Each year on April 8th, National Zoo Lovers Day encourages us to explore our local zoos. Each year millions of people visit zoos and learn about the many animals that live there. Also known as zoological parks, many of them serve as breeding centers. These facilities are relied upon when species are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered. They also provide education to the public about a broad variety of animals and their habitats.
Enjoy seeing your favorite animals swinging from the trees or splashing in the water and have a fun-filled day.
A few zoo facts:
The Vienna Zoo is the oldest existing zoo and was opened to the public in 1765.
The United State’s first zoo open to the public, Central Park Zoo, opened in 1864 in New York.
Philadelphia Zoo holds the oldest zoo charter, formed in 1859. It officially opened to the public in 1874.
There are 350 zoos in the United States
Approximately 175 million people visit a zoo each year.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had more than 9.8 million annual visitors.
More than 3.2 million people visit the San Diego Zoo each year.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ZOO LOVERS DAY
Visit your local zoo.
Make a donation to a zoo program.
Share your zoo experiences with others.
Take a virtual tour of a zoo. There are many different kinds of zoos. Take a virtual tour of this reptile zoo and learn about the reptiles that live there.
Use #NationalZooLoversDay to post on social media.
On February 20th, pet lovers everywhere observe National Love Your Pet Day. This holiday focuses on giving extra attention to our pets. The day encourages pampering our pets and focusing on the special relationship pets hold in our lives.
Did you know that most households in the United States have at least one pet? While there are more cats than dogs in the United States, more households have dogs than cats, but not by much. Pets are not limited to the canine and feline categories. There are quite a few who prefer the companionship of birds, reptiles, fish or rats. Whoever your pet companion is, we are sure you will enjoy spending a little extra time with them on National Love Your Pet Day and reap the benefits, as well such as stress relief and lower blood pressure. So on February 20 (and every day) show your appreciation to your pets!
Bring your pet a special treat, take an extra-long walk or give them more attention. Other ideas include:
Check that their vaccines are up to date.
Watch a pet video with them full of cats, dogs and other critters.
Give them a few extra strokes with the brush while grooming.
Practice their favorite commands – sit, shake, rollover.
Play their favorite game or bring out their best toy.
Inspect their toys to make sure they’re in good shape. Throw out any broken toys.
Wash their bedding, even if it’s not their laundry day. Let them fluff it up just the way they like it.
The kittens featured in this post were rescued after their mother abandoned them on our front porch. We bottle fed them till they could eat solids on their own. Now they rule the house. They are joined in our home by 4 other cats (Charlie, Inky, Molly, and Leo) and (Rosie) a well mannered dog. Be sure to meet them all on our YouTube channel. Any proceeds earned from our channel support the care of our feral community.
