Covering The Week Long Holiday That Celebrates Pets
Having a pet in your life is a truly amazing and special experience that everyone should have at least once in their lives. Similar to the bond between parent and child, they tend to bring out the best in us. Pets are such incredible parts of our lives that there is even a week-long holiday about them. Pet Appreciation Week is observed during the first full week of June every year and is celebrated by pet lovers all across the country. This article will go over everything you need to know about Pet Appreciation Week and how you can celebrate.
How It Started
Pet Appreciation Week was originally founded in 1981 by the A.V.M.A. (American Veterinary Medical Association). The overall aim of the holiday is to raise awareness about all of the wonderful benefits that come with being a pet owner. Yes, owning and caring for a pet is a serious responsibility and should not be taken lightly. However, pet ownership is one of the most worthwhile experiences you will ever have. They enrich our lives, give us purpose, and increase our capacity to love. We believe that’s something truly worth celebrating.
Why Have A Holiday For Pets?
Here at My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting, we treat pets like family members. Our furry family members should be celebrated everyday of the year, but especially during Pet Appreciation Week. Pets are often taken for granted and this holiday serves as a reminder to celebrate and appreciate how valuable our pets really are. It’s hard to imagine a world without pets, but it’s certainly not the kind of world we want to live in.
A Holiday Worth Celebrating
This is an important holiday because it reminds us all how valuable our pets are. The relationship between a pet and owner is indescribable. It’s a truly unique bond that is so strong, we don’t even need to speak the same language. Even with a language barrier, we understand our pets and they often learn to understand us. According to the A.V.M.A. 66% of U.S. households have a pet. 38.4% of them being dogs, 25.4% being cats, 2.8% being birds, and 0.7% being horses. Americans clearly love their pets!
How You Can Observe Pet Appreciation Week
There are many different ways you can get involved with this wonderful week long pet themed holiday. Here are just a few examples of ways to show your pets how much you love and appreciate them.
Extra Playtime/Cuddle Time
The most obvious way to show your appreciation for your pets is to spend some extra time with them. Whether it’s playing, walking, or just cuddling on the couch, your pet will appreciate spending quality time with their favorite human.
Surprise Your Pet With A Gift
Another great way to let your pet know how much you appreciate them is to give them a surprise gift. It could be a new toy, a tasty treat, or a new dog house/cat tree. Even the smallest of gifts can have the biggest of impacts on your pets.
Make Your Pet A Homemade Meal
Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade meal. During Pet Appreciation Week, we suggest making some D.I.Y. treats for your pets. There are tons of easy-to-follow treat recipes on the internet for both dogs and cats. Most of these recipes use healthy ingredients that your pets will find absolutely delicious. For more information about D.I.Y. dog and cat treat recipes, check out OregonHumane.org.
A Walk In The Park
While this one mostly applies to dogs, it’s still a great way to celebrate National Pet Week. Dogs go for walks all of the time. But, going for a walk through your local park can feel like a treat to your dog. Parks are much cleaner, have less car traffic, and are typically more enjoyable than walking on the side of the road or in the lawn. We suggest making your dog walks a more fun experience for both you and your dog by going to a local park.
More Pet Themed Articles
We hope you enjoyed this article and that it helps give you some ideas on how to celebrate Pet Appreciation Week this June 4th through 10th. We love pets and they need to know how much they are loved and appreciated. If you would like to read more pet themed articles like this, be sure to check out the blog section of the official My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting website.