November is here and there is plenty of fun pet-themed holidays to get excited over! Add them to your Google Calendar via this link so you don't miss a single one.

Table of Contents

Holidays in green include Offer Pairings or would work with your own in-store promotions. Holidays in red pair nicely with Sharing the Love. While holidays in blue are designed to spread awareness. And some can be more than one. There are no real rules here, just have fun with it!

Month-Long Observances

• Adopt a Senior Pet Month By ASPCA

• National Senior Pet Month

Week-Long Observances

• Nov. 1-7: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week by The Humane Society of the United States

One-Day Holidays

• Nov. 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day

• Nov. 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day

• Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day

• Nov. 17: National Take a Hike Day

• Nov. 25: Thanksgiving

• Nov. 26: Black Friday

• Nov. 27: Small Business Saturday

• Nov. 28: Cyber Monday

Month-Long Observances

Adopt a Senior Pet Month

The ASPCA and petfinder.com founded Adopt a Senior Pet Month to improve the perception of senior pets as quality animals for adoptions. They are just as, and sometimes, more adoptable than younger animals. Consider adopting an older animal when you look into adopting this year.

Want to help? Here are some things you can do:

• Promote one senior pet on Facebook or Twitter every day this month. (On Twitter, add the hashtag #PFseniorpets.)
• Share a Happy Tail story.
• Add a senior-pet search widget to your Web site or blog.
• Post a photo of your senior pet (and tell us why he or she rules) on our Facebook wall.
• Adopt a senior pet for Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month.

Marketing Materials: Astro Template under Holiday. Sharable Image under Astro Media > Lifestyle > Holiday

Sharing the Love: 

Social Media Fun: 

Hashtags: #AdoptASeniorPetMonth

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National Senior Pet Month

"Every white hair is one day of experience in being the very best friend you've ever had."

Our pets are living longer than ever seen before. With this aging population of pets, we are seeing an increase in the demand for geriatric care, as well as the development of diets and supplements to support vibrant aging. From cognitive support to joint health, there are so many ways to help older pets live a quality of life that matches the quantity of years. (Reference: The Pet Beastro blog)

Our neighborhood retailers are on the front line for providing both helpful resources and healthy foods, supplements, and supplies for those with senior pets. This is a great time to share tidbits of the wealth of knowledge and offer support for those customers of yours with senior pets of their own.

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Sharing the Love: National Senior Pet Month ties in really well with Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Both holidays pair perfectly with Sharing the Love. This is yet another opportunity to remind your customers that your store supports adoption and works with some of your favorite brands to introduce new pet owners to healthy pet foods and more!

Social Media Fun: Share a link to a helpful article about senior pet health. Share your own stories and experiences with caring for your senior pets. This is a great time to focus on cognitive supplements and games to help keep our seniors sharp - as well as supplements geared towards joint health. It's never to early to introduce joint and cognitive support into a pet's routine. 

Hashtags: #NationalSeniorPetMonth

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Week-Long Observances

Nov. 1-7: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week recognizes the shelters providing care that bridges the gap to adoption for millions of abandoned and stray animals. The event takes place each year during the first full week in November. The observance also acknowledges the hard-working people who support the efforts of the shelters and keep pets healthy.

The Humane Society of the United States founded National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week in 1996. They created this week to acknowledge and promote the role of animal shelters in communities all over the country. It's also become a week to encourage the public to get acquainted with their local animal shelter and learn how they can help in saving the lives of animals.

Find a local humane society. Do what you can to help control the pet population. Tell friends, family, and pet owners to get their pet spayed or neutered. Make sure every pet-owner you know has the appropriate ID. All cats and dogs should have a collar and a tag with their owner’s contact information. Pet microchipping is also an effective way to keep pets safe.

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Sharing the Love: Communicate with your local shelters! Let them know about the Sharing the Love program and how you are actively encouraging pet adoption with healthy rewards and nutritional support in the years to come. You can have business cards or postcards printed with your store's details and a QR code to take them to more info about Sharing the Love.

Social Media Fun: Share info about the holiday. Remind pet owners to update their pets' ID Tags. Showcase some of your favorite engravable tags you offer at your store.

Hashtags: #AnimalShelterAppreciationWeek

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One-Day Holidays

Nov. 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day

November 1st celebrates National Cook For Your Pets Day. This national holiday encourages cooking something for the pet companion in your life.

You love your pet. And you want to provide what is best for them. So why not try to make them healthy, home-cooked food?

This is a great holiday to introduce some of the foods you carry that are as close as you'll come to homecooked goodness. Brands that use human-grade ingredients and prepare their diets using dehydration, baking, or simply keeping their diet raw. 

Marketing Materials: Astro Template under Holiday. Sharable Image under Astro Media > Lifestyle > Holiday

Social Media Fun: Share your favorite home-cooked recipe with your customers, then talk about some of your favorite brands that create healthy and quick alternatives to home-cooking. 

Hashtags: #CookForYourPetsDay

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Nov. 16: National Slobber Appreciation Day

According to MyBrownNewfies.com, National Slobber Appreciation Day is celebrated on November 16th and is a way for owners of drooly dogs to show off their slobber and embrace the trait that makes them unique and extra huggable to those that love them the most!

National Slobber Appreciation Day started back in 2012. It was invented to bring awareness about the Newfoundland breed and their tendency to slobber. Over the years National Slobber Appreciation Day has gotten bigger than I ever thought and all dogs that slobber participate! National Purebred Dog Day's page on Facebook has kept this special day rolling over the years and they will be showcasing the dogs of Slobberville on November 16th so make sure you're following them on Facebook!

