What is National Pet Day?
Founded in 2006, National Pet Day was created to celebrate our pets, honor those that may not get the attention they deserve, and raise awareness on how to reduce the number of animals that call shelters home.
While pet owners may observe National Pet Day on the daily, why not take this opportunity to go the extra mile and give your pets more than your normal dose of love. And, if you missed National Pet Day on April 11th this year, that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating later on in the month or any time!
Celebrate
National Pet Day is all about your pet so treat them to a day filled with excitement.
- Get them a new toy! National Pet Day is the perfect excuse to spoil your pup. Pick up treats or toys that you know your pet will love. You could even bring them to the pet store to pick out their own treats and toys.
- Play with them! A simple red laser can be a fantastic way to have some fun with your cat, and a classic game of fetch can make your dog’s day. If you want to change things up, try a game of hide & seek or create a treasure hunt for them. Using treats for both of these will have your pet tiring themselves out while having a blast. Playing with your pet will show them just how much you care and it’s a great way to strengthen your bond.
- Bake them a special treat! There are so many pet-friendly homemade treat recipes online. Some common & healthy ingredients can include carrots, peanut butter, bananas, and beef or vegetable stock.
Other Ways to Support National Pet Day
If you’re interested in donating to the animal welfare community in Miami-Dade, FoMA has a page dedicated to monetary donations. Your donation will be contributing to spay and neuter efforts, providing enrichment toys, flea and tick prevention, medical care, and even more to animals in need. However, donating doesn’t always mean giving money to a worthy cause. Donating old towels or blankets, pet food, and pet toys are all great ways to support your local animal shelters and the pets waiting for a forever home. You can also visit our Amazon Wish List and purchase an item that will directly benefit an animal in a Miami-Dade shelter!
Another way is fostering, which can change the lives of pets in need of a home. When you bring a shelter animal into your home you’re giving them the chance to feel comfort and safety, possibly for the first time in their life. Animals that are fostered are more likely to have lower levels of stress, have better socialization skills, and have a reduced chance of getting sick than animals in shelters.
Sometimes, if we’re lucky, fostering turns into “foster failures”. A foster failure is just a way of describing what happens when someone intends to foster a pet, but ends up falling in love and adopting instead! Adopting a shelter pet is one of the most rewarding experiences a pet parent can have. Those of you who already have pets know the unconditional love and happiness that pets bring into our lives, so maybe it’s time to add another family member to the equation.
So, what is National Pet Day? We like to consider it an excuse to celebrate your pets or help those in need!
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