National Pet Day: What It Is And How To Celebrate

Most people know that pets can make great companions. On top of being cute, loving, and fun, pets bring us joy and can have significant positive impacts on physical and mental health. Whether you have a pet, want a pet, have a service animal, or are simply an animal lover, National Pet Day on April 11 can provide an opportunity to advocate for animal welfare and celebrate the way animals can bring happiness into our lives. Although having a pet may improve your mental health, some individuals may benefit from further support, such as that offered by a licensed therapist.

Who Founded National Pet Day? A History of National Dog Day And National Pet Day

National Pet Day occurs on April 11 every year. The day was first launched in 2006 by Colleen Paige, an animal welfare campaigner, with the intention of raising awareness of issues impacting animals, such as shelter overcrowding, animal abuse, and more. Paige is also responsible for creating other pet-related holidays, such as National Dog Day and National Cat Day. 

In addition to bringing attention to issues that affect animals, National Pet Day can also provide an opportunity to spend time with your furry friends.

How to celebrate National Pet Day

The informal holiday motto for National Pet Day is to spend as much time with and for animals as possible, for your health and theirs. Whether you have a pet or not, you can spend National Pet Day prioritizing animals and all the ways they bring joy to the world. You may also honor National Pet Day by giving back and volunteering at local animal rescue organizations. 

Some ideas for celebrating National Pet Day include the following:

Volunteer at your local animal shelter

In 2023, approximately 380,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in animal shelters in the United States due to a lack of space, funding, and volunteers. Knowing this information, volunteering with your local animal shelter or humane society to provide pet care, run pet adoption events, and more can be a way to celebrate National Pet Day and help save the lives of countless animals. Volunteering at a local shelter can also be a great way for pet lovers to spend time around animals if they don’t or can’t have any pets.

Spend quality time with your pet

Even the most popular pets need some extra attention sometimes. Pets often love us unconditionally, and even a few extra cuddles will likely make your pet happy on National Pet Day. If you have a dog, consider taking them for a long walk at their favorite park. If you have a cat, you might spend some extra time playing with them with their favorite toys. Any pet owner can prioritize their pet on National Pet Day by ensuring that their pet has adequate food, water, and an appropriate enclosure if needed. 

If you have room for it in your life and the available resources, you can even consider looking to adopt a new pet! Choose a shelter animal in need of love or, if you want a specific pet, look for a reputable breeder in your area. Remember to take into account the time and resources you’ll need to commit to them well in advance.

Become an animal welfare advocate

While it can be difficult to think about animal abuse, animal testing, and animal cruelty, these can be unfortunate realities for many animals. Research shows that, globally, one animal may be abused every second, and close to ten million animals may die from abuse or cruelty each year in the United States. 

By spreading awareness about animal abuse and cruelty, you can inform others, ultimately working toward prevention and ending these plights faced by animals. Additionally, you can contact rescue organizations that prioritize animal welfare and participate in events and fundraisers to benefit animals.

Beyond this, you can support more animals than just common adoptable pets in your country. Horses and other livestock animals are often mistreated, so advocating for their proper care in your country might be worthwhile. You might support conservation efforts for endangered or at-risk animals like wild native elephants or bison. Giving the rest of the animal kingdom some extra love can help improve the world at large.

Pets throughout history

Today, pet industry research shows that in America, most households (about 68%) own at least one pet, and Americans may own 78 million dogs, 85 million cats, 14 million birds, 12 million small mammals, and nine million reptiles. Having pets isn’t necessarily a new trend, though; it’s been a common practice for tens of thousands of years.

Thousands of years ago, in cultures across the globe, dogs and cats were buried with humans. In some cases, these popular pets even received distinct burials with special items. The Egyptian army was known to travel with cats, and there was even an Egyptian cat deity named Bast, thought to reach out through these animals. Purebred dogs have been hunting companions for the elite classes for centuries, while their working counterparts have kept small domestic farms safe and productive for even longer. The human-animal bond has largely continued, with many people today considering pets family members. 

Research supports this notion: 70% of pet owners say they sometimes sleep with their pets, 65% buy Christmas gifts for their pets, and 23% cook special meals for their pets. Additionally, many people report receiving emotional support from their pets.

Some pets are even trained to assist people with disabilities. Service animals, which became legally recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, can help with a range of physical and mental health concerns, providing emotional support, pulling a wheelchair, bringing medication, increasing social engagement, and decreasing anxiety, among many other potential benefits.

Similarly, emotional support animals can provide comfort for people living with mental health challenges, though emotional support animals do not usually receive the same training as service animals and are not legally safeguarded by the ADA.

Celebrity Pets

Here are some celebrities who adore their animal companions.

• Taylor Swift is a well-known cat lover with three of her own - Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey, and Benjamin Button.

• Cee Lo Green’s cat Purrfect has her own Twitter account with more than 37,000 followers!

• Kevin Bacon owns a myriad of unusual pets including goats, pigs, miniature horses, and three alpacas.

• Willie Nelson’s daughter helped to rescue two local stray dogs in Texas who quickly became part of the family.

• Jimmy Fallon has a dog named Gary who loyally watches his show - she’s a big fan!

• Seth Meyers’s dog Frisbee is frequently dressed in warm coats and spoiled by his children.

• Carrie Underwood has three dogs, the latest of which was adopted while she was on tour.

The benefits of pets for mental health

Pets and animals’ abilities to improve mental health, quality of life, and overall outlook may not be overstated. Pets can comfort us in times of grief, hardship, or stress, as well as bring extra joy on bright days. Pets can be especially beneficial for overall well-being. 

Though pets, in general, can provide unconditional love and comfort, research suggests cat owners may be more likely than dog owners to say their feline friends offer companionship, provide a calming presence, and reduce stress and anxiety. 

However, dog owners may have the unique benefit of having a pet that helps their physical health. Studies show that dog owners tend to be twice as likely as cat owners to say their pet helps them be physically active. 

Although pets usually require responsibility, attention, and care to thrive, most people take the small amount of work that comes with having a pet in stride. The majority of pet owners report that their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health. Additionally, approximately 88% of pet owners consider their pets a part of the family.

American Psychological Association President Rebecca Brendel, M.D., J.D., said of pets: “People recognize that there is something special about bonds between humans and their pets. The animals we bring into our lives and our families play many roles from non-judgmental companions that we love to key partners in reducing our stress and anxiety.”

Support options for mental health outside of a furry friend

Research shows that pets can provide stress relief, comfort, companionship, and a host of other mental health benefits. However, some people with mental health conditions may need more support than a pet can offer. In these cases, it can be important to recognize that you have other options.

For those struggling with common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, you may be able to implement lifestyle changes to improve symptoms of your mental health condition. Meditating, getting high-quality sleep, implementing an exercise routine, eating nourishing meals, and spending time doing things you enjoy can all benefit your mental health. 

Other effective methods for treating mental health conditions can include medication and therapy, on their own or in conjunction with one another. Therapy can be particularly effective for treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and BPD. Additionally, you can choose the type of therapy that works best for you, whether that’s group therapy, in-office one-on-one therapy, or online therapy. Each can offer its own unique benefits. 

Online therapy, for example, can be particularly convenient for people with busy schedules or who prefer to receive effective treatment from the comfort of their homes. By using an online therapy platform, individuals can customize the therapy experience, selecting the location, time, and mode of communication (video call, phone call, or online chat) for each session.

Studies show that online therapy can be equally effective in treating mental health conditions as traditional, in-office therapy.