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.
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