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Loading...Do You Celebrate Your Pet’s Birthday?
- Lisa Spector
- May 17, 2013
- 5:03 pm
- 326 comments
I’ve always celebrated all of my dogs’ birthdays and remember every one to this day. There is no big birthday cake, but I always honor the occasion in some special way. It usually involves a new toy, treats, and extra time with my birthday dog enjoying an outdoor activity together.
According to a study by the Purina Pet Institute, 43 percent of dog owners celebrate birthdays, while 29 percent celebrate their cats’ birthdays. If that’s accurate, then I’m actually in the minority.
In contrast, a recent article in Psychology Today by Stanley Coren, PhD, referred to an online survey by Kelton Research. Of 1,000 people tested,
- 81 percent of dog parents know their pets’ birthdays
- 77 percent have celebrated their pets’ birthday by buying him or her a birthday present
My beloved Yellow Lab, Sanchez is 10 years old today, May 17. How could he possibly be 10 already? He was just a puppy yesterday, wearing his “Puppy in Training for Guide Dogs for the Blind” green jacket. Even though he was bred and raised to be a guide dog, he was “career changed” at 18 months of age, for being “too much dog” and I was then able to adopt him.
He’s taken the term “career changed” quite literally, as he’s since had a multitude of careers, including agility, musical canine freestyle, acting, student greeter, and mascot/dog model/musical muse for Through a Dog’s Ear. If he had become a guide dog, he’d most likely be retired by now. And I would have missed all of the wonderful birthdays we have shared together, including the current virtual party celebrating the wonderful gift he is in my life.
Do you celebrate your pet’s birthday? Thanks for answering in a comment and taking our poll. If you don’t know the actual birthday, do you celebrate your adoption date or make up a date? A fan on Facebook, called it their “Gotcha Day.” Love that! What do you call it?
Have you seen the new Adoptable Pets page on Care2? Please also share with your friends. We’d love your help in finding homes for these adorable animals!
Delivering Calm, four paws at a time…
Receive a FREE DOWNLOAD from the Calm your Canine Companion music series when you sign up for the Through a Dog’s Ear newsletter and/or Lisa’s Blog. Simply click here, enter your email address and a link to the free download will be delivered to your inbox for you and your canine household to enjoy!
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated from an earlier version that ran on May 17, 2012.
Read more: Cats, Cute Pet Photos, Dogs, Humor & Inspiration, Pets, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Lisa Spector, pet birthdays, Psychology Today, Purina Pet Institute, Stanley Coren, through a dog's ear
Lisa Spector
Lisa Spector is a concert pianist, Juilliard graduate, and canine music expert. She is Co-founder of Through a Dog's Ear, the first music clinically demonstrated to calm the canine nervous system. Their new Canine Noise Phobia series is a breakthrough treatment and prevention program for canine noise sensitivities. Lisa shares her home and her heart with her two "career change" Labrador Retrievers from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Sanchez and Gina. Follow Lisa's blog here.
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+ add your ownWe don't know when our sweet dog Queenie was born, as she was a stray. So we will celebrate her birthday the day we picked her up at the airport. This was one of the best days in my life, as I love her deeply.Actually i celebrate her every day......
I do w/my rats, actual birthdays or adoption days
Their man's best friend and family members respect to all who celebrate their dogs birthday
yes of course,they are part of the family,thank you for sharing-2/6
Of course my family celebrates our pets birthdays ( or in the case of our cats', the day we rescued them from the shelter ). We give them toys and everything. :)
Of course we celebrate our fury kids birthdays on their date of birth. It is a celebration of their life and they are like any other member of the family so why wouldn't we. Actually my sister in law has the brother of our Lab so every year they get cake and ice cream which I made this year for them so it was healthier. We put party hats on them take pictures and sing Happy Birthday and of course they get a toy. It is good to celebrate life :)
No. Animals don't understand the concept of birthdays. Besides, they get treats and toys all the time.
I didn't make a big deal out of my daughter's birthday or other gift-y holidays until she was old enough to understand it either.
Yes we celebrate adoption days as birthdays for both of my dogs. Always a minced meat and liver-rice cake with small sausages as candles on top.That's their favourite treat. Sometimes we have dog friends over also. And presents of course.Good reason to spend on somethings what is a bit too expensive but you want to buy it for yor furry friend sooooo much ;)
Yes I do celebrate my dogs' birthdays. The exact birth-date of 1 of my dog is unknown, so I just made up her birth-date based on her adoption date.
Of course we celebrate Smokey our cat's birthday. She is our pet child.
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