National Pet Week
May 5-11, 2013

Over the years, everyone from Bill Clinton, as governor of Arkansas to Miss America, Dr. Debbye Turner has celebrated National Pet Week. Veterinary clinics across America have hosted everything from fun runs, dog washes and most unusual pet contests during the first full week of May since National Pet Week launched in 1981. National Pet Week is a week of education, fun, and a focal point for celebration in the community.

Seven Simple Tips for Celebrating National Pet Week in your Clinic

1. Proclamation — That is right. Pets are wonderful companions! They enrich our lives each and every day. Don't be afraid to proclaim it. This sample proclamation can be adapted for your town's mayor or even the governor of your state.
2. Press Releases — Now that you have proclaimed it, tell the world what you are doing to celebrate it. Write a press release telling your clients and community what you do each and every day to keep their beloved companions healthy and happy and what you can do to help them be their pet's best friend. Use this template to get started. Personalize it to make it your own.
3. Throw a party — Everyone loves a party. Host an open house in your clinic. Give a behind the scenes tour, have refreshments, and play a few games that will help your clients see that veterinarians do much more than keep their companion safe from disease…they keep humans safe from disease, too. Visit Aardvarks2Zebras for information on how veterinarians play critical roles in animal and human health.
4. Coloring and Essay Contest — Pets inspire creativity. Sponsor a coloring or essay contest with your local library, restaurant, schools, and or churches. A simple solution if you are short on time and manpower is to copy pages from the AVMA coloring books and other classroom materials. For some inspiration, visit: https://ebusiness.avma.org
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5. Community Outreach — Get the entire community involved with these fun activities:
   • Download this 4-color flyer and insert into your clinic or community newsletter. Post in your clinic, grocery store, community center and other pet-friendly locales.
   • Initiate a pet visitation program for hospitals, extended care homes and hospices;
   • Adopt an animal at the local zoo;
   • Participate in a local shelter adoption program;
   • Bring the National Pet Week message into the classroom. Career videos, lesson plans and supplemental materials are available at low or no cost from the AVMA.
6. Fundraise — Sponsor a fundraiser like a dog wash, a fun run, or food drive. Donate proceeds to a foundation for a disease or human-animal bond research, fund a scholarship for a local veterinary student, or help local humane programs. For ideas visit www.avmf.org.
7. WITW — That's right, what in the world do veterinarians do? Your relationship with your clients are like no other. You have the opportunity to really education your communities about what veterinarians do around the world to protect human and animal health.