When is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day?
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 2027 is on Friday
Friday, April 30, 2027
April 30 every year. That's in 195 days.
until National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day begins, in your time zone
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day encourages people looking for a dog, cat or other companion animal to adopt from a shelter or rescue, and draws attention to the many animals waiting there for homes.
About National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
The day exists to put shelter animals in front of people who are thinking about getting a pet. Shelters and rescue groups across the US use April 30 to feature adoptable animals on social media and in local news, and some plan their own adoption events around it. News outlets such as FOX 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth and News 12 in New York have covered it as a day to encourage adoption of pets waiting in shelters, and the Idaho Humane Society describes it as an observance that has been celebrated for decades.
No founder or founding organization is documented for this observance, and its first year is not recorded. It is a grassroots awareness day with no government status. It is separate from National Pet Day in April, which celebrates pets in general, and from the many adoption campaigns that shelters and national animal welfare groups run at other times of year.
The need it highlights is well documented. According to the ASPCA, which draws on data compiled by Shelter Animals Count, about 5.8 million dogs and cats entered US shelters and rescues in 2025, and about 4.2 million shelter animals were adopted that year. The ASPCA reports that dogs, especially large dogs, have been staying in shelters longer than they did five years earlier, leaving many shelters at or near capacity, and that roughly 597,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2025.
Sources: ASPCA: Pet statistics (Shelter Animals Count data, 2025), Idaho Humane Society: Boise, Nampa shelters celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth: April 30 is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day (2018), News 12 Brooklyn: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day (2021). How we check dates.
How to mark National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
- If you're ready for a pet, browse your local shelter's adoptable animals and ask staff to match you with one that suits your home and schedule.
- Consider an adult, senior or large dog, since these animals often wait longest for homes.
- Not ready to adopt? Sign up to foster, which frees shelter space and helps animals get used to living in a home.
- Share photos of adoptable animals from a nearby shelter on social media to widen their reach.
- Donate food, blankets, toys or cleaning supplies from your shelter's wish list, or volunteer to walk dogs or socialize cats.
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, April 30, 2025 |
| 2026 | Thursday, April 30, 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, April 30, 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, April 30, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, April 30, 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, April 30, 2030 |
| 2031 | Wednesday, April 30, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 2027?
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 2027 is on Friday, April 30, 2027. It falls on April 30 every year. In 2028, it is on Sunday, April 30, 2028.
Who started National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day?
No founder or organization is documented. It is an informal awareness day that shelters, rescues and news outlets across the US mark on April 30.
How many animals enter US shelters each year?
The ASPCA, using Shelter Animals Count data, reports that about 5.8 million dogs and cats entered US shelters and rescues in 2025, and about 4.2 million shelter animals were adopted.
Is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day a public holiday?
No. National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.