AUGUST

1 It’s BACK TO SCHOOL time! Pets can take part, too, as Barkley’s Marketplace in Flemington, NJ, proved in 2024. A themed product display featured a School Supplies list complete with New Clothes (collar, harness and leash) and ABCs (training tools), plus items for the Backpack and Lunch Box (treats and food) and for Quiet Time (puzzle toys and chews). Fun black-and-white alphabet strips lined the shelves. Nearby, a photo set let pups get their class pics! Bonus: Michele Saharic scored treat sponsorships for the very good boys and girls smiling for the camera.

1 Indie retailers are full of great ideas for RAWGUST. Just one example: Three Happy Hounds in Fernley, NV, partnered with Primal last year to give away a chest freezer filled with $400 worth of product — each $75 purchase of Primal frozen products came with an entry. Very cool.

10 Here at PETS+, we refer to SPOIL YOUR DOG DAY as COMPENSATE YOUR DOG ACCORDINGLY FOR ALL OF THE LAUGHTER AND JOY THEY BRING INTO YOUR LIFE DAY. Feel free to celebrate this “holiday” instead.

17 On NATIONAL BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY, show love to these majestic creatures who find themselves awaiting adoption much longer than other kitties. In 2024, Downtown Pups in Hopewell, VA, put together a photo tribute to shop cat Onyx, described as “a pro at annoying his sister, Prada, and always curious about who’s getting groomed. He also loves to go crazy in the facility after a long day of sleeping.” Another idea: Partner with a shelter to do similar tributes to black cats looking for their forever homes.

21 Do you offer a senior discount? If not, NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZEN DAY would be a great day to launch one. Jodi Etienne of Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique in Bradley, IL, shares, “We picked our slowest day, Wednesday. Now it’s super busy! The 65-plus crowd gets 10% off (not to be combined with any other discounts and can’t be used on special orders). It’s a doable amount, and the seniors really come out for it.”

SEPTEMBER

8 You celebrated Star Wars in May, so why not have a little more sci-fi fun this year on STAR TREK DAY? Among the many pets in the Star Trek universe are Captain Archer’s pup Porthos in Enterprise and Captain Picard’s fish Livingston and Lt. Commander Data’s cat Spot in The Next Generation. And let’s not forget the many tribbles, invasive species and pets alike! Surely one of the many talented indie pet bakeries will make Star Trek-themed cookies by request, and there are plenty of sci-fi themed toys and enrichment mats on the market. After all, you’re trying to help pets “Live long and prosper,” yes?

17 Looking for NATIONAL PET BIRD DAY ideas? Go to myrightbird.com and download the National Pet Bird Day toolkit, which includes tons of free downloadable graphics and social media posts to help with promotions. Pair with flash sales in your store and online to reward your avian customers.

19 Forget TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY. We want to see what you do with NATIONAL MEOW LIKE A PIRATE DAY. No idea will be too silly.

27 It’s your day! Fun and games and discounts and freebies will result in record revenue on NEIGHBORHOOD PET STORE DAY. Turn to p.96 for insights and advice on this year’s celebration from IndiePet Executive Director Todd Dittman.