Greetings! Welcome to the January edition of Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) Newsletter. January is a time for a fresh start. Let’s kick off the year with some of my fave monthly pet days to celebrate in 2025. Enjoy!
January Pet Awareness Days
January 24: Change A Pet’s Life Day. You can change a pet’s life in many simple ways:
- Volunteer your time and energy to an animal rescue or shelter. You can serve as a volunteer in different ways. For example, you can be an advocacy volunteer to help the ASPCA pass animal-friendly legislation. Help other animal advocates in your community
- You can help animals during natural disasters. Work with the National Field Response (NFR) and help animals during cruelty cases.
- Or work with big animals and join the Horse Action Team. Help and advocate to ban horse slaughter for good and step up for horses.
- Read a story to a shelter or rescue animal at your local shelter. You can foster, adopt, or donate supplies.
- Raise awareness on your social media. Use your social media platform to spread ideas and celebrate Change A Pet’s Life Day with friends and family.
January 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary. January 29 is the anniversary of the world’s oldest existing guide dog school, The Seeing Eye.
Founder, Morris Frank, who was blind since childhood, started The Seeing Eye “to enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained seeing eye dogs.”
The Seeing Eye teaches blind people about the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs and conducts and supports research on canine health and development.
February Pet Awareness Days
Dog Training Education Month and Pet Dental Health Month: Dogs of any size needs socialization, house training, leash training, and more. Take time to train your doggy for a healthy and long lasting relationship.
Dog training can be an obedience class, trip to a new dog park, teaching your pet a new trick or helping her be a good doggy.
National Cat Health Month: February is also the month to take care of your cat’s health. Care includes regular dental cleaning, watching your cat’s diet and physical and mental stimulation.
Obesity in cats is a common problem with 58% of cats overweight or obese. Remember that obesity often leads to diabetes, heart and lung diseases, arthritis and constipation.
Review your cat’s vaccination history, an important treatment for life-threatening diseases like Feline Leukemia and Rabies. But vaccinations may not be needed if your cat is 100% indoors and has limited exposure to transmittable diseases.
Dental care for your cat is a must. One source estimated that over 80% of pets in the U.S. have gum disease by age three. Dental disease is preventable if your take care of your cat’s teeth and gums. Regular dental care is a true lifesaver.
Responsible Pet Owners Month: Celebrate responsible pet parenting and highlight the well-being of your pet in February. One tip includes regular physical exercise for you and your pet.
Other tips include watching your pet for signs of stress, boredom, sadness, anger, fear and other troubling behaviors. Changes in behavior can signal an illness. Check with your veterinarian as needed.
A final pet responsibility is to update your pet’s identification tag and microchip information. ID tagging is aligned with a pet disaster preparedness plan for your pet’s safety.
March Pet Awareness Day
March 13: National K-9 Veterans Day. We have many reasons to celebrate everything our doggy friends do for us. March 13 is a day set aside to honor the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history.
We celebrate National K-9 Veterans Day in honor of military service and working dogs in the United States military.
March 13, 1942 was the official start of the Army’s War Dog Program, known as the “K-9 Corps.” It was the first time dogs served in the United States Armed Forces.
In 2019, a new American flag was designed with our K-9 veterans in mind. The new flag is yellow, white and blue, since dogs cannot see red. And for the first time, the new K-9 Veterans American flag was raised at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City.
March 23: National Puppy Day. March 23 is an unofficial holiday to end adopting puppies from puppy mills and farms. NPD is also a day to celebrate puppy adoptions.
Puppy mills and farms are run by commercial breeders. The dogs are bred only for profit and most of these puppy mills operate under extremely inhumane conditions.
Support the Adopt! Don’t Shop campaign to encourage pet adoptions from shelters, rather than buying them from pet stores.
April Pet Awareness Days
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) promotes awareness about the important issues facing animals. ASPCA awareness events include:
April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day. This is a terrible blood sport based on human greed. You can help these animals and sign a petition from the ASPCA.
Use your social media to spread the word to help bring awareness to break the chain and end dog fighting.
Support the HEART Act (Help Extract Animals from Red Tape). This bill modifies notice requirements in a civil forfeiture proceeding that involves the seizure of an animal involved in animal fighting.
April 26: Help a Horse Home Challenge. While many cats and dogs lose their homes, thousands of horses across the country are at risk of homelessness and poor animal care. Equine rescues and shelters work hard to house and care for many of these horses.
