Australia Edition: 2026 Pet Holidays and Key Veterinary Awareness Dates

Welcome to the ultimate 2026 Pet Holiday Guide — your complete, month-by-month guide to important veterinary awareness dates, annual events, pet celebrations, and animal appreciation days throughout the year in Australia and New Zealand.

Whether you’re a veterinary practice, pet parent, or animal advocate, this guide helps you plan, promote, and participate in every festivity.

Why Bookmark the 2026 Pet Holiday Guide?

✔️ Perfect for veterinary marketing campaigns
✔️ Engage pet parents with social media content ideas
✔️ Celebrate awareness days and strengthen client relationships
✔️ Promote pet wellness, safety, and preventive care all year

Your 2026 Pet & Veterinary Calendar: AU & NZ Key Dates

Use this chronological guide to plan your pet health reminders, awareness campaigns, and celebrations throughout the year!

January

• Walk Your Dog Month
• National Train Your Dog Month
• Weight Loss Awareness Month
• January 1: New Year’s Day
• January 2: Pet Travel Safety Day
• January 15: Get to Know Your Customers Day
• January 17: Chinese New Year
• January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
• January 26: Australia Day 

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for January and download freebies!

Teach pet owners about pet weight management, the dangers of extreme hot temperatures and heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

February

• Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
• Dog Training Education Month
• Cat Health Month
• February 4: World Cancer Day
• February 11: International Day of Women & Girls in Science
• February 14: Valentine’s Day
• February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
• February 24: World Spay Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for February and download freebies! 

Educate pet owners about the dangers of extreme hot temperatures and heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

March

• Polite Pets Month
• Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month
• National Pet Adoption Month
• March 1–7: Professional Pet Sitters Week
• March 3: World Wildlife Day
• March 8: International Women’s Day
• March 17: St Patrick’s Day
• March 20: International Day of Happiness
• March 23: National Puppy Day
• March 28: Respect Your Cat Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for March and download freebies!

Educate pet owners about toxic food and how to be aware of common household poisons with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

April

• National Pet Month
• Heartworm Awareness Month
• Adopt a Greyhound Month
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
• April  19–25: Veterinary Receptionist Week
• April 3: Good Friday
• April 4: World Stray Animals Day
• April 5: Easter Sunday
• April 7: World Health Day
• April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
• April 11: National Pet Day
• April 12: World Hamster Day
• April 22: Earth Day
• April 24: Hairball Awareness Day
• April 25: Anzac Day
• April 25: World Veterinary Day
• April 25: World Penguin Day
• April 29: International Guide Dog Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for April and download freebies!

Teach pet owners how to keep their pets safe during Easter with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary team members! 

May

• May 4–10: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
• May 4: International Respect for Chickens Day
• May 8: World Donkey Day
• May 10: Mother’s Day
• May 20: World Bee Day
• May 23: World Turtle Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for May and download freebies!

June

• National Microchipping Month
• June 7–13: Pet Appreciation Week
• June 1: Global Day of Parents
• June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
• June 5: World Environment Day
• June 9: World Pet Memorial Day
• June 24: Cat World Domination Day
• June 26: Take Your Dog to Work Day
• June 27: World Day Against Pet Abandonment

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for June and download freebies! 

Teach pet owners how to microchip their pets and keep them safe from the dangers of extreme cold with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

July

• Lost Pet Prevention Month
• July 19–25: Veterinary Assistant Week
• July 16: World Snake Day
• July 26: National Tree Day
• July 30: International Friendship Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for July and download freebies!

Educate pet owners how to microchip their pets and keep them safe from the dangers of extreme cold with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Care Assistants! 

August

• Immunisation Awareness Month
• Pet Dental Health Month
• August 2–8: International Assistant Dog Week
• August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
• August 8: International Cat Day
• August 15: International Homeless Animals Day
• August 15: Check the Chip Day
• August 16: Saint Roch’s Day
• August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day
• August 19: World Photography Day
• August 26: International Dog Day
• August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for August and download freebies!

Educate pet owners about dental disease, how to brush their pet’s teeth, and keep their pets safe from the dangers of extreme cold with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

September

• Pet Insurance Month
• Responsible Dog Ownership Month
• September 11–13: Rosh Hashanah
• September 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day
• September 8: Dog Walker Appreciation Day
• September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
• September 15: World Lymphoma Day
• September 19: Responsible Dog Ownership Day
• September 26: International Rabbit Day
• September 28: World Rabies Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for September and download freebies!

Educate pet owners on the importance of pet insurance, so they can cover their pet’s medical expenses without straining their finances, with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

October

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October 18–24: Veterinary Technician Week 
• October 19–25: National Adoption Week 
• October 1: Veterinary Receptionist Appreciation Day
• October 4: World Animal Day
• October 6: National Badger Day
• October 8: World Octopus Day
• October 10: World Mental Health Day
• October 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
• October 24: United Nations Day
• October 27: National Black Cat Day
• October 31: Halloween

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for October and download freebies!

Teach pet owners about pet weight management and Halloween dangers with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Nurses!

Vetstoria recognises the importance of mental health in the industry. To support your team’s well-being, download our detailed report, Alleviating Psychological Stressors in Veterinary Clinics, which highlights the causes and impacts of clinic stress. In this report, we’re supporting Vetlife—a leading veterinary mental health charity—to explain how you can have more peace of mind.

November

• Adopt a Senior Pet Month
• Pet Diabetes Awareness Month
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month
• November 3–7: International Stress Awareness Week
• November 15–21: Practice Manager Appreciation Week
• November 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
• November 1: Cook for Your Pets Day
• November 11: Remembrance Day
• November 13: World Kindness Day

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for November and download freebies!

Download our free appreciation cards now to celebrate your dedicated Veterinary Practice Managers.

December

• National Cat Lovers Month
• National Pet ID Month
• December 4-12: Hanukkah
• December 1: First Day of Summer
• December 9: International Day of Vet Med
• December 10: International Animal Rights Day
• December 24: Christmas Eve
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 26: Boxing Day
• December 31: New Year’s Eve

Read our blog on veterinary marketing ideas for December and download freebies! 

Teach pet owners how to keep their pets safe from fireworks, dangerous Christmas foods and decorations and the dangers of extreme hot temperatures and heatstroke with our free, editable marketing materials designed for posters and your social media accounts.

Celebrate, Communicate, and Succeed!

Now that you have the complete roadmap for 2026, it’s time to put these dates into action! Effective internal and external communications built around these key holidays can significantly boost client engagement and drive preventative care.

Remember, you don’t have to start from scratch. We have free marketing materials available for your teams to use across social media, emails, and in-clinic displays for many of the awareness months and days listed above. Utilise these ready-to-go resources to save time and amplify your message about pet wellness and safety.

Start plugging these essential dates into your clinic’s content calendar today to make 2026 the most proactive and celebrated year yet!

Grow Your Practice, Not Your To-Do List

Vetstoria Online Booking and Websites are engineered to help your practice grow without adding to your workload. Our platform provides the ultimate convenience to pet owners with 24/7 online booking, while simultaneously automating scheduling, reminders, and payments. This essential digital service significantly reduces administrative time for your staff, freeing them up to focus on patient care and creating a seamless workflow for everyone.