National Pet Parents Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors the special relationship an owner has with their pet. People who own pets sometimes refer to themselves as pet parents because their furry companions are just as important to them as a child would be. That’s why more and more people have begun to observe this holiday every year on the last Sunday in April.

The History of National Pet Parents Day

National Pet Parents Day was initially started in 2007 by Veterinary Pet Insurance. The idea behind this holiday is that many of their policyholders felt like their pets were part of their family, so why not recognize the bond between pet and owner with a special holiday.

Interesting Facts About Pets

You might be a pet parent, but how much do you really know about your dog? We’re willing to bet that while you probably know your pet pretty well, there are still a few things that you might not know about them. Below are a few things that we found out about cats and dogs and would like to share with all pet parents right now.

Facts About Dogs

• There are over 350 breeds of dogs all over the world.
• Dogs can make more than ten different vocal sounds.
• Your dog doesn’t have an appendix.
• Dogs can make over a hundred different facial expressions.
• Dogs can find the direction of a sound in as little as 6/100ths of a second.

Facts About Cats

• Cats do not have sweat glands.
• A group of kittens is called a kindle.
• A group of grown cats is called a clowder.
• The tongue of a cat has papillae—tiny hooks that help to hold prey in place.
• A cat’s memory is better than that of a dog.
• The average cat’s speed is 12 miles per hour, but they can sprint up to 30 miles per hour.
• Cats can produce over a hundred different vocal sounds.

Facts About Exotic Pets

• A bird has to eat more than half its own weight per day in food to survive.
• A bird’s heart beats approximately 400 times per minute at rest.
• Over 60 million pet birds are owned by Americans.
• A garter snake can give birth to more than 80 babies.
• Most hamsters can only blink one eye at a time.

Observing National Pet Parents Day

This holiday can be observed easily by just spending some time with your pet. You can buy your pet a new toy or maybe a new sweater to keep them warm. You can also spend the day playing with your dog and/or taking them for a walk. And while you’re observing this holiday, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalPetParentsDay to let other pet parents know that they should be spending the day with their pets.