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DOG HOLIDAYS IN FEBRUARY

It is the month of February and love is in the air, many people know it as the month of love and romance and for good reason as Valentine’s Day falls on February 14th and is celebrated annually.

What significance does this holiday have for dogs?

Dogs are a companion animal loving their pet parents unconditionally in return they need the love and attention of their responsible pet parents, so to me, it makes sense that February is a great month to show your dog how much you love them and care about them.

With many of the Dog-Friendly Holidays In February, such as Love Your Pet Day, you can do just that.

Take some time this month as a responsible dog parent and have that annual dental check, get educated on training, take your dog for a walk, get your dog some new biscuits and spay/neuter is a big thing this month.

In many regions, the temperatures are still frigid and we need to be aware of some of the same hazards we face with our dogs as in Dog Holidays In January.

Keep out those sweaters, coats, and boots to keep our fur babies warm during the winter months and please Have a Heart for a Chained Dog, bring them inside and keep them warm and give them the love and attention they deserve, dogs do deserve better.

In February love is in the air and with the temperatures still cold outside it is cuddle time. This is a great time to spend some time with that special someone and for many of us, that would be a soft furry warm dog curled up next to us on the coach. 

Let’s start celebrating the month for love with our furry friends and find out what is on your dog’s agenda for the month of February.

If you know of another dog holiday that I need to add to this list let me know either by email or post it in the comments below.

I would love to know what dog holidays in February you plan to celebrate with your dog. Let me know what and how you plan to celebrate with your dog in the comments below.

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKS CALENDAR?

Be Kind To Animals Week

May 3rd - 9th - Be Kind To animals Week

Be Kind To Animals Week celebrated annually the first full week on May is a campaign designed to teach all people, including children to be kind to all animals.

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

May 9th - National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

Are you prepared for a disaster/crisis/emergency? Celebrated annually, the second Saturday in April is always National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Let's get prepared!

DOG HOLIDAYS IN FEBRUARY

Let’s Celebrate! Find out more about what holidays are in store for you and your dog to celebrate. Make sure to get connected and have the holidays delivered to your email.

Check out the list below for the Dog Holidays In February.

 

Get Involved – Do you know any holidays that should be on this list?

What Is On the Agenda This Month?

Annual Awareness Month

Pet Dental Health Month – Have You Brushed Your Dogs Teeth Today?

 

Do you understand the importance of your dog’s oral health? February gives way to celebrating Pet Dental Health Month to help create awareness for all concerned dog parents that want to keep our furry friend’s teeth and gums healthy.

How it originated – The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) created National Pet Dental Health Month, which is celebrated annually, to make everyone aware of the importance that dental health plays in your dog’s overall health.

Why Celebrate – We all know a toothache can be devastating and extremely painful, this is true for your dog too. The problem with dogs is you do not always know when they have a problem as they do not always show pain the way humans do.

Celebrating Pet Dental Health Month helps people become aware of how important good oral health is for your dog.  According to AVMA by the age of 3 years, your pet could already be on there way to developing periodontal disease, which may not only be an issue for your dog’s teeth but can also affect the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Do you know the signs that might help you understand your dog might have a problem with their teeth? This is a perfect reason to celebrate Pet Dental Health Month to learn everything we can to help our furry friends and spread the knowledge we learn with other dog owners.

Dogs are not as prone to cavities as humans so that is a plus when for our furry friends; however, gum disease is can become very irritating and uncomfortable for your dog. Taking that preventative maintenance is always best when it comes to your dogs health. Here are some of the signs to watch out for…

*Bad Breath *Tartar Build up on Teeth * Broken or Loose Teeth * Change in Behavior *Drooling *Abnormal Chewing *Loss in Appetite

How to celebrate – If you have not started already, get your dog ready to start brushing their teeth at least weekly, daily is ideal for the best results, take it slow and let them get accustomed to the concept. It is best practice to use ADA compliant oral products and to find out what you should use the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has a list of these approved oral products just for our dogs

The best way to celebrate Pet Dental Health Month is by visiting your vet to let them know you are a proactive dog parent by having your dog’s teeth checked and cleaned on a yearly basis as recommended by the AMVA. We want the best for our dogs and keeping up with your dog’s oral health needs will help to keep your dogs mouth healthy and keep down the chances of gum disease for our furry friends.

