National Pet Day / myLot

Boise, Idaho

April 11, 2026 4:40pm CST

A day for our pets to get the recognition they deserve. It started in 2006 and it emphasized the mental and physical benefits of having pets. It encourages people to adopt instead of buying from breeders, and it also promotes animal welfare, and it draws attention to the millions of animals entering shelters annually. There are about 6.5 million companion animals going into shelters annually. That's 1.6 million cats and 1.6 million dogs. The emotional tie we have with animals whether they are dogs, cats, reptiles, birds and small animals is worldwide and shows how devoted we are to them. This is a part of National Pet Month which is celebrated in the UK as well as the U.S. and goes on throughout this month and May.

5 people like this

6 responses

Ali Canary

@AliCanary (4387)

•

12 Apr

I like this holiday and what it stands for! My old job had a neat celebration of National Pet Day - we all put photos of our pets on a bulletin board so we could admire everyone's pets (and I found out almost everyone else has dogs - I was one of maybe three cat owners - but one person had a rat AND an axolotl). We also did a drive to collect pet food and supplies and donated all of to the animal shelter.

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (189793)

• Boise, Idaho

14 Apr

Dogs are a lot of work but make great companions while cats can take care of themselves mostly. I am a cat fancier.

1 person likes this

Jimbo45

@Ineeddentures (33875)

•

11 Apr

My best wishes to all the pets in our two pet loving nations

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (189793)

• Boise, Idaho

14 Apr

Yes, indeed.

1 person likes this

DianneN

@DianneN (254949)

• United States

11 Apr

I appreciate that they get recognition. My only pets at this stage of my life are my 3 grandkitties and 1 granddoggie. I will eat them up the second I see them.

2 people like this