On Saturday 11th July, with temperatures soaring and the summer sun doing its best to keep people indoors, something rather wonderful happened on high streets across the UK. Pet owners stepped out anyway and walked through the doors of their local independent pet shop.
Hundreds of shops took part in the third annual National Pet Shop Day, and the response from retailers and customers alike was everything we had hoped for. From free puppy treats and photography pop-ups to charity raffles, interactive activities, goodie bags, in-store discounts and prize giveaways, shops made the day their own, each celebrating in their own way what makes independent pet retail so irreplaceable.
The scenes felt like the perfect answer to the question this campaign has been asking all year. Our research told us that 67% of pet owners say independent pet shops are important to their community, and 57% would be upset if theirs closed. It also told us that only 12% name an independent as their main source of pet products. There is a gap between what people say and what they do, and National Pet Shop Day exists to close it. On Saturday, with customers queuing in the July heat to visit their local shop, the habits caught up with the sentiment. Sensibly, many left their four-legged companions at home in the cool, but that did not dampen the spirit of the day one bit.
Paul Gwynn, Chairman of Johnson’s Veterinary Products, said: “For over a hundred years, Johnson’s has stood alongside independent pet retailers, and we know how much they mean to the communities they serve. Seeing so many pet owners go out of their way to support their local shop, on one of the hottest days of the summer, says everything about the bond between these businesses and the people they serve. That is exactly what National Pet Shop Day is all about.”
A day worth celebrating
Independent pet shops are the health and wellbeing hubs of their local communities, offering face-to-face advice and the kind of personal service that no algorithm can replicate. National Pet Shop Day is the one day a year when the whole country is reminded of that. This year, with BIRA, PIF and new supporter OATA all behind the campaign, and with retailers from across the UK flying the flag with passion and creativity, that reminder landed louder than ever.
The day also saw the presentation of the National Pet Shop Day Recognition Award, created to honour independent pet shops that go above and beyond for their customers, their communities and the animals they care for. This year’s award was presented to Coalville Pet Supplies in Leicestershire, in recognition of their decades of dedication to local people, charities and animal welfare, including the remarkable work of owners Bob and Diane through Midland Parrots.
Thank you
To every retailer who took part, whether you went all out or kept things beautifully simple, thank you. You opened your doors, engaged your customers and reminded your communities why your shop matters. That is no small thing.
National Pet Shop Day will return in 2027. Keep an eye on nationalpetshopday.co.uk for details on how to get involved.
