AVMA News

Auxiliary celebrates National Pet Week 2023

The Auxiliary to the AVMA will be celebrating National Pet Week 2023, May 7-13, with the theme “People, Pets & Vets a Perfect Team.”

The AVMA and the AVMA Auxiliary, an association founded in 1917 and primarily made up of spouses of AVMA members, created National Pet Week in 1981 to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine.

Last year, the Auxiliary held its annual poster and writing contests to generate promotional materials for National Pet Week 2023. The winners were sisters Claudia and Cassidy Gamble of Ohio. Cassidy was in 11th grade when she submitted the accompanying artwork that won the poster contest. Claudia was in 12th grade when she submitted the following poem that won the writing contest.

Mia, Spot, Sport, Princess, or Buddy,
Pets comfort, guide, love and help you
But our pets, they need us too
When sick or hurt or feeling blue,
They need a friendly pat, hug, walk or two
And maybe a visit to the vet,
Who cares for them just like you
And can help them feel good as new
That’s why People, Pets & Vets make a Perfect Team

The Auxiliary is selling the winning poster to promote National Pet Week 2023 as well as pencils, bookmarks, balloons, and a children’s book. The order form is available on the Auxiliary website.

Details about the Auxiliary’s poster and writing contests for National Pet Week 2024 also are available on the Auxiliary website. The theme will be “Love is a 4-Legged Word.” June 15 is the postmark deadline. The contests are open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

National Pet Week 2023 poster
Cassidy Gamble’s artwork won the AVMA Auxiliary’s poster contest for National Pet Week 2023.