22 Mar 2024

National Pet Month 2024: Challenging Times, Practical Support

National Pet Month – April 1 – May 1, 2024

Healthy Pets, Healthy Behaviours, the positive effects of pets on our mental and physical health and easing the financial cost of caring for a pet will feature in this year’s National Pet Month (April 1-May 1): an annual celebration of the incredible bond we have with our animal companions. 

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Pet fans can look forward to a month of practical support as leading vet and pet professionals provide advice and tips for those caring for animals across the UK. 

With a focus on the five key welfare needs of our pets – Companionship, Behaviour, Diet, Health and Environment – NPM will take a close look at everything from financial obstacles to pet health, cat behaviour and the importance of pet vaccination to the growing dog park, trend, healthy pet nutrition and the latest pet population figures showing just how our pets are positively impacting our physical and mental health.  

National Pet Month kicks off on Thursday, March 28 with a livestream across social media introducing the NPM team and revealing what the month has in store.  

Look out for weekly live broadcasts during April. These include features on the benefits of pets for people living on the streets with charity, StreetVet, a chat on cat behaviour and how to interpret feline body language, advice on navigating the array of pet food options, and tips on how to give your pet its medication, as well as the importance of following labelling and packaging instructions, plus lots more.  

There’ll also be advice for those of us that might be struggling, including finding pet food banks and what to do if you can’t afford to see a vet, with links to organisations who can help you and your pet during challenging times.  

Check out our regular #PetPawsitivity stories and pics from pet owners across the UK, as well as #VetPawsitivity tales and images celebrating the incredible work of our UK veterinary teams caring for our pets 24/7, 365 days a year.  

“In 2024, National Pet Month is once again celebrating the special bond between people and the animals that share their lives. We are working alongside a variety of leading pet and vet professionals to offer the very latest practical support and advice to pet owners, some of whom may be struggling in this challenging environment,” says Nicole Paley, Deputy Chief Executive at UK Pet Food, one of the co-ordinating organisations of National Pet Month, along with NOAH. 

“Throughout the month we’ll be promoting responsible pet ownership with a variety of blogs, live broadcasts, graphics and social posts. We’d love to hear from pet owners on why they love sharing their homes with their animal companions and if they’d like to pay tribute to a veterinary team who has shown immense care for their pet. 

“Please drop us a line on our social channels using the #PetPawsitivity and #VetPawsitivity hashtags and let’s celebrate the positive power of pets together. Happy National Pet Month!” 

To get involved in #NationalPetMonth – April 1-May 1, follow NPM social channels and share your pet stories.  


For further information contact Asha Clearwater at [email protected] or call 07920 461040

Editor’s Notes: 

More Ways To Get Involved  

Send us a 30 second video of you and your pet, telling us what you love about being a pet owner using the #PetPawsitivity hashtag 

Set up online and offline fundraisers for UK pet charities and rescues. Remember to share the hashtags #NationalPetMonth or #NPM24 in your social posts and tag NPM and other relevant organisations. 

Remind your local veterinary practice or pet store it’s #NPM24 and get them involved too. Then tell us about it! 

Get the whole family involved in the month. Encourage your kids to create and share pet pictures and stories and share them with us.  

The National Pet Month campaign is co-ordinated by UK Pet Food and NOAH