National Pet Month means two different things depending on where you live. In the UK it is an organized campaign that runs through April and into early May. In the US, pet businesses and clinics call May National Pet Month, but no organization publishes it as an official event. The organized US celebration is the American Veterinary Medical Association's National Pet Week, the first full week of May.
Either way, the idea is the same: celebrate what pets bring to our lives and take good care of them in return. Here are the dates for both countries, who runs what, and the ways to celebrate that do your pet some real good.
When is National Pet Month?
In the UK, National Pet Month runs "during April and early May," according to the campaign's organizers. The exact dates shift a little from year to year. In 2026 it was an extended campaign, from 1 April to 5 May.
In the US, May is the month people call National Pet Month. It has no official organizer and no published dates, so treat it as an informal label for the whole month. The fixed point is National Pet Week, which AVMA observes during the first full week of May, Sunday to Saturday.
Year | UK National Pet Month | US National Pet Week (AVMA) |
|---|---|---|
2027 | April into early May (exact dates set by the organizers) | Sunday, May 2 to Saturday, May 8 |
2028 | April into early May (exact dates set by the organizers) | Sunday, May 7 to Saturday, May 13 |
The National Pet Week dates follow AVMA's rule: the first full week of May, starting on a Sunday. For the UK, check nationalpetmonth.org in early spring. UK Pet Food published the 2026 dates on 20 March.
Who runs National Pet Month?
Two industry groups coordinate the UK campaign. UK Pet Food is an association of pet food manufacturers and suppliers. NOAH, the National Office of Animal Health, is the trade association for the UK animal health industry. Together they run National Pet Month as a UK-wide campaign that brings organizations, experts and pet owners together to share trusted advice and promote responsible pet care.
The campaign's stated aims are to:
- promote responsible pet ownership
- make people aware of the mutual benefits of living with pets
- increase public awareness of the role of pet care specialists
- raise awareness of the value of working with companion animals
- encourage fundraising for UK pet welfare charities and organizations
Its messages are built around the five welfare needs every pet has: companionship, behavior, diet, environment and health. The 2026 campaign gave each need its own week, which is why it ran five weeks.
The US is a different story. No organization runs or publishes a US National Pet Month. AVMA's own calendar of pet health and veterinary awareness events lists National Pet Week in May and no National Pet Month in any month. If your clinic or shelter marks May as National Pet Month, that's a fine tradition. There just isn't an official body behind it.
National Pet Week in the US
AVMA and the Auxiliary to the AVMA created National Pet Week in 1981, and it is observed during the first full week of May each year. AVMA describes it as a celebration of the pets that enrich our lives and of simple ways to keep them healthy and happy all year.
Each day has its own theme. The most recent set AVMA lists is from 2025:
- Sunday: Choose well: Commit for life
- Monday: Behavioral health: Habits for happy pets
- Tuesday: Nutrition and exercise matter
- Wednesday: Love your pet? See your vet!
- Thursday: Travel with care
- Friday: Emergencies happen: Be prepared
- Saturday: Plan for their care: Give them a lifetime of love
Veterinarians, vet techs, school groups and communities host events during the week, and AVMA offers a free toolkit for clinics with images, logos and event-planning ideas. The Auxiliary to the AVMA also runs an annual poster and writing contest for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Why a month for pets?
Because pets do a lot for us, and they depend on us for everything. The CDC notes that studies link the bond between people and pets to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, less loneliness and anxiety, more exercise and time outdoors, better cognitive function in older adults, and more chances to socialize. Pets can also help people manage loneliness and depression by providing companionship.
Those are associations, not a guarantee, and they come with responsibilities attached. That is why both the UK campaign and AVMA's week put responsible ownership at the center.
Ways to celebrate that actually help your pet
Extra treats and a long walk are nice. The things below keep paying off for years.
