3 Animal Holidays Your Dog Wishes You Knew About

Do animals understand human holidays? They certainly understand the Fourth of July, not for its patriotism, but certainly from the booms above their homes. Dogs can panic and run away or experience extreme fear responses, leading to injuries or stress-induced health problems. Indeed, Independence Day might be the holiday dogs wish they could avoid. Wildlife, too, find their habitats disrupted by noise pollution, which can lead them to abandon their nests or fly into buildings. Egads. There’s not much to celebrate when we look from an interspecies view, is there?

If turkeys truly understood Thanksgiving, they would likely be appalled. Then there are those turtle doves, French hens, and that partridge in a pear tree. Winter holidays are not always kind to the festively feathered.

Is there any good news for animals when it comes to holidays? I think there is! Especially when our observances help raise awareness about animal issues and seek to improve animal well-being. Here are three holidays your dog might like to tell you about if they had a calendar.

National Dog Day

Observed on August 26

This special day brings a whirlwind of celebration of dogs of all breeds! This is a great day to encourage adoption and raise awareness about the issues faced by dogs around the world.

Ideas for observing:

• Host a dog-friendly event in your community, such as a dog walk, dog park meet-up, or a pet adoption event.

• Call your local animal shelter for information on how to volunteer during the year.

• Schedule a routine checkup for your dog companion to ensure that they are healthy.

• Make a commitment to practicing human-dog meditation.

Puppy Mill Awareness Day

Third Saturday of September

This annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about the inhumane conditions in puppy mills and encouraging people to adopt dogs from shelters and rescue organizations rather than purchasing dogs from pet stores or breeders associated with puppy mills.

Ideas for observing:

• Learn how to help shut down operations that do not meet humane standards.

• Support legislation that regulates breeders.

• Talk to your local schools about implementing The Humane Society’s “From Nose to Tail” education program to help kids learn about dog selection, care, and safety.

The Feast Day of St. Francis

October 4

No day of the year has more overlapping holidays than October 4, with its trifecta of animal-inspired celebrations: St. Francis’s Feast Day, World Animal Day, and Kindness to Animals Day. Whether you take a religious, spiritual, or secular approach, this holiday provides inspiration to expand beyond love and concern for canines. It’s time to celebrate all animals!

Ideas for observing:

• Learn about animal blessings.

• Plan an animal blessing for your community.

• Consider changes you can make in your life to be kinder to animals.

• Practice wild lovingkindness.

While it’s unlikely that our canine companions will send us calendar alerts, we can take the initiative by adding reminders on our phones to help us remember to consider the more-than-just-human world when choosing what and when we celebrate.

Want more animal holiday ideas? Read “LGBTQ+ Animal Pride.”