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Social Media Fun: Share National Purebred Dog Day's Facebook posts showcasing the dogs of Slobberville. Post some of your own pics of your slobbery dogs and invite your customers to do the same.

Hashtags: #NationalSlobberAppreciationDay

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Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day

In America, there is a common superstition that a black cat crossing your path means bad luck is in your near future. However, in other countries across Asia and the UK, black cats are harbingers of good luck. I think it is time that we celebrate all the good luck stories. We found an article that showcases 7 Ways Black Cats Bring Good Luck Around the World.

Here are the highlights, but we recommend you peruse the whole story...

1. In the UK black cats are said to bless marriages.
2. Black Cats draw wealth and prosperity in Japan.
3. Black Cats make safe homes when used in Fung-Shui and bring good harvests in Norse mythology.
4. Black Cats showing up in the audience can help a play and mean it will have a long and prosperous run.
5. French peasants long believed that Black Cats can lead you to TREASURE if placed at a 5-point crossroads!
6. In the south of France, it is believed that respecting and caring for a Black Cat brings fortune. These mystical cats are called "matagot" meaning "magician cats" or "money cats".
7. English sailors believe Black Cats will ensure their safe travels at sea.

I am most definitely going to name my next black cat Matagot. Apparently, this magical cat is also found in the Harry Potter movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald protecting the French Ministry of magic - now we know why!

Marketing Materials: Astro Template under Holiday. Sharable Image under Astro Media > Lifestyle > Holiday

Sharing the Love: Since cat adoption is such a central theme of National Black Cat Day you can remind your community that you gleefully reward cat adoption from local rescues and shelters with FREE Welcome Home Bundles! Maybe you could throw in something extra special for any black kitties that are adopted this month 😻

Social Media Fun: Share pics of adoptable black cats in your area. Share pics of your own cats, and definitely ask your customers to do the same!

Hashtags: #NationalBlackCatDay

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Nov. 17: National Take a Hike Day

November 17th is National Take a Hike Day! This annual event encourages us to get out into nature and explore some of the 60,000 miles of hiking trails across the US.

We recommend downloading an app like AllTrails on your phone and discover some of the hiking trails nearby. Or take a road trip to a trail you've always wanted to explore.

Did you know that you can raise money for local animal rescues with every step you take on the trail? Or whenever you walk your dog in your neighborhood? We just discovered this cool app called WoofTrax that lets you do just that!

"The more people actively walking with the free Walk for a Dog app, the greater the donation to your selected animal organization! Use the app each time you grab for the leash. It’s healthy for you, your dog, and your favorite shelter or rescue. Every Walk for a Dog counts, whether it's a walk around the block or a three-mile hike." Learn more!

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Social Media Fun: Do you know of any awesome dog friendly trails in your area? Share your favorites with your customers. While you're at it you can also share some info about your favorite pet hiking gear and your favorite trail foods and treats.

Hashtags: #NationalTakeAHikeDay

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Nov. 25: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has grown into a holiday synonymous with being grateful and thankful for what you have. This is a great time to show your gratitude to your customers. Whether that's by simply expressing your gratitude for their patronage in a social post, or creating a special In-House Promotion just for them. However, you choose to thank them they will appreciate it. 

Marketing Materials: Astro Template under Holiday. Sharable Image under Astro Media > Lifestyle > Holiday

Sharing the Love: What better way to celebrate a holiday where you are surrounded by good food and family than with Sharing the Love. Sharing the Love helps new pet owners welcome home their newly adopted pets with some of the best health foods, treats, and supplements on the natural pet market today!

Social Media Fun: Invite your customers to share what it is they are thankful for. Use this as an opportunity to tell them what you are thankful for. 

Hashtags: #Thanksgiving #WhatAreYouThinkfulFor

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Nov. 26: Black Friday

Shopping locally is one of the best things a pet owner can do this holiday season. Not only are they guaranteed a quality gift for their pet, they are also guaranteed a boatload of savings on those fantastic products thanks to our Brand Partners participating in Astro Offers. Don't miss out on this gravy train! You, your customers, and especially their pets deserve it.

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Social Media Fun: Remind your customers that they can find huge savings when they shop locally. Highlight several of your biggest offers and let them know that's just the tip of the iceburg.

Hashtags: #BlackFriday #ShopLocalOnBlackFriday

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Nov. 27: Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express to encourage people to shop locally during the holiday season. This year we have the largest catalog of Flash Sale Offers EVER! If you've been debating trying Offers for the first time NOW is the best time to try it. 

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Social Media Fun: Invite your customers to visit your store for Small Business Saturday. Highlight some of your favorite Flash Sale Offers. 

Hashtags: #SmallBusinessSaturday

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Nov. 28: Cyber Monday

Is your store using a shop-local e-commerce platform like etailpet or Shopify? Well, good news! Your store can turn some series passive profits just by enrolling in and marketing Astro Offers to your customers. 

Marketing Materials: Astro Template under Holiday. Sharable Image under Astro Media > Lifestyle > Holiday

Social Media Fun: Let your customers know you have an e-store that's open 24/7, and that when they shop on this store they will have access to revolving Offers that will save them a bunch of money on the products their pets love the most. 

Hashtags: #AdoptASeniorPetMonth

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