Okay, odds are you celebrate your pet EVERY day. But April 11 is officially National Pet Day. That means a time to lavish extra attention on your favorite furry - or feathered, or scaled - family member. And no one will wonder why!

National Pet Day

Colleen Paige - an animal welfare advocate and pet lifestyle expert - founded National Pet Day in 2006. The holiday started in the U.S., but it’s since spread across the globe.

Colleen wanted a day to call attention to animals awaiting adoption in shelters. And it worked! April 11 now tops the charts for days when kids convince their patients to get a new pet.

Pet Day Celebrations

Everyone has a different way to mark Pet Day. Some of the top choices each year include:

• Providing pets with special treats
• Saying “I love you” a few extra times
• Employing DIY skills to make gifts
• Hitting the pet store for a present
• Squeezing over to share space on the bed

Official Activities

When it comes to “official” Pet Day activities, there are a few recommendations for celebrating the holiday:

• Adopt a pet
• Post a new pet photo or video on social media
• Offer extra pampering to your pet

Celebrating Your Pet

For pet lovers, National Pet Day comes 365 days a year. April 11 simply gives you an excuse to brag about your cat, dog, rabbit, reptile, bird, or whichever pet shares your home!

So snap those cute photos! Then make sure to add them to your pet’s app profile.