Hazards – You might be tempted to just use a regular toothbrush and toothpaste for helping your dog’s pearly whites stay healthy; however, you need to understand that just because these are good for humans it may not be best for your dog. Regular toothpaste for human can upset a dogs stomach and the toothpaste I get from my dentist has Xylitol in it which just three grams of Xylitol can kill a 65-pound dog according to snopes.com, I am sure dogs would enjoy a beefy or chicken flavored toothpaste made just for dogs, rather than the mint that we use and be more acceptable to have their teeth brushed. 

Gifts for dogs – Some of the best gifts are VOHC approved toothbrush and toothpaste, dog chews made for oral health and don’t forget the treats that can help keep down the tarter build up on your dog’s teeth.

Annual Awareness Month

Dog Training Education Month – Do you know how to train your dog?

 

Dog training is essential to everyone living in harmony with their dogs. So to keep up the awareness we are celebrating Dog Training Education Month in February. Dog training needs to start at home, are you prepared to train your dog? 

How it originated – This is one of those holidays I did not find much information on but what I did find seems to stem from Dog Training Central a website dedicated to training dogs. I am not sure how popular this holiday is in our dog community as I had never heard of it myself, but I know training our dogs from home is always a great start. You can find out more information on the importance of training your dog in an article I wrote “Dog Training From Home”.
Why Celebrate – Here at The Wood Hound we feel that training your dog at home is always a great choice unless of course, you have that unruly dog that you just cannot seem to train, in that case, you might want to seek out a professional to find out what you are missing in your training skills as a dog parent.

Yes, I said it, your skills as a dog parent, you might just be missing the training skills needed to train your dog at home. Many people feel it is the dog’s fault that they cannot be trained; however, many times it is a problem with not understanding your dog or knowing what a dog is thinking or understanding what motivates your dog to learn. This is exactly why it is important to a dog’s future to create awareness and education in training a dog at home and taking time to celebrate Dog Training Education Month. 

How to celebrate – Celebrating Dog Training Education Month is a great time to brush up on your training skills and learn some new techniques to help you understand what your dog needs and wants from you. This makes training so much easier and by keeping it positive dogs are readily eager to learn and enjoy the interaction with you, the dog parent.

Take time out each day of February to train your dog and by the end of the month, you should see a great improvement in your dog’s behavior. This time spent with your dog will also help you bond with your best bud and create a lifelong relationship that is rewarding to both you and your dog.

I know many times we feel we do not have the time to train a dog at home, and if this is the case, I want you to know that setting aside even 10 to 15 minutes a day can really make a difference working one-on-one with your dog.

Because this is Dog Training Education Month a great way to celebrate is to share what you have learned that has worked with your dog. This will help other dog parents wanting to learn or maybe give them ideas that might help train their dog.

Hazards – Dogs are always learning if we teach them or not. Don’t you feel it is better to know how to train your dog at home in order to teach them what we want them to learn so we can have a truly great experience with raising our furry friends? Dogs can learn bad habits quickly and it is up to us as dog parents to get them on the right track.
Gifts for dogs – For positive reinforcement training you will need treats for your dog or a favorite toy. 

Annual Awareness Month

Responsible Pet Ownership Month – What does it take to care for a dog?

February is home to Responsible Pet Ownership Month. This month-long holiday was created to spread awareness emphasizing what it takes to be a good responsible pet parent. 

How it originated – There are many different organizations such as the AVMA and PetSafe that endorse Responsible Pet Ownership Month celebrated the whole month of February in order to keep pet parents informed on what it takes to be a responsible pet parent. The origination does not seem readily available; however, I am sure it was put together by one or many of the different organizations that celebrate and keeps pet parents aware of the needs of our wonderful furry friends.

Why Celebrate – Too many times when people get a pet they do not realize that they are not expendable and owning a pet should entail taking care of your pet for the entire life of your pet. Pets, or in our case dogs have feelings just like you and me.

I absolutely hate the statement, it is just a dog, at The Wood Hound our dogs are part of the family and treated as such. This is too where I have an issue with the holiday being dog ownership, you don’t own the ones you love, and it should be changed to Responsible Pet Parent Month, yes I know the law says…

OK, that is my rant of the day; however, I do feel we need to celebrate this day to help people understand that raising our furry babies is not always an easy task and you need to be aware of the commitments you should make before jumping in and bringing that sweet puppy into your life.

