Animal Holidays & Celebrations
With so many wonderful, interesting, and fun animal holidays there are to be celebrated, I thought it would be helpful to keep a calendar of them here! This page has national, international, and world animal days. If you know of any I’ve missed, please let me know!
There are a gazillion pet holidays so I have those listed on the, well, Pet Holidays page.
January Animal Holidays
Month:
- Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Bald Eagle Appreciation Days – January 22 – 23, 2022
- Christmas Bird Count Week – December 14, 2021 – January 5, 2022; December 14, 2022 – January 5, 2023
- International Hoof Care Week – January 25 – 28, 2022
- Kiss a Shark Week – January 23-29, 2022 (Fourth Full Week of January)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- National Bird Day – January 5
- Eagle Day – January 8, 2022 (Second Saturday in January)
- Save the Eagles Day – January 10
- Albert Schweitzer’s Birthday – January 14
- Feast of the Ass (Donkey) – January 14 (Celebrates all the donkeys of the Bible)
- Appreciate a Dragon Day – January 16
- Dian Fossey’s Birthday – January 16
- Winnie the Pooh Day – January 18
- Penguin Awareness Day – January 20
- Squirrel Appreciation Day – January 21
- Rattlesnake Round Up – January 28
- International Zebra Day – January 31
February Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- Humpback Whale Awareness Month
- International Hoof Care Month
- National Bird Feeding Month
- National Goat Yoga Month
- National Wild Bird-Feeding Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Bird Health Awareness Week – February 20-26, 2022 (Last Full Week of February)
- Great Backyard Bird Count – February 18-21, 2022
- Homes for Birds Week – February 13-19, 2022 (Second full week of February )
- National Invasive Species Awareness Week – February 28 – March 4, 2022
- National Justice for Animals Week – February 20-26, 2022
- National Nestbox Week – February 14 – 21, 2022
- Whooping Crane Festival – February 24-27, 2022
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- Serpent Day – February 1
- Groundhog Day – February 2
- Hedgehog Day – February 2
- Marmot Day (Alaska) –Â February 2
- National Cordova Ice Worm Day – February 3
- Western Monarch Day – February 5
- World Animal Reiki Day –Â February 5
- National Hippo Day – February 15
- Champion Crab Races Day – February 17
- World Whale Day – February 19 – (Third Saturday in February)
- World Pangolin Day – February 19 – (Third Saturday in February)
- National Wildlife Day – February 22 (In 2018 this date was permanently changed from September 4th in honor of Steve Irwing’s Birthday)
- International Polar Bear Day – February 27
- National Polar Bear Day – February 27
March Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
- Dolphin Awareness Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- International Festival of Owls – March 4-6, 2022 (First Full Weekend in March)
- National Aardvark Week – March 7-13 (Second Week of March)
- National Animal Poison Prevention Week – March 21-27, 2022 (Third Full Week of March)
- Termite Awareness Week – March 6-12, 2022
- Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign – March 11-17, 2022
2022 Days:
- National Horse Protection Day – March 1
- National Pig Day – March 1
- World Wildlife Day – March 3
- Key Deer Awareness Day –Â March 11
- Learn About Butterflies Day – March 14
- Save a Spider Day – March 14
- Buzzard Day – March 15
- National Panda Day – March 16
- National Farm Rescuer Day – March 17, 2022 (Third Thursday in March)
- National Poultry Day – March 19
- Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day –Â March 19
- Save the Panther Day – March 19, 2022 (Third Saturday in March)
- Buzzard Day – March 20, 2022 (Sunday after March 15)
- World Sparrow Day – March 20
- World Frog Day – March 20
- International Day of the Seal – March 22
- Manatee Appreciation Day – Â March 30, 2022 (Last Wednesday in March)
April Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- National Frog Month
- Adopt a Ferret Month
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Animal Cruelty / Human Violence Awareness Week – April 17-23, 2022 (Third Week in April)
- Bat Appreciation Week – April 3-9, 2022 (First Full Week of April)
- Be Kind to Spiders Week – April 3-9, 2022 (First Full Week of April)
- International Wildlife Film Week – April 23-30, 2022 (Also: Virtual May 1-7, 2022)
- National Animal Control Appreciation Week – April 10-16, 2022 (Second Full Week of April)
- National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week – April 10-16, 2022 (Second Full Week of April)
- World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week – April 24-30, 2022 (Week surrounding April 24th each year)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- National Birding Day – April 2, 2022 (First Saturday of April)
- National Ferret Day – April 2
- Jane Goodall’s Birthday – April 3
- World Rat Day – April 4
- International Beaver Day – April 7
- Draw a Picture of a Bird Day – April 8
- Zoo Lovers Day – April 8
- National Unicorn Day – April 9
- ASPCA Day (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) – April 10
- National Dolphin Day – April 14
- Save the Elephant Day – April 16
- International Bat Appreciation Day – April 17
- National Velociraptor Awareness Day –Â April 18
- National Yellow Bat Day – April 21
- World Day for Animals in Laboratories – April 24
