Happy December! While you’re collecting little goodies to stuff in your dog’s stocking, consider picking up an extra for your local shelter. The dogs – and the staff – will appreciate the love! Many animal shelters and animal rescue organizations run adoption and fundraising campaigns during the holiday months, which we’ve listed in our December dog events.
We want to see your holiday spirit! Show us how you and your #dogsterdogs are enjoying your holiday season by tagging us in your photos on social media.
Don’t see your dog event on the list? Email us at [email protected] and we will include your dog event.
Daily dog holidays, December 2022
December 1, 2022: National Twin with Your Dog Day #twinwithyourdogday
December 2, 2022: National Mutt Day
December 5, 2022: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
December 9 , 2022: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 10, 2022: International Animal Rights Day
December 11, 2022: Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals
December 2022 Dog Events
Through December 31st, 2022: Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays. Annual holiday pet adoption drive. Find your volunteering location on the website and read more about the adoption drive here.
Through December 31, 2022: Embrace Pet Insurance will cover the adoption fees of cats and dogs adopted through all Best Friends Lifesaving Centers and programs across the country, as well as all animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT. Additionally, Embrace will be offering a 10% discount on all policies sold as a result of the partnership. To participate, click here.
Through December 31, 2022: Morris Animal Foundation is holding a campaign that will fund scientific research for dogs, such as canine health studies on treatment for a deadly blood disorder, identifying genetic and behavioral factors for weight gain and accessing the feasibility of orthopedic implants. In addition to direct gifts, donors can support the foundation by ordering holiday cards. Learn more about how you can help at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
Through January 1, 2023: 36th Annual San Francisco SPCA/Macy’s Holiday Windows. See adoptable dogs and cats in Macy’s windows and live cam in San Francisco’s Union Square. Learn more about this annual holiday tradition here.
December 1-3, 2022: North Shore Animal League shopping fundraiser. Support North Shore Animal League by doing your holiday shopping (you must register first here) at participating Americana Manhasset and select Wheatley Plaza stores during these days. Twenty-five percent of your designated full-price, pre-tax purchases will be donated back to North Shore Animal League America. This annual event kicks off on Dec. 1 at Blue Mercury at 2034 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY. To register for this shopping event and learn more about how your donations make an impact, click here.
December 1-4, 2022: Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope National event, sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. The organization sponsors reduced adoption fees at participating shelters nationwide. Use the interactive map at bissellpetfoundation.org to find a location near you.
Through December 4, 2022, 2022: Cynosport Dog Agility World Games in Scottsdale, AZ. For more information on this annual event, click here.
December 3, 2022: Fanny Mae Memorial Reindog Parade. Held at 3 p.m. in downtown St. Joseph, MI.
December 4, 2022: Reindog Parade at the 42nd Annual Budapest Event. Held at 2 p.m. in downtown Buda Main Street, Buda, TX. For more information, click here.
December 17-18, 2022: 9th Annual AKC Obedience Classic. Sponsored by Eukanuba and held in conjunction with the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information.
December 17-18, 2022: AKC National Championship. Presented by Royal Canine and held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The 2022 AKC National Championship will showcase canine athletes and include attractions, such as the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals, the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Fast Cat Invitational and the NADD/AKC Dock Diving.
Want to see what dog holidays are coming up in 2023? Check out Dogster’s dog holiday list.