National Pet Memorial Day is observed each year on the second Sunday in September. It is a day when people can remember the pets they have lost. When a beloved pet dies, it’s like losing a member of the family, so this holiday exists to allow pet owners to grieve and to honor the memory of their pets. It doesn’t matter if the pet lost was a cat, dog, bird, or fish; pets can provide companionship and comfort that is worthy of being remembered on this day of remembrance.

The History of National Pet Memorial Day

This holiday was first observed in 1972 when the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories decided to establish it as National Pet Memorial Day. It has remained on this day ever since.

Some Interesting Facts About Pets

Anyone on the lookout for some facts about pets has come to the right place. During our research for this holiday, we came across some interesting facts about pets, so we decided to share them below.

• A dog’s nose can detect a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic-sized pools’ worth of water.
• Dogs are only capable of seeing the colors blue and yellow.
• Dogs sweat through their paw pads.
• Dogs can smell their owner’s fear through their perspiration.
• Dogs can get jealous if their owners show attention to other pets or people.
• Petting a puppy can reduce a person’s blood pressure.
• A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
• Cats spend one-fifth of their time grooming themselves.
• Cats can produce over a hundred different vocal sounds.
• Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day.
• Owning a cat can reduce a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke by up to 33%.
• Rabbits clean themselves by licking their paws.

Observing National Pet Memorial Day

National Pet Memorial Day can be observed by paying homage to your pet in some way. This can be something as simple as bringing flowers to your pet’s grave or something as complex as getting a memorial tattoo of your pet on this day. Other ways to observe this holiday are to donate to a local shelter in your pet’s name, plant a memorial tree for the pet, or use the hashtag #NationalPetMemorialDay on your social media accounts. Regardless of how you celebrate it, paying homage to your pet can be a great way to work through grief and replace sad memories of your pet’s passing with happy memories of their life.