Sarah-Jane White National Dress Up Your Pet Day was created in 2009 by celebrity pet lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist Colleen Paige. It’s a day when pet owners can dress up their pets in fun and silly costumes, and it’s a great way to show your furry friend some love. Nothing is cuter than a dog in a costume, but some people have been known to dress up their cats, snakes, rats and birds too. The sky is the limit.
A recent study shows that 37% of pet owners admit they’ve dressed up their pets at least once. . People are more likely to dress up their dogs, but there is also a growing number of people who are dressing up their cats. 5.5% of pet owners said they dressed up their pet regularly, dog owners were more likely to dress their pets than cat owners.
An estimated 43% of pet owners dress up their pets for Halloween. In America at Halloween pet costumes represent 15% of the $3.2 billion spent on all costume sales.
Things to remember
- Not all animals like being dressed up. Stop if there are any signs of stress or discomfort.
- Do not put your pet in a restrictive costume that they could get caught in or hurt themselves with in some way.
- Make sure the costume is suitable for the weather/climate. No one wants to be wearing a ski coat in a warm house.
- Make sure your pet is supervised while they are wearing the costume to prevent it from getting caught on anything or your pet from chewing or eating the costume which could be very dangerous. Avoid costumes with small parts that your pet may choke on.
Here’s some more information about getting your pet in costume
How to celebrate:
Naturally, the best way to celebrate national dress-up your pet day is of course to dress up your pet! If you don’t have your own pet you could always ask someone you know if they would let you dress up theirs. Post cute pictures of the finished result on social media with the hashtags #nationaldressupyourpetday #dressupyourpetday to share the fun with your friends and family.
You could either buy a premade costume or have a go at making your own. Remember when making a costume that your pet’s comfort and safety is the most important thing.
Another fantastic way to celebrate this holiday is to do something for rescue animals and pets in need. You can make or donate pet clothes to animal charities: Waterproof coats are in particular demand. Or even donate rugs to horse charities.
How to use National Dress Up Your Pet Day day to promote your business
- Hold a competition on your company’s social media for the best/most creative/ cutest/homemade pet costume.
- Promote or discount products related to national dress-up your pet day.
- Host a fancy dress party for your customer’s pets. Sell tickets and have a fashion show. Profits could even go to charity.
- Donate rugs to a horse rescue center or add a donate button in your shop. Don’t forget to post about it on social media and your website.
- Make or donate pet clothes to animal charities.
Conclusion
National dress up your pet day is a holiday that celebrates the love and joy we have for our pets. There are many ways to celebrate this special occasion, including dressing up your own pet in a costume or buying one premade! If you don’t have a dog or cat yourself, ask someone who does if they would let you dress theirs or post pictures on social media with hashtags related to dress-up your pet day. Pet lovers could also take time to do something nice for rescue animals by donating clothes or doing something fun like hosting an event where proceeds go towards animal charities.
