National Pet Day is April 11. While pet owners love their animals year round, go ahead and pamper your pooch, sprinkle catnip on your kittyʻs mousie or even bond with the bunny you got for Easter.
National Pet Day was founded in 2006 by Colleen Paige, an animal welfare advocate. The day is for celebrating the joy of having a pet and also for bringing attention to all the animals in shelters who need homes. The day’s motto became: “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” Paige encouraged people to rescue animals instead of purchase purebred dogs from a breeder.
Guiness is like a lot of cats and loves to sleep in boxes. (Cammy Clark/Big island Now)
National Pet Day began in the United States began but has spread internationally to 10 countries, with celebrities promoting the cause, including: Taylor Swift, Willy Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Ellen De Generes, Ricky Gervais, Cee Lo Green, Kevin Bacon, Seth Myers and Jimmy Fallon.
“There are many health benefits of owning a pet,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “They can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship. Most households in the United States have at least one pet.”
The poll runs until April 14. Leave a comment below to let us know why you voted the way you did. Or if you think we left your favorite animal on the list of choices, let us know what it is and why.
The results of the poll will be published on April 16.
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Click here to see the results from last week’s poll, when we asked: “What is your favorite Easter tradition?”
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