Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Horse Day
A/RES/79/291
Topic facet
Animals Pets observances
Animal, pet and animal-welfare observances.
About this facet
This facet includes companion-animal days, species-awareness events and animal-welfare campaigns.
Scope note: Animal-health or veterinary claims require qualified sources, and wildlife should not be treated as pets.
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Animals Nature Environment 123 sharedNature Environment 25 sharedAwareness Education 25 sharedHealth Wellness Awareness 18 sharedAppreciation Recognition 13 sharedEnvironment Conservation 4 sharedCelebrations 7 sharedWorkplace Professions Appreciation 8 sharedFamily Relationships 4 sharedRelationships Family 3 shared
Reviewed depth
In-depth guides in Animals Pets
These pages include reviewed meaning, history, activities, facts and FAQs in addition to the underlying authority record.
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
World Migratory Bird Day
UNEP / CMS / AEWA partner campaign
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Wildlife Day
A/RES/68/205
161 records
Authority records
Source-backedEdition Specific
150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Westminster Kennel Club’s first-party 150th-event materials place 2026 competition across January 31 and February 2–3.
Source-backedFixed Annual
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day
The American Kennel Club designated September 17, the anniversary of the AKC’s founding, as AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day and continues to publish the observance through its Responsible…
Source-backedFixed Annual
All-American Pet Photo Day
The Animal Medical Center repeatedly lists All-American Pet Photo Day on July 11 in annual pet-holiday calendars.
Source-backedVariable Custom
American Frog Day
American Frog Day’s own history states that the event began in San Jose in 1995, ran there for ten years, and then became a traveling event hosted in different cities.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
The first-party Wellcat Holidays calendar lists Answer Your Cat’s Question Day on January 22 and identifies the collection as created by Thomas and Ruth Roy.
Source-backedFixed Annual
ASPCA Help a Horse Day
ASPCA materials identify April 26 as its annual Help a Horse Day, used to support equine rescues and adoption awareness.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Black Cat Appreciation Day
UPI reports that Wayne H. Morris started Black Cat Appreciation Day in 2011 and gives the date as August 17; ASPCA independently recognizes August 17 as the observance date.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee
Calaveras tourism sources describe the Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee as an annual four-day event held the third Thursday through Sunday in May, with frog jumping throughout the event.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Cat Herders' Day
Thomas and Ruth Roy’s Wellcat calendar lists Cat Herders' Day on December 15.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
The Animal Medical Center’s 2025 and 2026 calendars explicitly place Celebrate Shelter Pets Day on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving. Its 2022 calendar used April 11, so the current rul…
Source-backedFixed Annual
Change a Pet’s Life Day
The Animal Medical Center lists Change a Pet’s Life Day on January 24 in multiple annual pet-holiday calendars, including 2022, 2025 and 2026.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Cuddly Kitten Day
The Animal Medical Center repeatedly lists Cuddly Kitten Day on March 23 across annual pet-awareness calendars.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Dog House Repair Month
National Today defines Dog House Repair Month as every July, while Checkiday independently records National Doghouse Repairs Month throughout July and attributes the observance to Heidi Ric…
Source-backedFixed Annual
Dog Theft Awareness Day
The Stolen And Missing Pets Alliance states that its annual Dog Theft Awareness Day is on 14 March and documents the campaign’s continuing UK advocacy work.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
The Animal Medical Center repeatedly lists Dog Therapy Appreciation Day on April 11 in annual pet-awareness calendars.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Dogs in Yellow Day
British Small Animal Veterinary Association material identifies Dogs in Yellow Day on 20 March as awareness for dogs that may need space.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Draw A Bird Day
The Draw A Bird Day site states that the observance is held on April 8 every year and explicitly notes that it is not an official holiday.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
Every Day is Tag Day™
American Humane states that it created Every Day is Tag Day as a nationwide effort held annually on the first Saturday in April to encourage current pet identification.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
Fish Amnesty Day
PETA states that it created Fish Amnesty Day in 1997 and marks it on the fourth Saturday in September.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Fish Tank Floorshow Night
Wellcat Holidays lists Fish Tank Floorshow Night on September 28 and identifies Thomas and Ruth Roy as the holiday creators.
