Animal advocates and pet lovers will welcome pretty much any
excuse to honor pets and to raise awareness about important animal
issues. Every month of the year has a solid selection of pet
holidays and celebrations, and October is no exception. Here are 10
cat and dog holidays that take place this month. Get
celebrating!
All Month
1 and 2.
?Both the American Humane Associate and the ASPCA have dedicated
this month to adoptions --
Adopt a
Shelter Dog Month
(ASPCA) and?
Adopt
a Dog Month
(AHA) are using October to help spread the word about canines in
need of their forever home.
RELATED
ARTICLE: How To Adopt
Shelter Dogs3. National Pet Wellness
Month:?First launched in 2004 by the
AVMA and
Fort Dodge Animal Health
, National Pet Wellness Month has been gaining sponsors and
traction every year. The focus is on informing pet parents
about?
wellness examinations, disease
prevention, and
pet insurance
.
4. Animal Safety and Protection Month:
This celebration hopes to spread awareness about -- you guessed
it -- pet safety.
Fall hazards, like mushrooms and
snakes, can be of concern to pet parents, and all pet parents
should have a
pet fire safety plan
and
disaster plan.
5.?Pit Bull
Awareness Month
:
?A celebration shining a light on the stigmas and myths
that still surround Pit Bulls to this day, often making them a
target of inhumane treatment and potentially
unfair laws.6. Black
Cat Month: Likely sparked by Halloween myths
about black cats,
Black
Cat Month
aims to show the world the beauty and loving nature of black
cats. Unfortunately,
black
pets often go unadopted
, due to silly superstitions. Let's change the tide for these
ebony felines.
October 1-7
7.?National Walk
Your Dog Week:
?Founded by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal
Rescuer?Colleen Paige?in 2010, this week long festivity hopes to
get you and your buddy outside for more walks -- it's good for both
of you!
October 4
8. World Pet Day:
Every day is "pet day" for pet parents, but on World Pet Day we
have an extra excuse to talk about how much joy our pets bring to
our lives. It's also traditionally a day for pets to be brought
to
churches
for blessings
.
October 9
9. National Pet Obesity Awareness Day:
Hosted by the
Association
for Pet Obesity Prevention
, this day spreads the word about the importance of a
healthy weight to a pet's
longevity and happiness.
October 28
10. Plush Animal Lovers' Day: ?So maybe this
sounds more like a day for buying toys for tots -- always a fun
idea! -- but what about
plush animals
your pets can play with, too? Or plush animals that look like
your pet, to adorn your home? The possibilities are endless!