life-changing experience for your pet and your family.
I’ll raise my had to that experience because I adopted an older kitty, Oscar. He was the last kitty at the adoption event after all the kittens found their new homes.
But Oscar was there, resting comfortably while the last kitten stepped all over him and played with his tail. He was so patience with the kitten and deserved to find his furrever home. I often think that Oscar was waiting to share his joy and love with me!
Best pet gifts for November:
- A treat dispensing puzzle toy to keep your cat or dog amused.
- A cat ball cat bed for your kitty’s daily naps.
- Readers’ Digest picks for 65 best gifts for cats or dogs.
December Special Days
December 2 is National Mutt Day/Mixed Breed Day to celebrate adopting, and saving mixed breed doggies. Many dogs in rescues and animal shelters are mixed breed from over-breeding. All animals need a good home, not just “designer dogs.”
December 15 is National Cat Herder’s Day “to recognize people who have a lot on their plate and those who are involved in difficult and unpleasant occupations that can be paralleled to the tedious task of herding cats.” Yes, this is a real day!!
12 Days of Christmas for Pets. Celebrate the first 12 days of Christmas by giving joy to your pet. Days of joy include giving your pet a safe home, a health check up, or an Animal Friendly license plate.
Best pet gifts for December:
- A GPS collar for your dog.
- A reflective leash accessory for your dog.
- A cactus scratching post for your cat.
Make memories for your pet family. Pick a special day or several days to spend and celebrate with your pet during the holiday season!
Book Update: Feedback from Beta Readers
This summer, I sent the first draft of my book to beta readers for feedback. In September, I’m reviewing their feedback and making edits to my latest book, Dr. Pet Mom’s Pet Parenting Guide: How to Enjoy the Love and Friendship of Your Senior and Special Needs Pets.
Feedback from the beta readers included suggestions to fix areas that were confusing, redundant or missing, as well as punctuation and grammar fixes. Other feedback included re-organizing sections for easier reading.
The book is planned to launch in Fall 2022. Stay tuned for more details!
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
“People who really appreciated animals always asked their
names.”
–Lilian Jackson Braun