What better way is there to honor Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month than by celebrating National Kids and Pets Day on April 26 each year? Born out of a need to raise awareness about picking the right pet for children, this day also celebrates the bond pets and children share and highlights safety tips where our pets and children are concerned.
History of National Kids and Pets Day
Apart from little kids, animals show us the purest form of love. National Kids and Pets Day was formed to increase awareness about the bond between our little ones and our pets, and the importance of choosing the right pet for our children at the right time.
Former Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T) Colleen Paige had realized her calling and passion for animals at a very early age. She began to train dogs at the Los Angeles National Institute of Dog Training, then went on to become an animal behaviorist, interior designer, writer, photographer, and author. She also contributes to “The New York Times”, “Huffington Post”, “The Wall Street Journal”, “Total Health”, “People Pets”, and many more magazines, newspapers, and columns. Widely known as a celebrity pet and family lifestyle expert, this mom is the inspiring and philanthropic force behind multiple pet-friendly days including National Kids and Pets Day, National Dog Day, National Cat Day, National Puppy Day, National Pet Day, National Wildlife Day, National Beach Day and many more.
Colleen created this particular day, the National Kids and Pets Day, to help enhance the bond between children and animals, emphasize the safety aspect of putting children and pets together, while also raising awareness about the plight of animals at shelters.
National Kids and Pets Day timeline
Multiple paintings and carvings on ancient campsites and tombs allude to dogs being kept as pets.
Horses are used in chariot battles throughout the Middle East.
Felines are domesticated in Egypt, weirdly, much later than other animals like lions, hyenas, monkeys, the Nile goose, and dogs.
The Romans begin keeping small ‘toy’ dogs as pets.
Royals around Europe design garments with special pockets, which they use to carry little dogs around.
Now that pets are commonplace, we work towards making the world a pet-safe place and, on this day, Colleen Paige establishes National Kids and Pets Day.
National Kids and Pets Day FAQs
What is National Pet Day?
Celebrated yearly on April 11, National Pet Day shows appreciation for all the pets across the world, advocates against animal cruelty, and encourages people to adopt from shelters.
Is today National Dog Day or National Pet Day?
Today is National Kids and Pets Day. While International Dog Day does fall on this day, National Pet Day falls on April 11. National Dog Day falls on August 26 each year.
What month is National Pet Month?
National Pet Month is in May in the United States and in April across the United Kingdom. This month commemorates the advantages pets bring to humans.
National Kids and Pets Day Activities
Enhance that pet-kid bond
Help your kids and your pets learn to be good companions to each other. Spend time helping them to get to know one another and create a solid relationship and friendship for life.
Learn about safety
Not all pets gel well with kids, just like not all kids are comfortable with any kind of pet. Both animals and children have their likes, dislikes, and nature influencing this decision. Make sure you are learning about the right pairing of child and animal to keep both as safe and as happy as you can. Take this time to understand the age-appropriateness for kids to have pets while searching for a pet, too.
Adopt, rather than purchase
The world has many animals in need of a good and loving home. Consider visiting your local shelter and adopting an animal if you are looking for a pet rather than going to a breeder.
Fun Facts About National Kids And Pets Day
Pet homelessness is a problem
Cats and dogs might be the most beloved pets, but up to 8 million of these animals end up in shelters.
There’s shelter everywhere
We have around 3,500 animal shelters across the country.
Americans are doing their part to help, too
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says over three million shelter animals are adopted each year.
There are multiple breeds of doggies at these shelters
Data states that approximately 25% of dogs in animal shelters across the U.S. are purebred.
It’s not just cats and dogs
Shelters house many animals in addition to cats and dogs, like iguanas, water turtles, snakes, and even horses.
Why We Love National Kids and Pets Day
It helps us get closer to our animal friends
By learning about pet behavior and their relationship with children, we understand the motivations behind their actions. We learn how facets of their nature blend with our little ones in perfect harmony, creating an unbreakable bond.
Teachable moments
This day inspires us to think about owning a pet, and owning a pet certainly creates many teachable moments! For children too, pets teach them to be gentle, responsible, respectful, compassionate. They even help kids understand personal boundaries and provide numerous mental health benefits.
Help prevent cruelty towards animals
When we understand the best animal-kid pairings, the more we learn about safety, the more knowledge we can spread to others. This has the advantage of reducing adverse situations, resulting in improved child and animal safety since people now know more about it.
National Kids and Pets Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 26 | Saturday |
| 2026 | April 26 | Sunday |
| 2027 | April 26 | Monday |
| 2028 | April 26 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | April 26 | Thursday |