One source identified 2 million people as horse owners, and 4.6 million people involved with horses as employees, volunteers and service providers.
And the ASPCA research suggested there are at least 2.3 million adults in the U.S. with the resources and desire to adopt a horse in need.
Horses can live up to 30 or 40 years. Before you adopt, take time to learn how to care for your horse. Find a proper set up, talk to other horse owners, and make sure you know how to care for a large animal.
Better yet, volunteer at a horse rescue. These life-saving rescue and shelter programs would love to help you understand horses before you adopt.
Organizations like the Homes for Horses Coalition (HHC) work with hundreds of members representing horse rescues and sanctuaries throughout the United States and beyond.
May Pet Awareness Days
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 (or the second Saturday in May): World Migratory Bird Day. In 2021, World Migratory Bird Day celebrates the day with the theme, “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!” Most of us appreciate migratory birds from a distance. But researchers use tracking technologies to learn about migratory routes, hazards along the routes, and conservation activities to help migratory birds.
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.
June Pet Awareness Days
June 11: Just One Day. June 11 is one day to raise awareness about homeless animals living in shelters. Sadly, over 10,000 animals are euthanized each day in the US. For just one day, let’s have a day when NO animals are euthanized. Take one day to change the life of just one animal.
June 14: World Pet Memorial Day. On the second Sunday in June, remember your pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Remember how much they loved you, brought joy to your life and made you a better person.
My senior kitty, Oscar made me a better person and I miss him every day.
June 15: International Working Animal Day. Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) created a reminder about the role of working animals in developing countries worldwide.
Over 200 million horses, elephants, donkeys and camels work to support the livelihood of over 600 million people. Work include transporting people and carrying heavy loads. SPANA encourages a life free from suffering for these working animals.
July Pet Awareness Days
July is Lost Pet Prevention Month. This month is about pet safety: pet safety and keeping a pet first aid kit for home and travel.
A lost pet can be a pet parent’s worst nightmare.
Lost Pet Prevention Tips
- Put ID tags on your pet’s collar. Add reflective tape or buy a reflective collar or leash so you can quickly find your pet in the dark.
- Keep pets indoors. If your dog or cat is outdoors, keep a close eye on them to be sure they don’t escape. And indoor pets still need an ID tag on their collar.
- Microchip your pet. Some people bring lost pets to the veterinarian. Make sure your contact info is current in the microchip database.
Lost Dog Scenarios
Wander off. Some dogs escape from their new home or have trouble bonding with their pet family. They end up wandering outside their home territory and never find their way to home base.
Dognapped. Pet theft has increased over the past few years. Most dogs are captured for resale (designer dogs) or taken just to aggravate the pet parent.
Accidents. Pets can also have a traffic accident, eat poisonous or toxic food, or wander into a life-threatening situation.
Lost Cat Scenarios
Cats can be stolen or taken for a ride out of their home territory. Unintentional situations happen if your cat hides inside a car or box that is transported.
Injured cats have a natural instinct to hide. They may find a quiet place in the yard or around the neighborhood.
August Pet Awareness Days
August 4- 10: International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) is to recognize “all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations.” The goals of IADW include:
- Recognize and honor assistance dogs
- Raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs
- Honor puppy raisers and trainers
- Recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day. A neighbor had two black cats, Jake and Johnny. They’re friendly, deliver ‘gifts’ to their cat dad, and don’t fit those dumb stereotypes about black cats.
Why do black cats get a special day? Because fisherman and sailors saw black cats as good luck. The Egyptians considered them good luck kitties. In Russia and the UK, all cats are considered lucky.
August 26: National Dog Day. Dog pet parents can celebrate National Dog Day with a big hug and kiss for their furry pets. Read about other ways to celebrate:
- Adopt a dog from a local rescue or breed rescue organization.
- Volunteer to walk a dog, clean pens or read to dogs in a rescue or shelter facility.
- Write to your congress member and ask them to support a ban on puppy mills and gas chambers.
- Help an older neighbor by walking their dog today.
- Teach your dog a new trick.
- Give your pet a massage after a fun day of exercise.
September Pet Awareness Days
Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week is the third week each September. PetFinder.com created Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week to bring awareness to shelter animals “who may get overlooked for a variety of reasons” and encourage people to adopt shelter animals.
Why are “less popular” pets ignored? Because of puppies and kittens. In the spring, I volunteer for a local cat rescue group during their busy kitten adoption season.