So what does it take to be a responsible pet parent and why is this holiday so important? Parenting a pet takes commitment not only keeping them fed nutritious food and plenty of water, but you also need to give them plenty of love, a warm home, exercise, training and provide adequate health care. Of course, the big thing is the commitment should last the pet’s whole life.

 

How to celebrate – If you are already a responsible pet parent start the celebration by showering your dog with a little extra love this month. Make an annual visit to the vet to make sure all your pets shots are up-to-date and have them do a complete wellness check and routine dental cleaning. If spay/neuter is in your dog’s future this is also a great time as many vets offer discounts as this is also spay/neuter month.

If you are thinking about welcoming a new pet into your family do your research so you are aware of what your pet needs and make sure the pet is a good fit for your family. Do you have an adequate place for your pet inside your home, if you plan to get a dog, do you have a fenced yard and plan to spend time to walk them? Understand what you need to train your new pet and be consistent, training a pet creates a bond and makes everyone happier.

The most important step of being a responsible pet parent is knowing and willing to provide what your pet needs throughout the lifetime of your pet. Understanding that pets have feelings too and need the love and attention they deserve. You will benefit so much by being prepared and understanding the responsibilities that come with sharing your home with your pet. 

Hazards – There are many hazards of not being a responsible pet parent to include depression, aggression, sickness, and even death if a pet it not cared for properly.

One reason I stress the importance of doing your research for the right pet is due to a pet owner deciding the pet is not right for them after the fact. When this happens, the pet is either thrown outside to live in the ever-changing climate and ignored or taken to a pound or shelter.

The pet loves the family unconditionally and does not understand why it is being surrendered and why you never came back, after all, they thought they were part of the family and family members should never be tossed out, right?

Gifts for dogs – Give them a hug and let them know you love them. Get them a new bed if the old one is wore out and don’t forget that new toy that they may enjoy.

Annual Awareness Month

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month – Is Our Pet Population Taking Over?

February is not only known for World Spay Day but has opened up and broadened its scope to creating a month-long campaign to increase the Spay/Neuter awareness to help with overpopulation across the US.

How it originated – Overpopulation of our animals is a problem that many people and organizations have tried to help conquer throughout the years. Spay/Neuter Awareness Month makes sense to expand awareness of World Spay Day at the end of February to help increase the awareness of so many unwanted animals in our society.
Why Celebrate – Our dogs have taken over our hearts, homes and unfortunately they have been overpopulated in the US for years. I know it breaks my heart to know that 6-8 million pets are homeless each year and 2.7 million of our pet population is euthanized due to not having a family to love and care for them in the US, according to the Humane Society of America.

Creating awareness in February helps everyone understand that with spring right around the corner and one of the most prone mating seasons. Everyone needs to help keep down the population by spaying and neutering pets so we do not have so many in shelters and euthanized each year.

I hope this helps everyone understand why this is an important month and hope you are ready to help make a difference.

 

How to celebrate – Get involved! There are many ways to get involved and help to share the awareness of animal overpopulation and getting animals spayed/neutered can really make a difference.

How can you get involved? Check around in your local area to see if there are volunteer opportunities or even if you can donate to a low-cost spay and neuter clinic if your community has one.

Many times there are vets ready to take on the challenge to see how many animals they can spay and neuter during the month of February, be an animal advocate, call around and see if you can help by putting up flyers, posting on Facebook and promoting any community event going on that supports the cause. 

Helping others get educated helps others understand the needs and benefits of spay/neuter and how it can save many lives each year. Yavapai Human Society explains it in a way that you might be able to relate better.

If you take one dog having approximately 6 females puppies each year and each of those puppies went on to have 6 female puppies and so forth each after 5 years that one female dog would have contributed 7776 more dogs to the overpopulation issue. As you can see even helping one animal get spay/neutered can make a big impact on the population.

Hazards – Not having animals spay/neutered adds to the overpopulation crisis we face in the US on a daily basis.

Unaltered animals run more of a risk of developing Pyometra, uterine or breast cancer in females. For males the risk of testicular cancer and prostate cancer. 

Gifts for dogs – Give the gift of spay/neuter, you will find that the health benefits might just be a better deal.

