AVMA News

AVMA celebrates National Pet Week 2022

The AVMA will be celebrating National Pet Week 2022, held this year from May 1-7, with the Association’s recurring themes for each day of the week.

Created in 1981, National Pet Week aims to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of the value of veterinary medicine. The annual event was created by the AVMA along with the Auxiliary to the AVMA, which is primarily made up of the spouses of AVMA members.


The AVMA has chosen a theme for each day of National Pet Week, starting with selecting the right pet for the family. The focus for each day is as follows:

Day 1—Choose well, commit for life.

Day 2—Socialize now. New doesn’t have to be scary.

Day 3—Nutrition and exercise matter.

Day 4—Love your pet? See your vet!

Day 5—Travel with care.

Day 6—Emergencies happen. Be prepared.

Day 7—Plan for their care. Give them a lifetime of love.

Get more information about National Pet Week. Members of the AVMA can access the National Pet Week toolkit at the same site. The toolkit provides images and posts for social media, suggestions for how clinics can celebrate the event, ideas for promotional marketing, and resources for each daily theme.

Leashed dog looking up at owner

A version of this article appears in the April 2022 print issue of JAVMA.