Holiday for pets? – Sentinel and Enterprise

Fitchburg’s Elida Cabreras, daughter Isabelle and their dog Rocky enjoy pet ownership. (SALLY CRAGIN)

DEAR PET TALK: Mother’s Day is coming for moms. But are there special holidays for pets? – Love pets and parties

DEAR LOVE PETS AND PARTIES: Not only are there special holidays, there are month-long observations and week-long events. April is: Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, National Pet First Aid Month, National Heartworm Awareness Month, Lyme Disease Prevention Month in Dogs, National Dog Adoption Month greyhounds and the month of active dogs.

May is “National Pet Month” and to celebrate, Fitchburg is hosting a “Love Our Pets Festival” at Crocker Playground, Wachusett and Westminster St. Corner (Route 31) on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be Therapy Pets, pet massage demonstrations, artists and artisans, pet activities for children, free microchipping for the first 50 pets by Leominster Animal Hospital; and a belt change. Bring in your retractable leash (which is unsafe and teaches pets bad manners) for a brand new 6-foot nylon leash. FREE, and at 12.30 pm, a “Dog Promenade” where all dogs receive a prize!

Why so many holidays? The number of companion animals is increasing in all parts of the developing world. The “Companion Animal Health Global Market Report 2023” from Cision Distribution and PR Newswire notes that this sector of the market is expected to reach $39 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%. According to the report, “having companion animals is associated with positive health benefits, including lower blood pressure, less anxiety, fewer cardiac arrhythmias, greater psychological stability and better well-being.”

And so, having holidays every day, week, month and year is a way for the human companions of pets to raise awareness about pet care. We look forward to sharing more vacations with our readers. Do you have a favorite pet vacation?

Sally Cragin is director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Visit us on Facebook and text questions to 978-320-1335