People love their pets! They’re some of the most excellent companions’ people can have and make a living each day just a little bit better.
However, for the animals who don’t have homes, many people don’t realize the benefits of adopting a pet. Even those animals who are old can become some of the greatest gifts in life.
National Pet Day celebrates the joy that pets bring into peoples lives and encourages people to help reduce the number of animals in shelters. Bringing humans and animals together helps make the world a better place.
Learn About National Pet Day
For me, a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love that we call a dog.
Roger Caras
National Pet Day may as well take place every day for most pet owners. After all, we all recognize the love and joy that animals bring to our lives, and we make sure to let our pets know how much they mean to use.
From cats and bunnies to chickens and dogs; no matter what pets you have in your home, National Pet Day gives you the perfect opportunity to hug your pet more and let him or her know how much they brighten up your life. For most people, a pet is the best friend they will ever have! At the end of the day, you’re never going to find someone more loyal than a pet, right?
Have you ever wondered what the world’s most popular pets are? We are sure that it does not come as a surprise that dogs are the most popular, followed by cats! But, what comes next? Well, you have fish, and then birds. After this, hamsters, gerbils, mouses, horses, and snakes complete the list of the most popular pets.
How to Celebrate National Pet Day
Adopted pets are the best pets you can have. Most adoptable pets come from loving homes that simply cannot care for them anymore. Or they are strays who’ve been on their own without the loving care they deserve.
Josh Duhamel
Adopt a Pet
Celebrate National Pet Day by adopting a pet from a local shelter or pure breed rescue organization. Adopting an animal can become the greatest gift ever received in your life and can help save lives.
Volunteer at a Shelter
You can also volunteer at your local shelter and help take care of the animals by giving the dogs walks around the area. You can also help feed and care for them. Donate blankets, food, and toys if you can’t afford an animal.
Enjoy Your Pets
If you have a pet, spend time with them by taking pictures of them, buy them new toys, give them treats, and give them the love that they always give back.
There are lots of different activities you can enjoy on National Pet Day with your fluffy friend! You could try to teach your pet some new tricks, and make sure you reward him for his efforts! You could also purchase a special gift for your pet or go to that extra mile and make one. Telling your pet that you love him or her as well!
Pets of Instagram
You could create a social media account for your pet on National Pet Day. There is a lot of pet Instagram accounts that have gone viral. If you think that you have an extra lovable pet, why not create an Instagram account and see just how famous your furry friend can become?
Learn About Pets
You could also spend some time learning a bit more about pets and the role they have played in history. There are some incredibly interesting stories and tales about animals and different beliefs amongst Ancient tribes and communities. A good place to start is with the Egyptians. Did you know that the Egyptians even sacrificed their country for cats?
In 525 BCE, the Egyptians refused to fight because it would offend their goddess. This resulted in the Egyptian Army surrendering to the Persians, who had an image of the Egyptian cat deity, Bastet, painted on their shields. There is no denying that cats played a very important role in Ancient Egypt, and so it is certainly worth looking into this further, as well as exploring different cultures and their association with animals too.
History of National Pet Day
National Pet Day began in 2006 when animal welfare advocate, Colleen Paige, decided she wanted to celebrate the joy that pets bring into people’s lives. As a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert, she wanted to celebrate all pets.
Advocating for the adoption of pets from animal shelters, she brainstormed the holiday to create public awareness for the animals awaiting homes in shelters. According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million animals enter animal shelters every year.
The number of animals entering shelters has been significantly decreasing over the years. But there’s still a significant number of animals entering and being euthanized due to shelter capacity and lack of awareness.
Page hopes that these numbers can continue to decrease with the celebration of National Pet Day. Encouraging adoption as a first choice is one of the main ideas behind National Pet Day.
This is especially true in regards to those who are thinking about purchasing a pet from a breeder. On this day, people are encouraged to love their pets, spoil them, adopt pets, and volunteer at the local animal shelter.
National Pet Day celebrates the unconditional love that animals give to people in their daily lives. It also encourages people to take the time to spend time with their beloved animals.
Remarkable Facts About How Pets Improve Human Well-Being
Pets bring joy, companionship, and comfort into millions of homes around the world.
Beyond their playful personalities and loyal presence, scientific research increasingly shows that animals can have meaningful effects on human health and development.
From supporting heart health to strengthening immune systems and improving mental well-being, these facts highlight how living with pets can positively influence everyday life.
Pets May Help People Live Longer
Large population studies have linked pet ownership, especially of dogs, with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and other causes.
A 2019 meta-analysis of nearly 4 million people found dog owners had a 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 31% lower risk of death from heart-related causes, possibly due to increased physical activity, stress reduction, and social support.
Children in Pet-Owning Homes Often Develop Fewer Allergies
Contrary to older advice to keep animals away from babies, several prospective studies suggest that early exposure to cats or dogs may reduce the risk of developing certain allergies and asthma.
Research from the National Institutes of Health has shown that infants who grow up with at least one pet in the home tend to have lower rates of pet allergies and may develop more robust immune responses later in childhood.
Companion Animals Can Improve Mental Health in Measurable Ways
Therapy and companion animals have been found to lower perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in a range of settings, from college campuses to veterans’ programs.
Studies show that interacting with a friendly dog, for example, can reduce levels of cortisol, increase oxytocin, and improve mood, which is why animal-assisted interventions are increasingly used in hospitals, nursing homes, and counseling practices.
Dogs Were Likely the First Domesticated Animal
Genetic and archaeological evidence suggests that dogs were domesticated from wolves at least 15,000 to 30,000 years ago, long before most other animals humans keep today.
Early dogs probably lived on the edges of hunter-gatherer camps, scavenging food and gradually forming a mutualistic relationship that led to roles in hunting, protection, and eventually companionship.
Pet Keeping Has Deep Roots Across Ancient Civilizations
People in ancient societies did not keep animals only for work or food. Egyptians mummified beloved cats and dogs, Romans inscribed pet epitaphs on tombstones, and ancient Chinese elites kept small lapdogs and songbirds.
These practices show that emotional bonds with nonhuman animals, similar to modern pet relationships, have been recorded for thousands of years in diverse cultures.
Modern Pets Are a Global Phenomenon
Companion animals are now common in households around the world, but the types of pets and the intensity of attachment vary by culture.
Data compiled by the World Animal Protection and national veterinary associations show that countries like the United States, Brazil, and China have some of the largest dog and cat populations, while in parts of Europe, small mammals, ornamental birds, and aquarium fish are comparatively more popular.
Shelter Adoption Has Changed the Pet Landscape
In many countries, animal shelters and rescue groups have transformed how people acquire companion animals.
In the United States, estimates from the ASPCA suggest that roughly 40% of dog owners and over 40% of cat owners obtained their pets from shelters or rescues, contributing to a decline in euthanasia rates over recent decades as more animals are placed in permanent homes.
National Pet Day Timeline
Animals become domesticated
Likely starting with dogs, the relationship between humans and animals takes a turn and these domesticated animals become pets.
Ancient Egyptians keep dogs as pets
Though they have more of a working relationship as guard dogs or hunting dogs, these ancient pets wear collars and are even given names.
Ancient Egyptians keep cats indoors
With granary storage comes the need for pest control, so wild cats are allowed inside to hunt mice.
First animal shelter founded in the US
With a heart for animals, a group of 30 women, led by Caroline Earl White, starts The Women’s Branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
First National Pet Day is celebrated
Animal welfare advocate and pet lifestyle trainer, Colleen Paige, is inspired to create this day with the intention of promoting the love of pets and to encourage the importance of pet adoption and pet rescue from animal shelters.
