AVMA celebrates ‘Lifetime of Love’ for National Pet Week
“A Lifetime of Love” is the AVMA theme for National Pet Week 2016, May 1-7, and the Association is reaching out to members and the public to spread concepts of responsible pet ownership.
The AVMA and AVMA Auxiliary created the annual event in 1981 to foster responsible pet ownership as well as recognize the human-animal bond and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine.
“National Pet Week is a wonderful opportunity for us to highlight the bond we have with our pets and all the fulfillment and benefit they bring to our lives,” said Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA chief executive officer and chairman of Partners for Healthy Pets. “It also allows us, as a profession, to emphasize the value of veterinary preventive care to ensure our pets live the healthiest, happiest lives possible.”
The AVMA is providing a toolkit to help members celebrate National Pet Week, available in mid-April at www.avma.org/petweek. The toolkit includes resources such as a template for a press release, images and posts to share on social media, and ideas for how clinics can promote the event.
The Association has chosen a focus for each day of National Pet Week, starting with selecting the right pet for the family. The focus for each day is as follows:
- Choose well. Commit for life.
- Socialize now. New doesn’t have to be scary.
- Exercise body. Exercise mind.
- Love your pet? See your vet!
- Pet population control: Know your role.
- Emergencies happen. Be prepared.
- Give them a lifetime of love.
The exercise theme for the third day ties in with the surgeon general’s call to action on walking. The AVMA supports U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and his office in efforts to promote walking and walkable communities. The call to action mentions walking the dog as one reason that people walk.
The National Pet Week website at www.petweek.org is focusing on messaging to the public. The AVMA also will be conducting a campaign on social media.
Related JAVMA content:
AVMA supports surgeon general’s call to action on walking (Nov. 1, 2015)