National Pet Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Founder Colleen Paige’s current holiday list places National Pet Day on April 11, and the U.S. Census Bureau lists National Pet Day on April 11 in its current April resources.
About National Pet Day
National Pet Day is observed on 11 April as a United States-origin pet-welfare and companion-animal awareness observance. It encourages people to appreciate animals already in their care while also drawing attention to pets waiting in shelters and rescues.
The observance is associated with animal-welfare advocate Colleen Paige. Her official National Pet Day site says she founded it in 2006, and a 2017 entry in the U.S. Congressional Record independently gives the same founder and year.
Why National Pet Day matters
The day combines appreciation with an adoption and welfare message. Its purpose is broader than simply giving pets treats: the creator’s own materials emphasize awareness of animals that still need permanent homes and responsible care.
National Pet Day is an organizer-created observance rather than a U.S. federal public holiday. Government and legislative recognition can support its history without converting it into a permanent statutory holiday.
History of National Pet Day
The current National Pet Day website states that Colleen Paige founded the observance in 2006 to celebrate the joy pets bring and to raise awareness of animals awaiting adoption in shelters and rescues.
On 3 April 2017, Representative Alcee L. Hastings entered remarks into the U.S. Congressional Record honoring National Pet Day. The remarks identify April 11 as the annual date and likewise state that Paige founded the day in 2006.
A New York State Senate resolution adopted in 2016 calls Paige the founder but gives 2005 rather than 2006 as the founding year. Because that conflicts with the observance’s current official site and the Congressional Record, this guide records the discrepancy instead of treating the 2005 claim as settled.
The reviewed sources do not establish a formal founding proclamation or statute, a precise adoption date, or the exact date of the first public observance. Those fields therefore remain unasserted.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Colleen Paige
The official National Pet Day website says Colleen Paige founded the observance, and the U.S. Congressional Record independently identifies her as founder.
The Senate adopted a resolution asking the governor to declare 11 April 2016 as Pet Day in New York in conjunction with National Pet Day; the resolution names Colleen Paige as founder but gives 2005 as the founding year.
New York State Senate · Resolution 2015-J4709
Representative Alcee L. Hastings entered remarks honoring the annual April 11 observance and identifying Colleen Paige as its founder in 2006.
U.S. House of Representatives — Congressional Record · Extension of Remarks — Honoring National Pet Day
National Pet Day / Colleen Paige
The current official National Pet Day site maintains the observance and its purpose.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
7 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Pet Day
Review your pet’s identification, vaccinations, preventive care, emergency contacts and everyday safety needs rather than treating the day only as a social-media occasion.
Ask a local shelter or rescue what supplies, volunteer help or foster support it currently needs before donating items that may not be useful.
If you are considering adoption, research the animal’s long-term care, housing, training and veterinary needs before making a commitment.
Share responsible adoption and animal-welfare information from reputable shelters, veterinary organizations or established rescue groups.
National Pet Day Facts
National Pet Day is observed annually on 11 April.
The official National Pet Day website identifies Colleen Paige as the founder and says she created the observance in 2006.
The U.S. Congressional Record also states that National Pet Day was founded in 2006 by Colleen Paige.
A 2016 New York State Senate resolution gives 2005 as the founding year, creating a documented source conflict that should not be silently erased.
The reviewed evidence does not establish National Pet Day as a U.S. federal public holiday.
National Pet Day Messages
On National Pet Day, may every companion animal receive patient care, safety, affection and the long-term commitment it deserves.
May National Pet Day turn appreciation into practical care for pets at home and meaningful support for animals still waiting for a family.
Wishing pets and the people who care for them a day filled with kindness, responsible choices and plenty of time together.
May today encourage thoughtful adoption, stronger support for shelters and compassionate care for animals throughout the year.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
New York State Senate — Resolution 2015-J4709, adopted 6 April 2016 (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Congressional Record — Honoring National Pet Day, 3 April 2017 (opens in a new tab)
Colleen Paige — founder holiday list (opens in a new tab)
Creator Site
National Pet Day — official observance site (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Census Bureau — April resources (opens in a new tab)
National Government
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Pet Day?
11 April The documented recurrence rule is: 11 April.
Does National Pet Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Pet Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States-origin / creator-led pet observance with public-institution recognition. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Pet Day?
The documented basis is: Founder Colleen Paige’s current holiday list places National Pet Day on April 11, and the U.S. Census Bureau lists National Pet Day on April 11 in its current April resources.. Supporting evidence includes Colleen Paige — founder holiday list. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is National Pet Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States-origin / creator-led pet observance with public-institution recognition.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Pet Day?
National Pet Day is observed on 11 April each year.
Who founded National Pet Day?
The observance’s official site and the U.S. Congressional Record identify pet and animal-welfare advocate Colleen Paige as the founder.
When was National Pet Day founded?
The official National Pet Day site and the U.S. Congressional Record say 2006. A New York State Senate resolution says 2005, so this guide preserves that conflict rather than presenting the earlier year as settled.
Is National Pet Day a federal holiday?
No. The reviewed evidence supports it as a national awareness observance with public-institution recognition, not as a permanent U.S. federal public holiday.
Other observances on April 11
These observances are also listed on April 11, 2027.
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National Barbershop Quartet Day
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National Cheese Fondue Day
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