- Mikaela Vargas
The 2021 List of Pet Holidays & How To Strategically Implement Them In Your Pet Business Content
Updated: Jan 2
Another year - the time is now to get planning. Here's Pet Marketing Unleashed's 2021 list of pet holidays (& US holidays). All the same deets, just updated dates, so you can make sure that you're not only getting the right dates for your content calendar, but you're also learning how to strategically implement them into your pet business content.
Because, again,... so many pet businesses default to primarily sharing cute pictures of dogs and adding in the day's random holiday!
I really want to challenge you NOT to default to this, as it doesn't do anything for your audience, it doesn't set you apart, and it's just plain lazy (let's be honest!). Social media and content can be a beautiful thing for your business with the right strategy, so I'd love to guide you on how to successfully implement pet holidays in your content (and how NOT to do it!).
So, first things first...The List of 2021 Pet & US Holidays.
January Pet & US Holidays
Month-Long Celebrations
Walk Your Pet Month
Weight Loss Awareness Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Daily Pet Holidays
January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
January 8: Bubble Bath Day
January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 16: Get To Know Your Customers Day
January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
January 24: Change A Pet’s Life Day
Daily US Holidays
January 1: New Year's Day
January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
Pet Dental Health Month
Dog Training Education Month
National Cat Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Pet Dental Health Month
February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
Daily Pet Holidays
February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
February 3: Annual Doggie Date Night
February 15-16: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
February 19: International Tug-of-War Day
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
February 22: Walking The Dog Day
February 23: National Dog Biscuit Day
February 25: World Spay Day
Daily US Holidays
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 7: Super Bowl
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 15: President's Day
February 16: Mardi Gras
March Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
March 7-13: Professional Pet Sitters Week (observed the first full week of March)
Daily Pet Holidays
March 6: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Raise begins
March 13: K9 Veterans Day
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
Daily US Holidays
March 14: Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 17: St. Patrick's Day
March 27: Passover begins
April Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
Heartworm Awareness Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Canine Fitness Month (AKA Active Dog Month)
April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week
April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week
April 11-17: National Dog Bite Prevention Week (observed the second full week of April)
April 17-24: National Pet ID Week (observed annually for 7 days beginning on April 17)
Daily Pet Holidays
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 11: National Pet Day
April 11: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 16: Get To Know Your Customers Day
April 19: National Cat Lady Day
April 21: Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 24: World Veterinary Day (observed the last Saturday in April)
April 25: National Pet Parents Day (observed the last Sunday in April)
April 28: International Guide Dog Day (observed the last Wednesday in April)
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
Daily US Holidays
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 3: Passover ends
April 4: Easter
April 15: Tax Day
April 22: Earth Day
May Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
National Pet Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Foster Care Month
Chip Your Pet Month
May 2-8: Puppy Mill Action Week (observed the week before Mother's Day)
May 2-8: National Pet Week (observed the first full week in May)
Daily Pet Holidays
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
May 2: Mayday for Mutts (observed the first Sunday of May)
May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 8: National Dog Mom Day (observed the second Saturday of May)
May 8: Vet Nurse Day
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day (observed the second Saturday of May)
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 30: International Hug Your Cat Day
Daily US Holidays
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 9: Mother's Day
May 31: Memorial Day
June Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
National Adopt a Cat Month
National Pet Preparedness Month
National Microchipping Month
National Foster a Pet Month
June 6-12: Pet Appreciation Week
June 21-25: Take Your Pet To Work Week®
Daily Pet Holidays
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
June 8: National Best Friends Day
June 8: World Pet Memorial Day (observed the second Tuesday in June)
June 17: Take Your Cat To Work Day
June 21: Dog Party Day
June 21: Take Your Pet To Work Day®
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
June 26: Take Your Dog To Work Day
Daily US Holidays
June 14: Flag Day
June 19: Juneteenth
June 20: Father’s Day
July Pet & US Holidays
Month-Long Celebrations
National Lost Pet Prevention Month