- World Penguin Day – April 25
- Audubon Day – April 26
- National Help a Horse Day – April 26
- Mantanzas Mule Day –Â April 27
- Marine Mammal Rescue Day –Â April 27
- Eeyore’s Birthday Day – April 30, 2022 (Last Saturday of April)
- National Animal Advocacy Day – April 30
- National Go Birding Day – April 30, 2022 (Last Saturday of April)
- National Therapy Animal Day – April 30
- Save the Frogs Day – April 30, 2022 (Last Saturday of April)
- World Veterinary Day – April 30, 2022 (Last Saturday in April)
May Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Be Kind to Animals Month
- Gardening for Wildlife Month
- International Respect for Chickens Month
- National Duckling Month
- National Pet Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Be Kind to Animals Week –Â May 1-7, 2022 (First Full Week in May)
- Donkey Week – May 3-10, 2022
- National Heritage Breeds Week – May 15-21, 2022 (Third Full Week in May)
- The Biggest Week in American Birding – May 6-15, 2022
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- Save the Rhino Day – May 1
- Start Seeing Monarchs Day –Â May 7, 2022 (First Saturday in May)
- World Tuna Day – May 2
- International Wild Koala Day – May 3
- Bird Day – May 4
- International Respect for Chickens Day – May 4
- National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day – May 8
- Frog Jumping Day – May 13
- Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks a Voice –Â May 13, 2022 (Second Friday in May)
- International Migratory Bird Day – May 14, 2022 (Second Saturday in May)
- World Migratory Bird Day – May 14, 2022 (Second Weekend in May)
- International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day – May 15
- National Sea Monkey Day – May 16
- Dinosaur Day – May 18
- Endangered Species Day – May 20, 2022 (Third Friday in May)
- World Bee Day – May 20
- International Turtle Day – May 23
- World Turtle Day – May 23
- World Otter Day –Â May 25, 2022 (Last Wednesday in May)
- Slugs Return to Capistrano Day – May 28
- Whooping Crane Day – May 28
- National Snail Day – May 29
- Pink Flamingo Day – May 29
- World Parrot Day –Â May 31
June Animal Holidays
Month:
- Zoo and Aquarium Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Animal Rights Awareness Week – June 23-29, 2022
- Carpenter Ant Awareness Week – June 19-25, 2022 (Last Full Week of June)
- Fish are Friends, Not Food Week! – June 19-25, 2022 (Last Week of June)
- National Insect Week – June 20-26, 2022
- National Pollinator Week – June 20-26, 2022
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- Dinosaur Day – June 1, 2022
- National Black Bear Day –Â June 4, 2022 (First Saturday in June)
- National Animal Rights Day –  June 5, 2022 (First Sunday in June)
- June Bug Day –Â June 7
- World Oceans Day – June 8
- International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos – June 8
- National Black Cow Day – June 10
- Save a Lobster Day – June 15
- World Sea Turtle Day – June 16
- Save a Fish Day – June 18
- American Eagle Day – June 20
- World Giraffe Day –Â June 21
- National Catfish Day –Â June 25
July Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
- National Bison Month
- Wild About Wildlife Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Celebration of the Horse Day – July 17-19, 2022 (Third Weekend)
- National Moth Week – July 23-31, 2022
- Coral Reef Awareness Week – July 25 – August 1, 2022 (Third Week in July)
- National Farriers Week – July 3-9, 2022 (First Full Week of July)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- American Zoo Day – July 1
- Don’t Step on a Bee Day – July 10
- Cow Appreciation Day – July 12, 2022 (Second Tuesday in July)
- Shark Awareness Day – July 14
- I Love Horses Day – July 15
- Guinea Pig Appreciation Day – July 16
- World Snake Day – July 16
- Take a Monkey to Lunch Day –Â July 21
- Mosquito Day – July 23
- International Tiger Day – July 29
August Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- National Catfish Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- International Assistance Dog Week – August 1-7, 2022 (Starts on First Sunday in August)
- International Bat Nights – August 27-28, 2022 (Last Full Weekend in August)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- National Sea Serpent Day –Â August 7
- Scottish Wildcat Day –Â August 8
- World Lion Day – August 10
- World Elephant Day – August 12
- World Lizard Day – August 14
- World Orangutan Day – August 19
- World Mosquito Day – August 20
- International Homeless Animals Day – August 20, 2022 (Third Saturday of August)
- National Homeless Animals Day – August 20, 2022 (Third Saturday of August)
- National Honeybee Day – August 20, 2022 (Third Saturday of August)
- International Whale Shark Day – August 30
September Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- National Save a Tiger Month
- National Velociraptor Awareness Month
- Save the Koala Month
- World Animal Remembrance Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- National Farm Animals Awareness Week – September 18 – 24, 2022 (Third week of September)
- Sea Otter Awareness Week – September 25 – October 1, 2022 (Last Week of September)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- Save Japan’s Dolphin Day – September 1
- National Wildlife Day – September 4
- National Hummingbird Day – September 3, 2022 (First Saturday in September)
- World Vulture Day – September 3, 2022 (First Saturday in September)