Annual Awareness Week

February 9th – 15th

Have A Heart For Chained Dogs Week – Dogs do deserve better.

This is a week devoted to those dogs living life at the end of a chain and a campaign to help free them from their torment. Dogs do deserve a better life.

How it originated – Back in 2002 Thamira Thayne started the organization Dogs Deserve Better, to fight for dogs’ rights that live on the end of a chain or in confinement, this lead to Have A Heart For Chained Dogs Campaign celebrated every 2nd week of February.
Why Celebrate – Dogs are social animals and need to be around humans or other dogs. Without this, they become bored, anxious, aggressive and want nothing more than to be free.

According to many different organizations, such as  HSUS, PETA, and USDA, just to name a few, state that dogs living at the end of chains develop psychological issues due to spending their time alone normally isolated in a back yard of their owner’s home, with very little attention, water bowls that have been turned over and sporadic feeding schedules.

Dogs living a life on a chain many times are left with little or no shelter to protect them from the elements and in temperatures ranging from extreme heat to below freezing.

Dogs need to be free to live in homes with their humans as family members and enjoy life as they should, dogs do deserve better. 

How to celebrate – Many people do not understand that chaining is inhumane so the best way to help is educating and advocating for those chained dogs, helping owners understand that dogs should be part of the family and not left out in the cold and heat. Post on Social Media or try to talk to the owner, you might even suggest them letting you take the dog for a walk.

Take a stand in your community, find out more about the laws in your area so you know what you can do and how to help get them changed if needed. Here is a list of laws regarding chaining dogs according to Unchain Your Dog. After arming yourself with the laws in your community, if you know of a dog that chained more than the law allows report them to the authorities.

Get involved by getting your community to help by raising money and building fences for chained dogs and volunteering to train dogs and keep educating and advocating. 

Hazards – Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week is all about freeing dogs living at the end of a chain. A dog is more likely to bite if it is chained and many times children and small animals are the victims. Another thing to think about is the health of the dog, most times dogs living on a chain do not get the medical care needed and with the extreme temperatures can be very hard on their health and many literally freeze to death or die of heat exhaustion. Dog Do Deserve Better.  
Gifts for dogs – The best gift of all is for the dog to be able to go inside and live with their family; however, if you cannot offer that then lots of hugs, treats, toys, walks and make sure they have plenty of food, water, and shelter.

Human Holiday

February 14 – 

Valentines Day – Human

Yes, I know this is a human holiday but considering it is Valentine’s Day and we all love our dogs so much I just had to throw it in. Many people out there may only have their dog to spend Valentine’s Day with and we know they can make great companions on a day to share so much love. This is a great day to let your dog know they are your special Valentine.

Annual Awareness Day

February 14th

Pet Theft Awareness Day – Is Your Dog Safe From Theft?

We all know love is in the air for February 14th, the day we celebrate the ones we love; however, did you know it is also Pet Theft Awareness Day?

How it originated – Last Chance for Animals founded Pet Theft Awareness Day back in 1988 to help protect our fur babies through education and awareness to help keep our pets safe from being a victim of theft.
Why Celebrate –  As pet parents, we are always trying to protect our pets from taking off to unchartered territory to investigate the unknown or following their nose because they picked up a scent that they like, Basset Hounds are good at this.

We do this by training our dogs not to dig under fences or running out the front door when visitors arrive as we know it is important to keep our pets safe from the many dangers outside our homes and yard that pets just do not understand.

Why is Pet Theft Awareness Day celebrated on February 14th? According to Last Chance for Pets, this is a day that we see a big spike in pet theft.

You might ask yourself why would someone steal my pet? To answer this, the biggest reason is money.

These thieves steal our dogs to resell them, normally this happens with purebreds and that cute little Yorkie could be the target; however, do not rule out you Heinz 57, as many times these are used as bait dogs in fighting rings.  

We have always protected our children from being kidnapped and teach them about stranger danger and now we have to worry about our pets too. Pet theft is real and with only a 10% return rate according to Last Chance for Animals, it is important to know where your pets are at all times.

How to celebrate – You might ask how do we celebrate Pet Theft Awareness and what measures should we take to keep our dogs safe from that lurking thief that can grab your dog before you know it?

Many people do not realize that theft of our pets is such a big problem so spreading awareness is big on the list.