Kittens were most popular, then adults and older cats. Some people only wanted an older cat. But other people thought they wanted a kitten and realized that an older cat was the best choice for their family.
Animals in the “less adoptable pet” group are:
Dogs with behavioral issues. Dogs not well socialized or not house trained can be trained to be adoptable. Many shelters will have a dog training professional on site. Behavioral issues can be resolved.
Older dogs. An older dog is a gem for any family. Many older dogs are experienced, house trained, well socialized and great companion pets for families or individuals.
Black dogs. Loving companions at a shelter come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Sometimes black dogs are overlooked. Potential adopters should be looking at the dog’s personality for a good fit for the family.
Many older and adult dogs are generally well socialized and know basic commands. Focus the bio on the dog living in a home, and avoid any neglect, abuse or sad circumstances that brought them to the shelter. Choosing a pet should be a happy time for the potential adopter. Make the dog’s important qualities stand out.
Spend some one-on-one time at the shelter. Meet different dogs with personalities that make a good fit for your family. Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week is a great time to visit local shelters and give a pet a loving home.
Puppy Mill Awareness Day is the third Saturday in September. Puppy Mill Awareness Day was created by animal rescue and shelter organizations. The goals are to encourage people to adopt pets and avoid buying animals from puppy mills that keep cats and dogs in horrible living conditions.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has a national effort to ban puppy mills. California is the first state to officially ban puppy mills. And check out this link to puppy mill laws by state.
October Pet Awareness Days
October 4: World Animal Day. October 4 is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. World Animal Day celebrates the message of mercy toward all creatures great and small for animal lovers worldwide.
October 9: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Pet parents love their pets too much! Over 50% of cats in the United States are overweight! And 60% of dogs are overweight. Obesity is an ongoing problem: 27% to 39% of cats and 20% of dogs are considered obese. Be kind to your pet: Break the pattern of free feeding. Instead, start a regular feeding schedule.
November Pet Awareness Days
November is National Senior Pet Month and the ASPCA’s Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Older pets are as gentle, loving and loyal as any younger pet. Some of the cool benefits of adopting senior pets are:
- Many of these animals are already house trained.
- Senior pets wear their personalities proudly and make it easy to pick a perfect pet for your family.
- Senior pets understand basic commands.
- Senior pets will love you for life.
I know several pet parents who actively look for senior pets to adopt. A friend adopted a 10 year-old dog who was left in a shelter for a year.
The poor dog had a skin condition and nearly hairless. But my friend adopted Izzy and gave her the medical attention and love she deserves.
If you’re thinking of a new furry family member, please think about adopting a senior pet.
November is also National Pet Awareness Month, in celebration of how pets improve our lives and well being. This month is a time to raise awareness of pets and our duty to keep them safe, happy, healthy, and loved.
If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family, here are a few tips:
- Consider adopting a pet from a rescue group or shelter. You will save two lives by giving a pet a loving home and opening space for another homeless animal.
- Pet companions improve our well being. A life shared with a pet is a happy and healthy life. When your kitty or dog greets you after a long work day, you feel better instantly.
- Pets teach us to watch and listen. If you cat is scratching the door or if your dog is barking, you need to pick up on the clues. Pets reward us with love and acceptance – always be kind to your pet.
December Pet Awareness Days
December 5: Shelter Pets Day. This day is a new holiday to spread awareness about shelter animals across the United States. Shelter Pets Day is a new holiday celebrated on the first Thursday of December.
Many people think about adopting a pet from a shelter but don’t follow through. Shelter animals struggle from the myths that they are unhealthy, or have behavioral problems. Shelter Pets Day can help break these stereotypes and increase people’s awareness about what a shelter does.
December 15: Celebrate the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 declared that wild-roaming horses and burros are protected, managed, and controlled on public lands.
Velma Johnston was a force behind the Wild Horse and Burro Act. After 20 long years, the Wild Horse and Burro Act was passed in 1971 without a single dissenting vote. Velma was a fighter who overcame her childhood polio and resulting disfigurement, life as a rancher’s wife, sense of humor and strength to save the wild horses and burros.
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
“Animals are a gift from above for they truly define the words unconditional love.”
–Heather Wolf
Thanks Dr. Pet Mom…I never realized that these special days existed. Excellent and informative, as usual!
Thanks for stopping by, Lou. Every day with our pets is a special day! 🙂