Source-backedHistorical Legacy
Free Feral Cat Spay Day
Alley Cat Rescue announced Free Feral Cat Spay Day for April 27, 2010. Its current Feral Fix history says the campaign launched in 2010 and expanded from one day to a full month in 2017, so…
Source-backedFixed Annual
Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
The Animal Medical Center lists Ginger Cat Appreciation Day on September 1 in its 2025 and 2026 pet-awareness calendars.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Global Cat Day
Alley Cat Allies identifies 16 October as Global Cat Day and describes it as its campaign centered on cats and communities.
Source-backedEdition Specific
Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count’s official participation page identifies February 13–16, 2026 and explains that participants watch birds for at least 15 minutes and submit observations throug…
Source-backedFixed Annual
Happy Mew Year For Cats Day
Wellcat Holidays places Happy Mew Year For Cats Day on January 2 and identifies the collection as created by Thomas and Ruth Roy.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
Hug a Sheep Day
The creator’s Hug a Sheep Day page explains that the observance began on 30 October and is now held on the last Saturday of October.
Source-backedFixed Annual
Hug Your Cat Day
The Animal Medical Center repeatedly lists Hug Your Cat Day on June 4 in its annual pet-awareness calendars.
Source-backedEdition Specific
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
The Iditarod Trail Committee’s 2026 race rules set the official starting date for March 7, 2026 in Anchorage and the restart for March 8, 2026 in Willow; its official results document the 2…
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Animal Rights Day
World Animal Protection states that International Animal Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year and is used to advocate for recognition and protection of animals as sentient being…
Source-backedEdition Specific
International Assistance Dog Week
Assistance Dogs International identifies International Assistance Dog Week for 2–8 August 2026 in its current campaign material.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Cat Day
International Cat Care identifies International Cat Day on August 8 and describes itself as the custodian/coordinator of the day.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
Famous Chihuahua’s creator site states that International Chihuahua Appreciation Day is celebrated every year on May 14 and connects the date to the site’s Chihuahua community history.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Day of Veterinary Medicine
The Animal Medical Center lists International Day of Veterinary Medicine on December 9 across multiple annual veterinary-awareness calendars, including 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Doodle Dog Day
The official International Doodle Dog Day site states that doodle dog lovers celebrate every year on May 1 and identifies Jeannie North as the founder.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Eat an Animal for PETA Day
Meryl Yourish’s own archive identifies March 15 as the official date and describes the 2005 observance as the third annual International Eat an Animal for PETA Day; her 2004 archive indepen…
Source-backedRule Based Annual
International Guide Dog Day
The International Guide Dog Federation states that International Guide Dog Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in April each year and raises awareness of guide-dog services and their ro…
Source-backedRule Based Annual
International Homeless Animals’ Day®
ISAR states it created International Homeless Animals’ Day in 1992 and observes it annually on the third Saturday in August; the 2026 date is August 15.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
National Day Archives records November 1 and credits Krista Olson with founding the observance in 2019; current pet-industry editorial references retain November 1 annually.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
International Rabbit Day
World Animal Protection describes International Rabbit Day as occurring on the fourth Saturday of September and gives 26 September for 2026.
Source-backedFixed Annual
International Rescue Cat Day
The Animal Medical Center’s veterinary-awareness calendars list International Rescue Cat Day on 2 March across multiple editions. This verifies the stable date as an institutional awareness…
Source-backedEdition Specific
Mule Day
The City of Columbia identifies Mule Day as its historic signature event, while the organizer publishes a target-year multi-day schedule. The official event is “Mule Day,” not a nationwide…
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
ASPCA material identifies April 30 as National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, and a municipal animal shelter calendar also schedules the 2026 observance on April 30.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Animal Advocacy Day
The ASPCA explicitly promotes National Animal Advocacy Day on 30 April, and New York legislative resolutions provide additional civic recognition.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Animal Crackers Day
National Day Archives lists the canonical plural National Animal Crackers Day on April 18; the public singular title is retained as an alias.
