Pet Sitter Safety Month is observed every May, an initiative by Pet Sitters International (PSI) to promote safe practices for professional pet sitters and dog walkers, highlighting crucial safety measures for both sitters and pet owners, with PSI providing resources and encouraging best practices like clear instructions, emergency plans, and proper training for handling animals. It’s a time for sitters to review procedures and for owners to ensure their chosen sitter is prepared for any situation, focusing on preventing accidents, managing emergencies, and creating a secure environment for pets. 

National Pet Month is celebrated in May in the US, focusing on the joy pets bring, promoting responsible ownership, and raising awareness for animal welfare, adoption, and the roles of assistance animals. It highlights the mutual benefits of the human-animal bond, encouraging proper care, nutrition, health checks, and supporting animal charities. 

Chip Your Pet Month is observed every May to raise awareness about the importance of microchipping pets as a permanent identification method to help reunite them with their owners if lost, with events often featuring discounted or free microchipping and educational resources. A microchip, a tiny rice-sized device implanted under the skin, provides a unique ID linked to owner contact info, offering a reliable way to get pets home, unlike collars and tags that can fall off

National Purebred Dog Day is celebrated annually on May 1st,  founded by Susi Szeremy in 2013 to honor the heritage, diversity, and predictable traits of purebred dogs, promoting responsible ownership and preserving breeds for their specific purposes like herding, guiding, and companionship, while encouraging education about breed history and characteristics. 

National Specially-abled Pets Day is celebrated annually on May 3rd to raise awareness about pets with disabilities, encourage their adoption from shelters, and educate the public on their unique needs, highlighting that they are just as loving and capable as other animals despite challenges like blindness, deafness, or mobility issues. Founded by Colleen Paige, the day encourages people to provide forever homes and support organizations helping these resilient creatures. 

Mayday for Mutts is an annual observance, typically on the first Sunday in May, dedicated to celebrating mixed-breed dogs (“mutts”) and promoting their adoption, emphasizing that personality, not pedigree, makes a great companion, and often coincides with Be Kind to Animals Week. It encourages people to give special attention, treats, or even adopt a mutt from shelters, highlighting their unique traits and the benefits of their diverse genetics. 

Puppy Mill Action Week, typically the week before Mother’s Day, is an initiative by organizations like the Humane Society to raise awareness about cruel puppy mills where dogs are mass-bred in horrific conditions. It encourages people to adopt, not shop, educate themselves on puppy mill realities (like most pet store puppies coming from them), contact legislators, and support pet-friendly stores to end the industry by preventing sales of mill-bred pets and promoting adoption. 

American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week, the nation’s oldest commemorative week, happens annually during the first full week of May, to promote animal welfare through education and action, encouraging small acts of kindness, supporting shelters, adopting pets, reporting abuse, and learning about responsible pet care like spaying/neutering and microchipping. It’s a long-standing tradition, starting in 1915, teaching generations about treating all creatures with care and making a difference for animals in need. 

Dog Anxiety Awareness Week is an annual event, typically held the first week of May, aiming to educate owners about canine anxiety, its signs (pacing, destructiveness, excessive barking, hiding), causes (separation, stress, trauma), and solutions (vet visits, training, enrichment) to improve pets’ mental well-being and strengthen the human-animal bond. 

Cinco de Meow Day is a fun, unofficial feline-themed holiday celebrated on May 5th, piggybacking on Cinco de Mayo, that combines Mexican cultural festivities with celebrating cats, often involving cat-themed parties, costumes, and raising awareness for cat adoption and animal welfare through shelters. It’s a playful way for cat lovers to enjoy Mexican food (safely for pets) and support rescue organizations with adoption events and fundraisers. 

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, established by FEMA, is an annual observance, often on the second Saturday in May, to encourage pet owners to create emergency plans, build “go-bags” with food/meds, and ensure pets are microchipped and have ID, integrating them into family disaster plans to keep them safe during fires, floods, or other emergencies. 

National Dog Mom’s Day is an annual celebration on the second Saturday in May, recognizing the deep bond between women and their dogs, similar to Mother’s Day. Founded by the dog-focused dating app Dig  in 2018, it honors the love, care, and unique family connection dog moms share with their furry companions. People celebrate by giving extra cuddles, treats, grooming, or spending quality time with their dogs. 

International Chihuahua Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on Mat 14th, a day dedicated to honoring the world’s smallest dog breed, known for their big personalities and fierce loyalty, established in 2020 by Nadia Alterio, coinciding with her Chihuahua Teaka’s birthday. People celebrate by sharing photos, giving extra treats, and appreciating these feisty, tiny companions online and in their homes. 

National Rescue Dog Day is celebrated annually on May 20th to raise awareness for shelter dogs needing forever homes, founded by children’s book author Lisa Wiehebrink in 2018 to highlight the unconditional love and second chances these incredible dogs offer, encouraging adoption, fostering, volunteering, and donations.