May is a wonderful month to celebrate our loving pets! And the month of May is National Pet Month. Take time to meet new animals and their pet people and post your best pet photos on social media. Best of all, keep spoiling your pets all month! Happy National Pet Month and enjoy a summary of pet awareness days in May.
Month-Long Holidays
National Foster Care Month. Humane societies like the American Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) rely on volunteer animal foster caregivers who give rescue animals a safe haven before adoption. These loving volunteers create “a shelter outside of our shelter” in their homes for thousands of animals.
Foster caregivers open up their homes to give these animals the time and attention they need. These families increase the chance for rescue animals to find their forever homes. And foster families give staff additional time and shelter space to help thousands more animals.
Responsible Animal Guardian Month. The Defense of Animals organization (IDA) developed the idea of animal guardians to “encourage people to treat animals with respect”.
Responsible animal guardianship also means that you will give your pet the best quality of life:
- Ethics: Adopt from responsible rescues, shelters and reputable animal breeders. Always give your pets love, respect and compassion.
- Daily care: Provide healthy and nutritious food, regular exercise, shelter, training, regular wellness exams and vet visits.
- Safety: Pet-proof your home, microchip your pet and prevent her from getting lost.
- Well being: Train your pet to learn house manners, socialization with other pets and people. Encourage trust, respect and play time with your pet.
Chip Your Pet Month. Many of the happiest stories about pets are when they are return home safely. One source explained the microchipping your pet can increase their chances of returning home by 50%. As more pet parents learn about microchipping, it is a standard practice for veterinarians and animal shelters.
If you’re still not sure if your dog or cat should be microchipped, Petfinder offers these tips:
- A microchip is about the size of a rice grain inserted between your pet’s shoulder blades. It won’t hurt any more than a routine vaccination and doesn’t even require anesthetic.
- A pet microchip is not a tracking device. It does not work like global positioning devices (GPS). Microchips are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide a permanent ID for your pet.
- The average cost of microchipping implanted by a veterinarian is around $45. This is a one-time fee which may include registration in a pet recovery database.
- The microchip lasts for the lifetime of your pet. Cats and dogs should be microchipped. Many cats don’t wear a collar but with a microchip, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.
- Microchips carry only a unique identification number that offers a lifetime of protection.
- A final reminder is that you must register your pet’s microchip to give your pet the best protection. Keep your contact information up to date in the Nationwide Microchip Database.
Week-Long Holidays
May 2-8: Be Kind To Animals Week. Did you know that Be Kind To Animals Week is the longest-running commemorative week in U.S. history? And it’s the most successful humane education campaign ever! Be Kind To Animals Week celebrates its 106th anniversary in 2021!
May 2-8: Puppy Mill Action Week from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). If you want to bring a pet into your home, PLEASE ADOPT from a responsible rescue or shelter organization. If you want a specific pet breed, find a breed-specific rescue or reputable animal breeder. Don’t buy your pet from puppy mill or pet store.
One-Day Holidays
May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day to celebrate the lives of these wonderful and loving animals looking for their forever homes. This day also encourages adoption for people looking to bring a new furry family member into their homes.
May 8 (the second Saturday in May): National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Veterinarians hope this day will encourage all pet parents to plan for their pet’s safety. Animal disaster preparedness includes the basics: Water, dry pet food, copies of your pet’s medical records, your veterinarian’s contact info, toys, bedding, extra pet collars and leashes, garbage bags and disinfectants. And remember your pet’s first aid kit.
May 8 (the second Saturday in May): World Migratory Bird Day. In 2023, World Migratory Bird Day celebrates the day with the theme, “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.”
Almost all migratory birds rely on water and its related habitats during their life cycles. Rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters are vital for drinking, nesting, feeding or resting during long seasonal migration.
May 23: World Turtle Day. This day is to “shellebrate” and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. The American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) established World Turtle Day ® in 1990. This turtle rescue organization has placed about 4,000 tortoises and turtles in caring homes.
ATR also works with law enforcement when undersized or endangered turtles are confiscated and provides helpful information and referrals to persons with sick, neglected or abandoned turtles. FYI: Tortoises are terrestrial animals. Turtles mainly live in water.
May 15: Endangered Species Day. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will recognize our “national conservation efforts to protect our nation’s endangered species and their habitats.” The National Wildlife Federation also encourages people to learn about and celebrate the progress made to protect wildlife since the creation of the 1973 Endangered Species Act.
Thanks for stopping by! 😎
Dr. Pet Mom
“The way you treat the animals around you will be the nature of the animal within you.”
–Sir P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar