MONTH-LONG EVENTS
American Kennel Club Responsible Dog Ownership Month: The AKC and its affiliated dog clubs and other participating organizations hold community events throughout the month with activities including dog sport demos, breed parades, safety around dog presentations for kids, and microchipping clinics to educate the public “…about the importance of being a responsible dog owner and [celebrating] the deep bond between humans and their canine companions.” Read more at http://www.akc.org/events/responsible-dog-ownershipdays/
Happy Cat Month: The Catalyst Council works towards the vision of creating, across the world, cat-caring societies through “…connecting and collaborating to advance the health, welfare and value of companion cats.” That’s why they started Happy Cat Month! Read more on happycatmonth.org.
National Disaster Preparedness Month: In the US, September is National Disaster Preparedness Month. Of course, pets need to be ready for disasters too! To find out how you can prepare emergency pet plans, go bags, and other animal-specific guidelines, check out https://www.ready.gov/animals.
National Food Safety Education Month: Some people prefer to feed their pets fresh food instead of storebought feed. Find out what food is safe for your pet, and if there’s a diet that’s better suited to their specific breed. (Check out our special feature on pet food in this issue!)
National Service Dogs Month: Dogs lead pretty busy lives—especially when they’re service dogs! These include guide dogs, seeing-eye dogs, service pets, and assistance animals, all of whom help their humans “…perform tasks, accomplish lifelong goals, embark on adventures, overcome debilitating mental illnesses, and safeguard military bases across the country and around the world.” Originally called National Guide Dog Month, this observation was first established in 2008 by actor and animal advocate Dick Van Patten.
Save the Koala Month: According to the Australian Koala Foundation (https://www.savethekoala.com/), “Australia’s wild Koala populations are under pressure, continually competing with humans for prime real estate…. the biggest issue that [koalas] face is habitat loss.” To help save these adorable fluffies, the foundation organizes various activities like fundraising and tree-planting. Did you know you can adopt a koala too?
World Animal Remembrance Month: Have you ever lost a beloved pet? Take some time this month to remember their favorite toy, recount their funniest accident, and the little quirks that made them so special. And don’t let anyone tell you it’s “just a pet dying” as reputable studies have shown that such deaths can have devastating effects on devoted owners.