There seems to be a holiday for just about everything these days, but few actually deserve the hype. National Puppy Day? This one definitely deserves it!
If you’ve ever had a puppy press their nose against your leg, or watched them sprint in wild circles around your family room, you already know that puppies are something special. They’re chaotic, they’re exhausting, and they’re completely, unapologetically worth it.
So, when is National Puppy Day? Mark your calendar: it’s celebrated every year on March 23rd. Founded in 2006, the holiday was created to celebrate the unconditional love puppies bring into our lives and to raise awareness about the importance of adoption. It’s a day to share pictures, spoil your pup, and maybe finally make a trip to your local shelter to give a pup a new home.
At Portage Park Animal Hospital, we’ve been celebrating puppies every single day for over 40 years. And while we love a good holiday, we also know that the real celebration happens when a puppy grows into a healthy, happy dog. That doesn’t happen by accident. It all starts with good care, early and often.
The Best Gift You Can Give A New Puppy
Squeaky toys and cozy beds are great. But the best thing you can do for a new puppy is set them up with a solid health foundation from the very beginning. Those first weeks and months matter more than most people realize. Vaccinations, parasite prevention, and early exams are the building blocks of a long, healthy life.
To help keep your puppy happy and healthy, we created our Puppy Wellness Plan.
What Our Puppy Wellness Plan Includes
Our Puppy Wellness Package is built around four structured visits during your puppy’s first year and a half, each priced at $175. Every visit includes a comprehensive physical exam, age-appropriate vaccinations, parasite screenings, and, as needed, deworming treatment. Here’s how it breaks down:
Visit 1 (6-9 weeks): Your puppy’s first check-up covers a full nose-to-tail exam, a fecal test for intestinal parasites, the distemper-parvovirus vaccine, and a one-month preventative for fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
Visit 2 (9-12 weeks): We build on that first layer of immunity with another distemper-parvo booster, the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, and a repeat fecal exam.
Visit 3 (12-15 weeks): More boosters, another full exam, and possibly Lyme disease or Canine Influenza vaccines, dependent on your puppy’s lifestyle. If your pup visits dog parks, groomers, or boarding facilities, these are worth the conversation.
Visit 4 (16-18 weeks): The finish line. This final visit includes the rabies vaccine, a complete physical, and a last fecal test. Your pup will leave fully vaccinated and ready to take on the world.
A Neighborhood Practice That Treats Your Pet Like Family
Portage Park Animal Hospital has been part of the Chicago community since before most of our current clients were born. We’re your neighbors, and we genuinely care about every patient that walks through our doors.
Our team offers flexible hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm; Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm), an online pharmacy with home delivery, and the kind of personalized attention that’s getting harder to find.
How to Celebrate National Puppy Day In Chicago
Chicago isn’t just a great city for people; it’s a surprisingly great city for dogs, too. If you want to make this day extra special for your pup, here are a few ways to do it right here in the neighborhood.
Hit a dog-friendly park. Chicago’s park system is full of off-leash areas where your puppy can run, socialize, and burn off that endless energy. Portage Park has one worth exploring, and Horner Park Dog Friendly Area in Ravenswood is always a hit with the four-legged crowd.
Find a dog-friendly patio. As the weather starts to turn, plenty of Chicago restaurants and coffee shops, such as Portage Grounds and Easy Street Pizza & Beer Garden, welcome well-behaved dogs on their patios. It’s a great way to let your pup socialize.
Share the love online. Post a photo, tag a friend who needs a puppy in their life, or share information about local shelters. National Puppy Day has always been about spreading awareness, and a single post can go a long way.
Schedule that first vet visit. We know, we get it, we’re biased. But genuinely, one of the best things you can do to celebrate your puppy is to make sure they’re healthy. A quick call to Portage Park Animal Hospital is a pretty great way to mark the occasion.
Let’s Celebrate The Right Way
This National Puppy Day, give your new pup the gift that keeps giving. Snap some photos, share posts on social, let them eat a pupcake, but also make the appointment. A healthy puppy is a happy puppy, and a happy puppy makes everything better.
Call us at (773) 725-0260 or schedule an appointment online. We can’t wait to meet our next favorite patient.