- National Iguana Awareness Day – September 10, 2022 (Second Saturday in September)
- International Red Panda Day – September 17, 2022 (Third Saturday of September)
- Elephant Appreciation Day – September 22
- World Rhino Day – September 22
- National Bluebird of Happiness Day – September 24
- Fish Amnesty Day – September 24, 2022 (Fourth Saturday in September)
- International Rabbit Day – September 24, 2022 (Fourth Saturday in September)
- Shamu the Whale Day – September 26
- Happy Goose Day – September 29
- Save the Koala Day – September 30, 2022 (Last Friday in September)
October Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Bat Appreciation Month
- Feral Hog Month, or Hog Out Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- Squirrel Awareness Month
- World Animal Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Animal Welfare Week – October 2-8, 2022 (First Full Week of October)
- National Veterinary Technician Week – October 9-15, 2022
- National Wolf Awareness Week – October 16-22, 2022 (Third Week of October)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- International Raccoon Appreciation Day – October 1
- World Farm Animals Day – October 2
- Butterfly and Hummingbird Day – October 3
- Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day –Â October 4
- World Animal Day – October 4
- World Badger Day – October 6
- National Salmon Day – October 8
- Vet Nurse Day – October 14, 2022 (Second Friday in October)
- International Sloth Day – October 20
- Reptile Awareness Day – October 21
- National Mule Day – October 26
- World Lemur Day – October 28, 2022 (Last Friday in October)
- Hug a Sheep Day –Â October 29, 2022 (Last Saturday in October)
November Animal Holidays
Month: (Alpha Order)
- Adopt a Turkey Month
- Manatee Awareness Month
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week – November 6-12, 2022 (First Full Week of November)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- Jellyfish Day – November 3
- National Bison Day – November 5, 2022 (First Saturday in November)
- World Numbat Day – November 5, 2022 (First Saturday of November)
- National Hug a Bear Day – November 7 (Nope. It’s for hugging teddy bears only! Though hugging real bears would be so awesome!)
- American Frog Day – November 10
- Turtle Adoption Day – November 27
December Animal Holidays
2022 Weeks: (Alpha Order)
- Christmas Bird Count Week – December 14, 2021 – January 5, 2022 (Every Dec. 14 – Jan. 5)
2022 Days: (Date Order)
- International Cheetah Day – December 4
- World Wildlife Conservation Day – December 4
- International Day of Veterinary Medicine – December 9
- National Llama Day – December 9
- National Day of Animal Rights – December 10
- National Day of the Horse – December 13
- Monkey Day – December 14
- Visit the Zoo Day – December 27
thank heaps for this calendar. I has help me with an business assignment and brought so many idea to initiate into my small business. I will be using some of these in the up coming year for promotions. thanks again
Hi, Sue;
You are most welcome! So happy it will help you! Check back next week as the Pet Holidays & Celebrations calendar will be posted!
Stay wild,
Bernadette
Thank you for this useful list!
Hello, Garry;
Apology for delayed reply. I’m finding that having two hands is not enough and I’m looking into getting surgery to become an Octopus. 😉
You are most welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment on and visit WhatIsMySpiritAnimal.com! Next week a new version of WhatIsMySpiritAnimal.com is going live and this list is expanded. There is also a Pet Holidays calendar on the new site so I’ll post the links here when it’s ready.
Stay wild,
Bernadette
Very interesting sites, would like to read more…newsletter pls!
I am thankfuI to this site. I found this post very useful. Eagerly waiting for more updates..
Best wishes ahead.
Is there a national giraffe day?
Thank you for this list. It will help me a lot!
The International Festival of Owls in March is actually an individual event in one location and not an awareness day so technically shouldn’t be on this calendar. (Some other organizations have seen it on this calendar and copied the event–the name and date–which creates a lot of confusion.) International Owl Awareness Day is August 4.
Some of these dates appear to be wrong , like Shark week for example , that is in july not august.
You forgot squid and cuttlefish appreciation day, Oct 10!
Snow leopard day -Oct 23
Love it
God bless you
Thanks for the list! Am i right in assuming the dates willbe the same for 2019? 🙂
wow! I want to say a HUGE thank you to you for putting this together. it is an epic resource!
Hello, world Giraffe Day is June 21st
Raccoons are great!
When will you be posting the 2020 calendar?
hii I am indian girl ☺my project is going on related to animals thats why I searched very big and useful lis wow make more
I never knew there were so many days dedicated to animals. Not just the big and mighty, but the meek and insignificant. Even animals we hardly hear of have their own special days. Makes me more aware of the animal kingdom.
I am a garden writer by profession and 2 thoughts on this:
1) Fantastic and highly useful compilation – helps me plan my year’s columns (ie – world mosquito day – article on lets make our gardens mosquito free)
2) We need a site like this for all the plant (not food) related holidays!
today is May 1st – The Day of the Icelandic Horse