Some of the precautionary measures we take here at The Wood Hound is padlocking our gates, keeping our dogs inside while we are gone, and knowing where our dogs are at all times.

Another way to protect your pet is by getting them micro-chipped and keep the information updated, always have a recent photo of your pet and we hope that you never have to face this but if your pet comes up missing call the authorities.

Hazards – As responsible pet parents we need to protect our fur babies anyway we can. A thief can grab your dog and be gone before your very eyes, so it is always best to have your dog on a leash if you are in public places or even in your own front yard.

Never leave your dog tied up out front at the convenience store while you run in or leave your dog unattended in a vehicle these are all prime targets for theft. 

Gifts for dogs – A great gift for Pet Theft Awareness Day is a good harness and leash and maybe a trip to the vet for a microchip.

Human Holiday

February 17th – 

George Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day – FEDERAL

President’s Day is a day in history marking the celebration of our US President and our first President George Washington’s Birthday.

This is a federal holiday celebrated annually on the 3rd Monday in February. You might be one of the lucky ones that have this day off while celebrating our Presidents it is a great time to include some fun time with our dogs.

Annual Holiday

February 20th 

Love Your Pet Day – Time for Some Snuggles

As the month of February progresses, love is still in the air and what better way to celebrate with our dogs is on Love Your Pet Day.

How it originated – This unofficial holiday is celebrated by many pet parents, however, its origin seems to be unknown, maybe an organization that has faded out or a store to make an extra buck, who knows. The one thing we do know is this is a great holiday to spend some extra time loving, pampering and getting in those extra snuggles of those pets dear to our heart, everyone loves a special day to celebrate.

Why Celebrate – Pets can play a big role in any household as the official door greeter after a long day at work, cuddle buddy on the couch during your favorite TV show and even someone to take those daily walks with. What’s not to love?

Did you know people that have and love dogs seem to also have better health? According to WebMD pets can have a positive effect on your health. With a more bonded relationship with your pet, studies show that dogs can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and have lower triglyceride levels.

An article from Havard Health indicates the power of touch can be a huge stress reliever that may even contribute to better heart health.

The director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, Alan Beck, ScD, explains petting your pet also relaxes and soothes your pet. 

We love our pets, and with the statistics being in our pet’s, favor, why not show our pets how much we love them and work to create a deeper bond with them by celebrating Love Your Pet Day.

How to celebrate – Celebrating Love Your Pet Day can be a full day of activities and so rewarding for you and your pet. Depending on what type of pet you call a family member depends on how you might celebrate this day. Considering you are reading this and we are looking at the different Dog Holidays in February we will focus on our canine fur babies to celebrate with.

To start the celebration, pamper your dog by giving them a nice massage, you can check in your area to see if someone offers these services or do it yourself. My dogs love it when I massage them and always seem to relax. If you are unsure how to do this just make sure to keep the message very light not to cause any pain to your furry friend.

Take your dog for a walk to a special place, maybe a different route than normal so they can sniff out the unknown or visit your local pet store and have your dog pick out a new toy or a special treat.

Spend some time outside playing games, like fetch or take some extra cuddle time watching that favorite dog movie on TV. The possibilities are endless and as long as you are spending that special time with your dog they will be loving every minute of it.

Other pet parents would love to see what you and your pet are doing this day, so make sure to take lots of pictures and post on social media you can use #NationalLoveYourPetDay to make sure you are sharing with other pet lovers of the world.

Remember this is the day special for your pet, to show them that you love and appreciate their unconditional love and companionship, so make the best of it, love and enjoy the time spent with your dog and creating that human-animal bond. 

Hazards – The first and most important thing to remember while celebrating Love Your Pet Day is safety. If you decide to take your pet for a ride or that special walk make sure they have a good harness, so they can be secured safely in the care or cannot slip away if they decide to follow their nose.

This day is a good time for treats and if you plan to get your fur babies a special treat always know that it is best to feed them treats just for dogs and if you are still in that valentine mode, never give them chocolate, as it can be very toxic to them.

Gifts for dogs – This would be a great time to get that new toy or a special treat, or even a new bed, to celebrate Love Your Pet Day.

Annual Awareness Day

February 22nd

National Walking A Dog Day – Is It Time For A Hike?

I have come across a few holiday sites that claim that February 22 is National Walking A Dog Day, so because we love dogs this would be a great day to get out the leash and take your dog for a hike.