Source-backedEdition Specific
National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
AKC Reunite’s current material identifies Friday, May 8 as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day and encourages pet owners to include animals in emergency plans.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Arabian Horse Day
Arabian-horse industry and observance registry sources identify the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona as founder and February 19 as the annual observance date.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Bird Day
The Avian Welfare Coalition states it established National Bird Day on January 5 as a day of action and education concerning captive birds.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Black Cat Day
Cats Protection states National Black Cat Day is held each year on October 27 and that it created the campaign in 2011.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Black Dog Day
Founder Colleen Paige’s current materials list National Black Dog Day on October 1 and describe it as an annual awareness observance.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Brown Dog Day
National Day Archives records National Brown Dog Day on February 2 each year and identifies Debra Loveless Williams as the creator in 2021.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
Truman State University repeatedly identifies April 21 as National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day, and major pet-industry calendars also place Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day on April 21.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day
AnimalBiome’s press material documents the awareness-day launch, while Animal Medical Center veterinary-awareness calendars repeatedly list National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day on Se…
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Cat Day
Founder Colleen Paige’s current holiday list places National Cat Day on October 29; U.S. public institutions also recognize the date in programming and resolutions.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Cat DNA Day
National Day Archives records September 19 and identifies Basepaws as the 2020 founder; Basepaws continues to reference National Cat DNA Day in its own materials.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Cat Lady Day
CatCon states that founder Susan Michals created National Cat Lady Day in 2017 and that it takes place each year on April 19.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
National Chili Dog Day
National Today and Days Of The Year independently define Chili Dog Day as the last Thursday in July each year.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Cook For Your Pets Day
The Animal Medical Center repeatedly lists National Cook for Your Pets Day on November 1 in its annual pet-holiday and veterinary-awareness calendars.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
National Corn Dog Day
National Day Calendar identifies Brady Sahnow and Henry Otley as creators of the 1992 observance and marks the date as changing annually; SONIC celebrated it on March 15, 2025 and Kirby Fam…
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Day of the Horse
The U.S. Senate agreed to S. Res. 452 designating December 13, 2004 as National Day of the Horse; the American Horse Council continues to recognize December 13 as National Day of the Horse.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Devil Dog Day
National Day Calendar’s proclamation record identifies Sean Alexander Sobel as the founder of National Devil Dog Day and proclaims April 27 as the annual observance date.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Biscuit Day
The American Kennel Club Gazette explicitly references National Dog Biscuit Day as February 23.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
National Dog Dad Day
National Today and Days Of The Year independently define National Dog Dad Day as the day before Father’s Day; for the U.S. calendar this is the day before the third Sunday in June.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Day
Founder Colleen Paige’s current holiday list identifies National Dog Day on August 26; the National Dog Day site describes the annual observance and its founding.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
The ASPCA designated April 8 as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day in 2014 and has described it as an annual awareness effort against dog fighting.
Source-backedRule Based Annual
National Dog Mom’s Day
Current pet calendars consistently place National Dog Mom’s Day on the second Saturday in May; the observance is traced to a 2018 launch associated with Dig.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Parent Appreciation Day
National Day Archives records April 19 as the annual date and identifies Dr. Marty Pets as the creator in March 2021; contemporary launch coverage confirms the inaugural 2021 observance.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Party Day
Current observance references identify June 21 as the recurring date and attribute creation in 2011 to pet author and safety educator Arden Moore.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Photography Day
Creator Kerry Jordan explains that she created the observance, selected July 26 and launched it in 2018; current 2026 coverage continues to use July 26.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
Wag! announced the first annual National Dog Walker Appreciation Day for September 8, 2016 and established September 8 as the recognition date.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dolphin Day (India)
India’s Press Information Bureau reports that the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life recommended 5 October be celebrated every year as National Dolphin Day to raise cons…
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Dress Up Your Pet Day
Pet-lifestyle advocate Colleen Paige lists National Dress Up Your Pet Day on 14 January, and observance registries attribute its creation to her.
Source-backedFixed Annual
National Farm Animals Day
Observance and historical-society sources identify April 10 as National Farm Animals Day and trace its creation to Colleen Paige in 2005.