Join us for National Pet Day Off

As society returns to normal after the pandemic, many pet owners find themselves distracted, looking for a way to stay connected to their pets who are left at home. One out of five pet parents has missed a work deadline because they were too busy spending time with their pets. We all know how important it is to take care of ourselves and our families, but it’s equally important to make sure we’re taking care of our furry friends.

In fact, there’s a special movement  you may not have heard of where we can do just that—National Pet Day Off. Pets are a big part of our life just like other members of our family, so it's important that we take time to celebrate them!

National Pet Day is an annual event founded in 2006 by United States-based animal welfare advocate and pet expert, Colleen Paige. Colleen got her start in the animal world as an accomplished dog trainer, earning the nickname, “Animal Oracle.” Through her love of animals, she began to envision a holiday where pets waiting in shelters to be adopted could receive the attention they deserve. Through National Dog Day Foundation, Colleen has worked on a number of initiatives including National Pet Day. National Pet Day is celebrated by pet lovers everywhere on April 11th. The motto of the holiday is, “Don’t shop! Adopt!” The holiday is now celebrated in over 10 countries worldwide including Ireland, the UK, Italy, Spain, and Australia.

The goal of National Pet Day is to celebrate and bring awareness to the special bond between humans and their pets. Although dogs and cats are the most popular pets, National Pet Day is for all kinds of animals—even snakes and spiders. If you’re looking for a more specific celebration, Colleen Paige also founded National Cat Day on October 29th, and National Dog Day on August 26th. There is even a National Mutt Day for dogs of mixed breed! Dogs of mixed breed make up a large number of abandoned pets that are waiting to find loving homes and families. When National Pet Day comes around once a year it can remind us to look for more days and ways to celebrate the animals who deserve our love and attention.

Inspired by National Pet Day, Vetster created the National Pet Day Off movement to encourage pet owners to take a break from work to spend time with their pets, or participate in activities that enrich the lives of animals and people. The National Pet Day Off movement coincides with National Pet Day on April 11th to allow animal lovers to celebrate pet ownership in a special way. Leading pet industry companies have partnered with Vetster to participate in National Pet Day Off, and many use the day as an opportunity to promote animal welfare and education about healthcare for pets. National Pet Day Off also gives companies a chance to show appreciation for their employees, many of whom take time away from their pets every day to come to work. Pet ownership is proven to be beneficial to the mental health of employees. National Pet Day Off promotes pet-friendly work policies for employees returning to work after the pandemic has passed. Pledging to participate in National Pet Day Off is a great way to:

• Honor your employees' well-being
• Increase loyalty in your company
• Form a stronger bond with your colleagues and community
• Create lifelong memories with your pets

So how can you celebrate National Pet Day Off? We recommend taking either a full or half day off to spend with your pets doing the activities they love. You can also use the time to keep up with their healthcare by booking an online virtual care appointment. If you don't have a pet, or don’t have enough time for a full day off, you can still celebrate the holiday with one of these other options:

• Volunteer at a local animal shelter as an individual or group. You'll help save lives while bonding over common interests!
• Meet up with other pet owners in your area and spend time with their pets. You can enjoy the benefits of spending time with animals and sharing stories about past pets or learning more about a pet that you would like to own yourself.
• Participate in a fundraising event to benefit animal organizations.
• Consider fostering a pet until they find their fur-ever home.

Even if you have a busy schedule, you can honor the special companionship pets provide by donating to an animal friendly organization. There are plenty of organizations in need of volunteers and donations, so look into what they offer and how you can contribute.

You can also follow along with the National Pet Day Off festivities through social media using hashtags: #NationalPetDayOff #Vetster

Join the industry-leading companies who are participating in National Pet Day Off today. It’s easy to join the movement. Simply sign up with your name and email to make the pledge. Get inspiration from Vetster on how you or your employees can celebrate the holiday and raise awareness of the movement.

We love our pets, and they deserve to be acknowledged. Pets depend on us for affection, and after helping us through the transition of returning to the office without them, they deserve a day off as much as we do!

Employers can pledge to give their employees either a full day or half-day off work on April 11th to spend time with their pets. This is an easy way for employers to show that they care about the well-being of their staff, which increases morale and improves team-building within companies. It’s more important now than ever before for employers to create an enticing work environment for new employees and help to retain current ones. In a recent survey, 39% of pet owners claimed that their pets help them to avoid burnout at work. The National Pet Day Off movement can make a difference in the lives of people and animals. Make the pledge to join today and have a happy National Pet Day!

What day is National Pet Day?

National Pet Day is celebrated every year on April 11th, the same day as National Pet Day Off for those who participate in the movement.

How can I celebrate National Pet Day Off?

You can celebrate National Pet Day by encouraging the animal lovers around you to participate in National Pet Day Off, and by doing special activities with your pet such as grooming, going to a park or meet-up, or even attending an in-person or virtual vet appointment. Get involved in your local adoption organization and let National Pet Day be a joyful reminder of the celebration these pets deserve year-round.

What if my employer won’t let me take off on National Pet Day?

If you can’t take off work on National Pet Day Off, you can still celebrate and bring awareness to the importance of pets by posting on social media, donating to pet-related causes, spending time with your pets and sharing your pets with others outside of work.

You can also start a petition at your workplace to encourage your employer to participate in National Pet Day Off, a movement that benefits pets, employees and businesses by improving mental health, work-life balance and company loyalty. Offering employees benefits, such as National Pet Day Off, can increase employee retention and save your employer costly hiring and recruiting fees. Many modern workplaces are interested in offering their employees pet-related benefits.