How it originated – In my research, I am finding that many of the Dog Holidays out there do not seem to have any origin or history and this one seems to fit that category. I thought about leaving it out but considering walking your dog is so essential to both you and your dog’s health, I went ahead and included it here.
Why Celebrate – If there is no evidence that this day exists you may wonder why I decided to include it? My answer to that is walking a dog is very beneficial. In the month of February in many areas, we find that sometimes the weather is still cold and we put off walking our dogs. National Walking A Dog Day is a great reminder to put on your dogs harness and grab that leash for a nice walk with your best buddy.

During this time of year with the colder months, dogs do not seem to get enough exercise and because of the cool weather they also tend to eat a bit more. We are all into a bit of comfort food when it is cold outside and dogs are no different.

Keeping the awareness up about walking your dog is the best way to keep your dog at a lean healthy weight and also provides the best time to bond with your dog. Exercise is also a great way to burn off that extra energy and have a much calmer dog. 

How to celebrate – Celebrating this holiday is easy, take your dog for a walk. Of course, if you want to get creative you might go on a nature hike with your dog or even take them to a  special place that you and your dog love to go to, just get active. Staying active is always the best way to get out of the winter slump, so reap the health benefits by walking a dog.
Hazards – Walking a dog can have many healthful benefits but what should we look out for on our daily walks? I always recommend using a harness instead of a collar when walking your dog. Dr Karen Becker at Mercola Pets confirms that this is a good idea due to collars may cause what is called laryngeal paralysis. This time of issue may develop from a dog pulling against a collar and getting choked during the walk. What this does is causes a neck or throat injury that may lead to this laryngeal paralysis. 
Gifts for dogs –  With the discovery of laryngeal paralysis if you are not using a harness that would be a great addition to your walking gear for your dog.

Annual Holiday

February 23nd

International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day/National Dog Biscuit Day – Time for Love and a Treat

Dog parents want to know that February 23 is National Dog Biscuit Day and also world known as International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Dogs will love this holiday as treats are a huge part of our furry pal’s life.  

How it originated – For this auspicious holiday nothing was found to help understand how this holiday originated, but what I did find is how the dog biscuit was originally created. Wikipedia shows that back in 1850 a man named James Spratt come across a pack of dogs eating what the sailors called molar breakers and by 1860 he had patented what was known as Spratt’s Patent Meat Fibrine Dog Cakes, that was made up of beef blood, beetroot, wheat, and vegetables. Hence the beginning of actual dog biscuits sold on the market.
Why Celebrate – As we advance in time over 160 years later we have many different dog biscuits on the market to offer our dogs. These biscuits or treats are used for training purposes and anytime someone wants to show their dog a little extra love.

These little crunchy biscuits are responsible for keeping our dogs teeth healthier as and with February being Pet Dental Health Month it is a great time to celebrate National Dog Biscuit Day with the world and dogs will love you for it.

How to celebrate – Your dog could be a definite advocate about how they want to celebrate National Dog Biscuit Day, if your dogs are anything like mine they are always up for a good treat.

Picking that perfect treat can be a bit tricky as there are so many on the market now, the best thing to consider is to make it healthy. They have all the regular contenders, but to celebrate this holiday a fancy treat from the local dog bakery might be an option. 

As responsible dog parents, making homemade treats may be a fun way to celebrate and know you are giving your furry friend a healthy treat for this holiday.

There are many different recipes such as one I have used before for peanut butter and pumpkin treats that are dogs love and they are easy to make. Make sure the peanut butter you use is all-natural and never containing Xylitol. If you know other dog parents or your dogs have playmates sharing homemade dog biscuits is a great way to celebrate with others.

The dogs are all lined up and excited to enjoy this holiday, I know mine will be looking at us like let the celebration begin!

Hazards – Some of the problems that might revolve around feeding treats might be the quantity and quality of treats you are feeding your dog. It is always best to make sure they are made up of healthy ingredients and you are not feeding to many that your dog starts putting on weight. These are normally to be fed in moderation.
Gifts for dogs – A You might have guessed it, a great gift for this holiday is treats, more treats and maybe a new treat jar to keep them in.
Annual Awareness Day

February 25th

Spay Day USA/ World Spay Day – Joining Together to Increase the Awareness of Animal Overpopulation

Spay Day USA/World SpayDay is celebrated annually on the last Tuesday in February to increase the awareness of our animal overpopulation and to help us understand what we can do to help support our communities and organizations in providing Spay/Neuter services to as many of these animals as possible. 

