National Pet Day: Celebrating Our Furry Friends

National Pet Day, observed annually on April 11th, is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the bond between humans and their beloved animal companions. This day serves as a reminder of the joy, love, and companionship that pets bring into our lives, as well as an opportunity to raise awareness about pet adoption and welfare. National Pet Day was founded by Colleen Paige, a renowned animal welfare advocate and pet and family lifestyle expert, in 2006. With a passion for animals and a desire to recognize their importance in people's lives, Paige established this day to honour pets of all shapes and sizes and to promote their well-being.


One of the central objectives of National Pet Day is to raise awareness about pet adoption and encourage people to consider adopting from shelters or rescues. By highlighting the countless animals awaiting loving homes, this day aims to reduce pet overpopulation and homelessness. It also serves as an opportunity to educate pet owners and prospective pet parents about the responsibilities that come with caring for an animal. This includes providing proper nutrition, veterinary care, exercise, and socialization, as well as ensuring a safe and loving environment for pets to thrive.

Another crucial aspect of National Pet Day is to support and recognize the efforts of animal welfare organizations, shelters, and rescue groups. These organizations work tirelessly to provide care, shelter, and advocacy for animals in need, and this day provides a platform to show appreciation for their dedication and commitment. We have some amazing organisations we have worked with throughout the years that we would love to highlight;

Raystede - Raystede have over 70 years of experience caring for animals. Since the late Miss M. Raymonde-Hawkins founded Raystede from her cottage in 1952, they have worked to alleviate animal cruelty, rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and provide sanctuary for animals in need. Today they are one of the most diverse rescue centres in the UK because they care for so many different species of animals, with staff, volunteers, and supporters helping more than 1,200 vulnerable animals each year from their 43-acre site. 

I am an Ambassador for this amazing organization and highly recommend you visit them for a day out or to look for a new furry friend. 

Many Tears Rescue Centre - based in Carmarthenshire, Wales with dogs in foster homes throughout the UK. Many Tears take in and rehome primarily ex-breeding dogs who are no longer required; those on "death row" in the pounds and those whose owners are no longer able to keep them. A unique rescue in that the majority of the dogs are ex-breeders and many have never seen the outside world before. With the help of staff, fosterers and other volunteers they provide a special and loving environment to help all of their dogs adapt and find permanent, loving new homes. 

Last November we rescued our dog Bubbles form here. She had been dumped by a breeder with little chnace of survival having endured a life of neglect and abuse being forced to breed repeatedly for money. She was completey shut down and we managed to save her within 2 weeks from being rescued by Many Tears and she has not only survived but thrived in our animal palace. You can followe her story and daily updates on instagram @bubblesbearandfriends 

Last Chance Animal Rescue - Based in Kent and founded in 1986, its aim being to rescue and re-home unwanted and abandoned animals. They opened a second Centre in New Romney in 2015 and has the same aims and objectives. They take in mainly dogs, cats and rabbits and the Centres are constantly filled from two main sources: local ‘handed-in’ pets and Welsh ‘Pound dogs’ saved from their death row sentence. For many it truly is their Last Chance. Thsi is a wonderful place that needs as much support as possible. They are small and don't have the funds for fancy kennels etc but they work so hard with their animals to rehabilitate then and find them safe and loving homes. 

RSPCA Brighton - They have an animal centre in Braypool Lane, Patcham, where they care for dogs, cats, rabbits, small furries and domestic birds and have a dedicated, gold standard Reptile Rescue on site. Their hard-working team of volunteers and dedicated staff care for unwanted and mistreated animals and work tirelessly to find their forever homes. It takes £700,000 a year to run the shelter and as a separately registered branch they have to raise these funds ourselves. Without the help of the community, they couldn’t do this. 

We have also highlighted some products below for fellow dog lovers!

Lubanzi Sparkling Rose NV - 

In 2014, two friends embarked on a transformative journey along South Africa's Wild Coast. Guided by a wandering dog named 'Lubanzi,' who accompanied them for 6 days and 100 miles, they found themselves deeply connected to the experience. In 2016, inspired by this adventure, they relocated to South Africa to establish a wine business that would not only capture the allure of the country but also produce exceptional wines. Months were spent meticulously crafting their wines, fuelled by a vision of a socially responsible and globally-minded wine company founded on collaboration and exploration. 

Crafted exclusively from Cinsault grapes grown in Swartland, this sparkling wine exudes an airy and delicate effervescence. This sparkling Cinsault displays a refreshing dryness and crisp character. Its lightness is striking, accompanied by a charming pale pink shade that draws from the aromatic hints of wild cherry and ripe strawberry present both on the nose and the palate. To provide convenient access, the bottle is sealed with a crown cap instead of a Champagne cork. You can also spot the wines namesake 'Lubanzi' on the label.

Adega Belém Lili Cellar Dog Selection Tinto 2020 - 

Adega Belém is an urban winery ingeniously crafted within a former car repair shop, nestled in the charming Belém neighbourhood of Lisbon. Their winemaking philosophy is centred around minimal intervention, focusing on preserving the diverse yeast strains found in the vineyard and nurturing the distinct varietal and terroir expressions within the cellar. Adding a touch of whimsy to their team is Lili, the spirited chocolate Labrador, who takes charge of the blending process for this wine. While the fruit always hails from Alenquer vineyards, each vintage sees a slight variation in the blend. The wine is crafted with simplicity in mind, using stainless steel vats.

Expect an abundance of ripe, berry fruit notes, a touch of velvety chocolate richness, well-defined tannic structure, and a refreshing acidity. This wine is the perfect companion for your daily dining adventures, offering a delightful and easily accessible food pairing experience.

Dog House Distillery Baller Vodka 70cl - 

Baller is made by Doghouse Distillery in Battersea. It is a knockout unfiltered wheat vodka, ridiculously smooth and loaded with character. It is London's only vodka made fully from scratch, using 100% English wheat sourced from Norfolk. The nose offers delicate cereal aromas, while the palate delivers hints of biscuit and pepper with a silky yet structured mouth feel and a ridiculously smooth finish. Baller won a Gold Medal in the World Vodka Awards and was named Best Spirit in Great Britain in the Great British Food Awards 2019 this vodka is definitely a Baller!  Fun fact - the double sided label was designed by a street artist. 

Perfect serve: Neat on ice or with ginger beer, squeezed lime and a sprig of mint.

We will also be holding a special tasting to raise money for our friends at Raystede. Follow this link to get your ticket and support a great cause.