June Holidays & Celebrations

Summer officially kicks off in June, and what better way to welcome the sunshine than by celebrating the pets who make life more vibrant? From National Adopt a Cat Month to Take Your Pet to Work Day, this month highlights how our pets enrich our lives. An important way to celebrate and nurture a pet is by becoming a foster parent. Many shelters don’t have a physical locale and rely on the goodness of others to welcome a pet into their homes until they can be adopted into a forever home. National Pet Wedding week can be a jubilant union of your pets with their lifelong companion.   

Whether it’s a beach day with your dog or a quiet moment with a snuggly cat, June gives us countless reasons to create cherished memories and show our pets the love they deserve. These celebrations are meant to be amusing and entertaining for all. 

 MONTH LONG HOLIDAYS

• Adopt-a-Cat Month®. From the American Humane Association.
• Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. From the ASPCA.
• National Foster a Pet Month. If 2% of US pet households fostered one pet a year, shelter euthanasia would end.
• National Pet Preparedness Month.
• National Microchipping Month. In preparation for July 4th, the #1 day for missing pets, this holiday spotlights the importance of microchipping your dog.

Week-Long Observances

• June 1-7: Pet Appreciation Week. First week in June.
• June 1-7: National Dog Bite Awareness Week. First week in June.
• June 8-14: National Pet Wedding Week. Always the second week in June.
• 3rd Week in June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
• June 16-20: Take Your Pet to Work Week®.

One-Day Holidays

• June 1: International Sheltie Day.
• June 2: National Greyhound Day.
• June 4: Hug Your Cat Day.
• June 4: International Corgi Day.
• June 8: Best Friends Day.
• June 10: World Pet Memorial Day. Second Tuesday in June.
• June 12: Peruvian Hairless Dog Day. The nation of Peru celebrates the “perro peruano sin pelo” with their own special day.
• June 14: Missing Mutts Awareness Day (always the second Saturday in June)
• June 14: National Dog Dad Day. Held the Saturday before Father’s Day, this day celebrates all the dog dads and their special bond with their dogs.
• June 16: Take Your Cat to Work Day®.
• June 18: National Internet Cat Day.
• June 18: Veterinary Appreciation Day™. In 2015, Trupanion created Veterinary Appreciation Day to celebrate the critical role that veterinary professionals play in our lives. From the front desk to technicians to veterinarians, veterinary professionals dedicate countless hours providing compassionate care for our pets, even throughout the most challenging of times.
• June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day.
• June 20: Ugliest Dog Day. Although every dog is a beauty in the eyes of their special person, The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, California is a longstanding competition. It is always held on June 20.
• June 20: Take Your Dog to Work Day®.
• June 21: National Dog Party Day.
• June 21: National Dachshund Day. Always held on the summer solstice, this day celebrates these long dogs on the longest day of the year.
• June 22: National Pet Choking Prevention Day.
• June 24: Cat World Domination Day.
• June 28: World Day Against Pet Abandonment. Founded in 2019 by two French rescue groups, this day coincides with the start of summer holidays, a time many pets are abandoned. Always the last Saturday in June.