How it originated – Back in 1995 Doris Day and her animal league understood that the vast amount of animals euthanized totaling 14 to 17 million healthy cats and dogs each year needed to stop.

This is how Spay Day USA came about and then later after 74 other countries joined the battle creating World Spay Day. According to Doris Day Animal League, these numbers have drastically decreased to 1 million since 1995, as you see creating the awareness and everyone joining together can make a difference.

Why Celebrate – As an avid dog lover and advocate of pets as family members, I feel these numbers of euthanized animals are still very substantial and the fight needs to continue to help decrease the population of these sweet loving animals.

Many people want to have their pets spayed/neutered; however, after contacting a vet and finding out the cost, many feel they cannot afford to have the procedure done and do not have any choice but to keep their pet unaltered. This leads to accidental pregnancies and contributes to the overpopulation issues we face every day.

During the month of February, many vets get on board and reduce the cost of spay/neuter prices and even volunteer at low-cost or free clinics to help with the underserved and promote awareness for people that do not feel they can afford the procedure.

We would all like for our pets to live longer, and in an article from Banfield, they show that pets that have had the procedure live 9-18 months longer than unaltered pets. According to the article, this is because there are health benefits from having your pets spayed/neutered.

According to Banfield benefits include:

Females

Mammary, uterine or ovarian cancer

Uterine infections

Problems associated with the birthing process

 Males

Testicular cancers

Risk of perianal tumors

Prostatic diseases such as inflammation, infection, cysts, or enlargement of the prostate gland

The procedure is also known to help with behavior issues such as aggression, marking, and roaming. 

How to celebrate – There are many different ways that we can help to promote the awareness for Spay Day USA and World Spay Day by helping others know the benefits of spay/neutering their pet and the outcomes of keeping unaltered animals. This can be shared on social media and also by informing friends and family.

Call your vet and see what they have to offer this month to help promote Spay/Neuter Day and get an appointment if you have an unaltered pet or check with your local humane society to find out if anyone is sponsoring free or reduced rates during February.

We can also check into volunteering or donating to help others that may not be able to afford to get their pets altered. If you are wanting to get a new pet this month is also a great time to adopt and give one of those shelter pets a great home.

The more we can do as a community, state, country and even in the world the better off we will be in helping to save lives of these wonderful companions and to end the overpopulation by reducing the number of puppies and kittens born every year. Let’s get involved!

Hazards – Leaving pets unaltered risk the chance of more and more puppies and kittens born every year and ending up in shelters and even euthanized due to overpopulation.
Gifts for dogs – The best gift of all is reducing the number of euthanized animals each year and if it takes a bit of time to volunteer, adopt or a small donation it is well worth it. 

What Is On the Agenda Next Month?

March 2020

Holidays For Dogs In March

Monthly Holidays - None

Weekly Holidays

1st-7th Professional Pet Sitters Week

Daily Holidays

March 3 If Dogs Had Thumbs Day
March 13 IK-9 Veterans Day
March 17 St. Patricks Day - Human
March 23 National Puppy Day

Dog Holidays In February Wrap Up

During the month of February there is lots of love for our furry friends and not just on Valentines Day. Taking advantage of many of the Dog Holiday for February, like Love Your Pet Day that just might help you and your dog bond a little better and provide better health for both of you.

Watch out for those thieves that might decide they like your dog as much as you do and Have a Heart for Chained Dogs.  Make sure to take your dog for a stroll on National Walking A Dog Day and as a responsible do parent get those appointments made at the vet to check those teeth and have the spay/neuter done for your dog’s health if you have not already. 

The Wood Hound wants to wish everyone a fun-filled February and lots of celebration time and don’t forget the dog biscuits.

Thank you for your support on this ongoing holiday for dogs project and thank you for helping to keep our dogs healthy, happy and well-adjusted. 

 

Holidays For Dogs – Main Page

 

It is time to celebrate! What holidays do you plan to celebrate with your dog? Let me know in the comments below and If you know of a holiday I missed you can drop that in a comment too. 

 

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