It’s only a matter of weeks before National Pet Month is upon us, and we get to celebrate all the amazing animals that put a smile on our faces. Of course, we don’t need a reason to commemorate our beloved pets because every day we spend with them is special. That doesn’t mean we won’t happily dedicate a month to these animals, though.
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If you’re unsure how to make the most of this time, we’ve got a few ideas here which should help you to celebrate in style. You can try spacing them out across several weeks, or just make every day of this month a special one.
Do Something Crafty
Arts and crafts with your pet might seem like an unconventional idea. However, this doesn’t mean you need to give your cat a paintbrush and expect them to recreate the Mona Lisa.
There are some incredibly creative things you can do, either with your pet or using them as inspiration, such as these crafty dog activities. At most, it’ll probably take a few hours out of your day, and you’ll have something precious to show for your time. A framed picture or ornament of their pawprint might not seem like much now, but when they’re gone, that little craft project will be a treasured memory.
This is a great activity to do if you have kids and want to feed two birds with one scone. It should keep them happy and will allow you to do something special in honour of your beloved pet.
Go Somewhere Nice
Depending on what the restrictions are like come National Pet Month, you may want to think carefully about this suggestion. If things are relaxed enough by then, though, it may be worth taking your pet on a trip to somewhere nice.
Obviously, this is easier to do if you have a dog as it’s perfectly natural to bring them with you when you leave the house. However, maybe you feel like your rabbit or hamster will enjoy a scenic drive.
Where’s best to go obviously depends on your pet – and the restrictions – but if you have a dog, somewhere with lots of open and space and water usually goes down well. If they’re quite a social animal, somewhere they might encounter other dogs may also be worth considering. Just make sure to keep your distance from other pet owners if you do go somewhere like this.
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If you need an excuse to buy your animal companion something special, National Pet Month is it. Whether you want to get a new bed for your dog, a scratching post for your cat, or some treats for your hamster, this is the time to do it.
All the pet supplies you could need are available at Time 4 Paws, and we mean all of them. Whatever animal you have, this pet shop has seemingly anything and everything you could think of buying for them. With so many products – from pet food to toys to cages to vegan treats – readily available, you may end up spending more than you planned. If you can’t splurge on your pet during this celebratory month, though, when can you?
Honor Departed Pets
Unless you’re a new pet owner, you’ve likely had special animals in your life before. These are maybe companions you grew up with or owned before your current pet.
As part of National Pet Month celebrations, it may be worth taking time to honor those departed animals who were once an important part of your life. That might involve looking back at photos of them, sharing your fond memories of them with others, or just taking a moment to think about them.
Pets are so dear to us, yet most of them only stay with us for a short time. It can be hard to lose them when they pass away, but if you take the time to honour their memory every National Pet Month, they’re never truly gone.
Volunteer At An Animal Shelter
National Pet Month is about more than just showering your own animal companions with love. There’s also a focus on encouraging people to adopt so that more animals can live out their days in loving homes.
For that reason, it might be a good idea to dedicate some of your free time to an animal shelter. Volunteering at these places is usually welcome, and raising money to help them out will also go a long way. While the pandemic might have prompted many people to become new pet owners, there are still thousands of animals who need a family’s care and support. Plus, with some people regretting their earlier decision to adopt and thus sending their pets back, these animals need all the help they can get.
Promote Responsible Pet Ownership
While we want to believe that every owner loves their pet, it’s clear that not everyone cares for their animal companion the way they should. Every year, thousands are investigated for animal cruelty, with many pets taken to a shelter as a result. These people aren’t the only ones engaging in irresponsible pet ownership, though.
Plenty of owners who mean well and love their animal companions still mistreat their pets in small ways because they don’t realise they’re doing things wrong. That’s why it’s so important to speak out and ensure that everyone knows how to do right by these animals.
If you want to share the love this National Pet Month, do what you can to promote responsible pet ownership. That might just mean sharing essential resources on social media and offering advice to those who might be struggling. These might be little actions, but if they help just one person grow as a pet owner, you’ll have done some good in the world.
One month doesn’t seem like enough to show our animals just how much they’re loved and appreciated. It’s far better than nothing, though, and with these suggestions, you’ll hopefully be able to make it a month to remember.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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