January Pet Holidays
Walk Your Pet Month
January is National Walk Your Dog Month, an annual observance encouraging owners to prioritize regular walks for their pets to boost physical and mental health, combat pet obesity, and strengthen the human-animal bond through shared activity, even in cold weather. It’s a great time to establish new habits, explore new routes, and ensure your furry friend gets vital exercise and stimulation.
**Remember if your schedule is too busy, Personal Pet and Home Care can help! We are wonderful dog walkers! Set up a visit today!
National Train Your Dog Month
January is National Train Your Dog Month, an annual campaign started by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (ADPT) in 2010 to highlight the importance of dog training and socialization for building strong bonds, improving behavior, and enhancing a dog’s quality of life. It’s a time for owners to focus on positive reinforcement training, teaching new skills to dogs of any age, and creating better communication with their pets, especially after holiday adoptions.
*Give Personal Pet and Home Care a call to help with your training needs! Our pet sitters are excellent at working with pets.
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
January is officially Adopt a Rescued Bird Month, a time to raise awareness about the many homeless birds needing homes and encourage adoption over purchasing. It highlights that rescue birds, often abandoned due to lack of understanding of their complex needs, can become wonderful companions but require significant long-term commitment, research, and patience. Many bird rescues and avian veterinarians promote this month to find forever homes for these intelligent, social, and long-lived pets.
*Personal Pet and Home Care can help take care of your birds too! Our pet sitters are know how to take care and help your bird.
Celebrate Your Pet This Month
Jan. 1st - Happy New Year
Happy New Year to you and your pets! To make it safe and joyful, create a quiet, cozy space for them away from fireworks, keep them indoors with familiar sounds, stick to their routine, and avoid risky human foods and alcohol. You can also play with new puzzle toys, give them pet-safe treats, and set resolutions like better grooming or exercise to ensure a healthy year ahead for them too.
Jan. 2 - National Pet Travel Safety Day
National Pet Travel Safety Day is observed annually on January 2nd, a day created by pet expert Colleen Paige to raise awareness about keeping pets safe and comfortable during travel, whether by car, plane, or other means, focusing on essentials like restraints, preparation, and never leaving them in a parked vehicle. The day encourages pet parents to use crash-tested harnesses or crates, take frequent breaks, update microchips, pack a pet first-aid kit, and ensure all travel documents (like vaccination records) are in order for smooth journeys.
Jan. 2 - Happy Mew Year for Cat's Day
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day is celebrated annually on January 2nd, a special day for cat lovers to shower their feline friends with extra attention, treats, and playtime after the human New Year festivities, focusing on the well-being and joy of their cats, and also serving as a reminder to help cats in need at shelters. It’s a chance for a “fresh start,” offering new toys, catnip, brushing, or supporting rescues to give every cat a happy new year.
Jan. 5 - National Bird Day
National Bird Day is celebrated annually on January 5th in the U.S., established by the Avian Welfare Coalition to raise awareness about bird conservation, the welfare of pet birds, and protecting wild bird habitats from threats like habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, encouraging activities like birdwatching, supporting rescues, and learning about birds’ vital ecological roles. It’s a day for appreciating birds and recognizing their importance as indicators of environmental health, often coinciding with the end of the Christmas Bird Count, a major citizen science effort.
Jan. 14 - National Dress Your Pet Up Day
National Dress Your Pet Up Day is celebrated annually on January 14th, a fun, unofficial holiday started by celebrity pet expert Colleen Paige in 2009, encouraging owners to dress their pets in costumes or matching outfits for photos, with a strong emphasis on keeping the animal’s safety, comfort, and well-being as the top priority.
Jan. 22 - National Answer Your Cat's Question Day
National “Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day” is an unofficial, whimsical holiday celebrated annually on January 22nd, designed for cat owners to imagine what their feline companions would ask if they could talk and to better understand their behaviors, needs, and curiosities. It’s a fun day to reflect on their meows, purrs, and body language, fostering deeper bonds by considering their perspective on food, play, confinement, or why humans do certain things.
Jan. 24 - Change a Pet's Life Day
Change a Pet’s Life Day, celebrated annually on January 24th, is a day to raise awareness about homeless animals, encourage pet adoption, and support animal shelters through actions like fostering, volunteering, or donating, recognizing that pets improve human lives as much as humans improve theirs. Created by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, it highlights the life-changing impact of adoption and offers ways for everyone to help shelter pets find loving homes or receive care, even from home.
Jan. 27 - National Plan for Vacation Day
National Plan for Vacation Day is an annual event, observed on the last Tuesday in January, designed to encourage Americans to schedule their paid off for the entire year at the start of the year, combatting unused cation days and promoting work-life balance. It’s a collective effort by travel companies, tourism boards, and individuals to make planning vacations a priority, often featuring travel deals and inspiration to get people booking trips. Don’t forget your pets! They love to travel!
