Throwing a Pet Birthday Party or Gotcha Day Celebration

Many people treat their pets as family members and celebrate special days with them. A birthday party for your pet is a great way to make him or her the center of everyone's attention for a day. And such parties are becoming more and more popular every day. It was recently reported that over 700,000 pets in the United States have had birthday parties thrown for them by their owners. It's a win-win situation for everyone; pets love to play, they love to eat, they love parties, and most of all, they love presents. If you haven't thrown your pet a party yet, now is the time to consider this fantastic way to connect with your pet's friends and other pet parents.

Choosing a Pet Party Theme

To make your party planning easier, the first and most important thing to think about is the theme. It is the central idea on which you'll base all other decisions for the party. You don't have to give your party a specific theme, but one will make the celebration more fun and enjoyable not only for your pet but also for the human guests. The possibilities are endless as any human kid's or adult's birthday party theme can be turned into a pet party with a little imagination. Here are some popular pet party themes to help you get started brainstorming:

Hawaiian Luau - Dress pets in Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts. Feature Hawaiian treats and music.
Casino Night - What could beat dogs playing poker?
Beach Party - Hold party in sandy play area. Add some props like surfboards, tropical trees, and tropical island posters.
Day at the Spa - Let owners pamper their pets for a day.
Red Carpet Affair - You'll definitely have to watch out for accidents with this one, but seeing everyone dressed up in their finest makes it worth the effort.
Wild West Party - Your pet may not wear boots, but he or she can imitate the cowboy life with a western style bandanna.
Mardi Gras Party - Play some big band and jazz music and have a parade of pets!
Over the Hill - Just because your pet is getting older doesn't mean that they won't enjoy a good party.

Planning a Party for Your Pet

Planning a pet party is just like planning a party for humans, you need to consider scheduling, location, and the guest list. Most likely, you will want to have the party on or near your pet's actual birthday. However, if he or she was adopted from a shelter or rescue organization, you may want to have it on their "Gotcha Day" in order to commemorate their becoming a member of your family.

For the location of your party, you will want to choose somewhere that matches with your theme if you have chosen one. If you plan to have an outdoor party at a park or in your own backyard, make sure that you have a contingency plan in case of bad weather. Wherever you choose to have the party, make sure that it is accessible to all guests and safely enclosed. Check that the enclosure does not have any holes that the party guests may be able to slip through. This is especially true for the smaller guests at the party. If your Rottweiler has started digging a hole under your fence in the backyard, make sure that it isn't big enough for your friend's Shih Tzu to crawl through. Be sure to double check these areas before you host your party.

After deciding the location of your pooch's party, the next step is to create a list of guests. You can invite family, friends, neighbors, etc., but leave any bullies off of the guest list. To avoid any potential scuffles between the party animals, only invite pets that yours already knows and feels comfortable with. If your best friend's dog is sweet, but just doesn't get along with your pet for some reason, it would be best to leave them off of the guest list. If you want to invite an animal whom yours has never met, set up a meeting between so that they can become acquainted with each other before the party. And if you invite any animals that have not yet been spayed or neutered, make sure that you alert the parents of the other pets at the party.

In regards to the length of the party, you can plan the party for as long as you see fit, just keep in mind that animals can become restless very easy. If you notice that many of the guests are getting cranky, don't be afraid to end the party early.

Putting Together the Pet Party Menu

Most importantly, you will want to provide plenty of fresh drinking water for your guests. Keep your birthday menu simple with a small selection of treats and snacks. Plan enough food so that every guest has his or her own treat at eating time. Make sure to only provide treats that are deemed safe for pets. If you are unsure about the toxicity of any of the treats that you want to give out at your party, consult your veterinarian. Also, it is a good idea to talk with the owners of the party guests beforehand to check if their pet is allergic to a particular food or ingredient. Finally, don't forget to add some food and drinks for your human guests. And remember, no celebration is complete without cake.

Pet Party Games & Activities

Having a birthday party is no fun without games. There are a variety of activities that can keep your guests excited throughout the entire event. But keep the games simple. If they are too confusing, it won't be any fun for the pets or humans.

Bobbing for Hot Dogs - Boil wieners and cut into chunks. Throw pieces into kiddie pool and let dogs fish them out and eat them.
Fetch - Have several Frisbees and tennis balls available for owners and pets to play with. Some pets won't need owners and will play with eat other.
Hide & Seek - Hide toys, treats, or even humans around your party area let your four-legged guests track them down. This just might keep them busy for hours!
Follow the Leader - Set up an obstacle course and have the dogs take turns following their human through the course.
Talent Show - Have your human guests and their pets perform a trick. Award prizes for skill or even best laugh.
Costume Contest - Another opportunity to award the originality of your guests.

Pet Party Safety Guidelines

You should always use your best judgment to determine if something is appropriate for your pet and the other pets in attendance at the party. Following a few safety guidelines will ensure that all of the party animals in attendance have a fun and safe time. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you a good starting point for your pet party safety.

Ensure that pets are monitored at all times
All pets attending the party should have at least one guardian present at the party as well.
Create a "timeout" area in case anyone becomes over excited.
Watch out for toys and decorations that can be choking hazards. For example, you may want avoid balloons, as pets may mistake them for balls and try to chew them, leading to disastrous consequences.
Avoid noise-making party favors, as they can be scary and hurt sensitive.
Be sure to have extra waste bags on hand for guest who may have forget theirs.
If having the party at public facility, be sure to leave the location in the same condition as it was in prior to the party.

Final Notes

If your pet is like most then they are already spoiled and don't need any gifts for themselves. Instead you can using your pet's birthday party as an opportunity to help other animals in need and collect donations for a local pet shelter or animal rescue.