- Book a wellness checkup. Pets often hide signs of illness, and AVMA calls regular checkups vital for catching health problems early. Don't wait for your pet to look sick. If your pet is due, May is a good month to book.
- Check the microchip. AVMA's microchip FAQ boils upkeep down to three things: make sure the chip is registered, ask your veterinarian to scan it at least once a year, and keep your contact details current with the registry. Moved or changed your phone number? Update it now. If you don't know which registry holds your pet's chip, the American Animal Hospital Association's Microchip Registry Lookup Tool or your veterinarian can find it from the chip number. A chip holds only an ID number and is not a GPS tracker, so the registry record is the only link between that number and you. More in our guide to microchipping your pet.
- Put a collar and ID tag on. A microchip doesn't replace a tag. Anyone who finds your pet can read a tag, while a chip needs a scanner, the kind shelters and vet clinics use. AVMA and the ASPCA both recommend a microchip plus a collar with a current ID tag, and AVMA adds that the rabies tag belongs on the collar too.
- Make an emergency plan. Include your pet in your family's emergency plan, put together a pet first aid kit, and keep your pet's identification up to date so you can be reunited if you're separated.
- Keep them moving and busy. AVMA's week covers both: exercise with your pet, and puzzles, games, interactive toys or training to encourage natural behaviors. Ask your veterinarian how much to feed, treats included.
- Wash your hands. The unglamorous one. The CDC advises washing your hands after touching, feeding or cleaning up after pets.
Not in May? A few other dates on AVMA's calendar carry the same message: Every Day is Tag Day on the first Saturday in April (April 3 in 2027), National Pet ID Week in April, and Check the Chip Day on August 15. World Veterinary Day, the last Saturday in April, falls inside the UK campaign.
Event ideas for clinics, schools and communities
National Pet Month is a good excuse to get people together. In the UK, the organizers encourage fundraising for local pet rescues and charities and sharing pet stories with #NationalPetMonth. These ideas work in either country:
- A sponsored dog walk. Bring dog owners together and donate what you raise to a local rescue. Check whether your town or park needs a permit for a group event before you set a date.
- Talks at local schools. Ask a veterinarian, vet tech, rescue volunteer or trainer to talk to kids about pet care, behavior or how to choose the right pet. Kids ask great questions.
- A bake sale for a pet charity. Pet-themed cupcakes go down well. Label the ingredients for people with allergies. If you sell dog treats, buy treats made for dogs and keep the human bakes away from four-legged guests: chocolate, xylitol, grapes and raisins, and macadamia nuts are among the foods the ASPCA lists as dangerous for pets. Our list of human foods toxic to dogs has more.
- A pet quiz or a fun pet show. Keep it informal: "waggiest tail" or "best trick" categories for dogs, cats, horses, birds, whoever turns up.
- An open day at the clinic. Tours, a microchip check station, and a chance for clients to meet the team outside a stressful visit. AVMA's National Pet Week toolkit has ready-made materials.
- A quiet night in. For a family celebration at home, a pet movie, a good book about animals and an evening with your pet, furry or scaly, counts.
Thinking about adopting?
If you've been considering a new pet, National Pet Month is a good time to visit your local shelter. Take the theme AVMA gives the Sunday of National Pet Week with you: choose well and commit for life. Pick the pet that fits your family's lifestyle, and plan for its care for the whole of its life, not just the first happy weeks. Your veterinarian can help you understand what a particular pet will need.
However you mark it, the best celebration is a pet that is healthy, identifiable and loved. Happy National Pet Month.
Sources
- National Pet Month: About National Pet Month
- UK Pet Food: National Pet Month 2026, supporting and celebrating the pets in our care
- UK Pet Food: About UK Pet Food
- NOAH: About us
- AVMA: National Pet Week
- AVMA: Pet health and veterinary awareness events
- AVMA: Microchipping, FAQs for pet owners
- ASPCA: Position Statement on Pet Identification
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- CDC: Ways to Stay Healthy Around Animals