National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Daily Pet Holidays
July 1: ID Your Pet Day
July 6: International Kissing Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 26: National Dog Photography Day
July 31: National Mutt Day
Daily US Holidays
July 4: Independence Day
July 25: National Parents Day
August Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Back-To-School Month
August 2-8: International Assistance Dog Week
Daily Pet Holidays
August 4: Assistance Dog Day
August 5: Work Like a Dog Day
August 6: Fresh Breath Day
August 8: National CBD Day
August 8: International Cat Day
August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day
August 10: National Lazy Day
August 15: National Check the Chip Day
August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 21: International Homeless Animals’ Day
August 22: National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day
August 26: National Dog Day
August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
Daily US Holidays
August 17: International Non-Profit Day
September Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
Happy Healthy Cat Month
Back To School Month
National Pet Insurance Month
Pet-Sitter Education Month
Animal Pain Awareness Month
National Service Dog Month
September 12-18: Adopt a Less-Adoptable-Pet Week (observed the third week in September)
September 19-25: National Dog Week (observed the last full week in September)
September 19-25: Deaf Pet Awareness Week (observed the last full week in September)
Daily Pet Holidays
September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
September 12: National Pet Memorial Day (observed the second Sunday in September)
September 12: National Hug Your Hound Day (observed the second Sunday in September)
September 17: National Pet Bird Day
September 18: Puppy Mill Awareness Day (observed the third Saturday in September)
September 19: AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September 23: Dogs in Politics Day
September 23: Remember Me Thursday
September 28: World Rabies Day
Daily US Holidays
September 6: Labor Day
September 6: Rosh Hashanah begins
September 11: Anniversary of September 11
September 12: Grandparent's Day
September 15: Yom Kippur begins
October Pet & US Holidays
Month-Long Celebrations
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
National Pet Wellness Month
October 1-7: National Walk Your Dog Week (observed the first week of October)
October 17-23: Veterinary Technician Week
Daily Pet Holidays
October 1: National Black Dog Day
October 4: World Animal Day
October 4: World Pet Day
October 9: Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 16: National Fetch Day (observed the third Saturday of October)
October 16: Get To Know Your Customers Day
October 26: National Pitbull Awareness Day
October 27: National Black Cat Day
October 29: National Cat Day
Daily US Holidays
October 11: Columbus Day
October 31: Halloween
November Pet & US Holidays
Month & Week-Long Celebrations
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Senior Pet Month
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
National Adoption Month
National Diabetes Month
November 7-13: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week (observed the first full week of November)
Daily Pet Holidays
November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 17: Take A Hike Day
November 20: National Adoption Day
Daily US Holidays
November 7: Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 11: Veterans Day
November 25: Thanksgiving
November 26: Black Friday
November 27: Small Business Saturday
November 28: Hannukah begins
November 29: Cyber Monday
December Pet & US Holidays
Month-Long Celebrations
National Cat Lovers’ Month
Daily Pet Holidays
December 2: National Mutt Day
December 9: Int'l Day of Veterinary Medicine
Daily US Holidays
December 6: Hannukah ends
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Note: Any of these days/celebrations can change, so be sure to do a quick Google search before posting about them!
Okay, so now that you have all of these holidays, what do you do with them?
Here are 4 tips to get you started:
Don't oversaturate your feed with too many holidays. It can get really overwhelming for your audience and just feel spammy (not authentic). You don't want to use holidays as your excuse to post.
When picking which holidays to use, try to think about what ACTUALLY applies to your business. For example, if you're a dog walker/pet sitter and don't offer bathing services, you probably don't need to feature Bathing Day. Stick to the ones that REALLY brings up the conversation of what you do, who you serve, and what your message promotes.
Don't just announce the holiday - what's the point to your post? Don't just say hey it's Walk Your Dog Day - have fun! Some options on how to promote engagement are to offer some trail suggestions in your area, ask people where their favorite place to walk is in your community, write about the benefits to your health when you walk, etc. Get involved with the holiday and make it have a point.
Always include call-to-actions (CTA's). Make sure you're asking your audience to take some sort of action, whether it's to love your photo on social media, respond to the comment, share the post, book with you, head to your website, read your blog, share a photo, etc. No matter the size of the request, any CTA is great (and is more likely to lead to future bigger commitments, like booking or purchasing from you).
There's no better time than the present to get started on planning your content!
Here are some resources to help you with your pet business content planning:
