Love Your Pet Day: TakePart Fans Share Pet Photos

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sitting a Golden Retreiver/German Shepherd, sitting dog

Commemorated this year on February 20, ‘Love Your Pet Day’ is the official day when you’re supposed to pamper your pet with a little extra TLC. While we certainly support the day, we think we should love our pets every day.

But to celebrate, why not go above and beyond for your pet—and other pets? Don’t just crack open a can of cat food, make Whiskers’ breakfast from scratch. Don’t just toss Fido that grimy old tennis ball, ante up and buy him a new chew toy. Sure, Frisky will love a walk around the block, but today take him to the dog park, where he can run free all day. And instead of brushing Mr. T.’s shaggy main, let the groomers give him a proper haircut. Meanwhile, when you pick up a bag of food for your pet, why not buy an extra one and donate it to a local shelter?

In honor of the day, we share some of the photos you shared with us of your pets, the companions you hold near and dear to your hearts. Enjoy.

PS: This is five-year old Bailey, a Golden Retreiver/German Shepherd. She loves shedding, and though she acts like a cat, she's very good as scaring off burglars.

(Photo: Laurel Angelica Myers)

Lil Bimmi

This adorable Labrador was born in late December. Seriously, doesn't get any cuter than this.

(Photo: Kimmi Russell Flemming)

sitting brown dog wears yellow bandana around his neck

Riley

The favorite to-do of this adorable year-and-half year old rescue mutt? Squirrel hunting. Other intersting Riley factoidals: he has a fear of large horses, real or fake. "One time he ate his flea medicine," writes owner Allison Bierly. "The vet said she had never heard of a dog doing that before. To this day, he goes nuts anytime I take it out."

(Photo: Allison Bierly)

brown Miniature Pincher and puppy playing on lawn covered with leaves

Mickey and Ranger

It's brotherly love on this lovely day playing in the leaves for Mickey, a three-year old Miniature Pincher and his little brother, four-week old Ranger.

(Photo: Rosmarie Russo)

Princess

"She adopted us 10 years ago when we first moved into our house," writes owner Susane Honchell-Martin. This timid cat loves to roll around in the dirt and will "talk" to you."

(Photo: Susane Honchell-Martin)

Addison

This amazing looking Shi-Poo really loves car rides.

(Photo: Jennifer Wigfield)

three dogs lying by the fireplace, one Goldendoodle and two Labradoodle lying by a fireplace.

Lola, Ony, and Maggie

Fireplace friends: Lola (Goldendoodle on the left), Maggie (Labradoodle on the right), and Ony (black Labradoodle). Maggie once played Sandy in Annie.

(Photo: Deb Goodkin)

two dogs share a dog bed, a pitbull and boxer share a dog bed

Twiggy and Oscar

Old friends Twiggy the pitbull and Oscar the boxer. "Twiggy's not around anymore, and Oscar's ready to follow her any week now, but they leave a lot more behind than they take with them," writes owner Allan MacDonell.

(Photo: Allan MacDonell)

black and white Shih-Tzu lying on his side

Beaver

This four-year old Shi-Tzu is "loved more than words," writes owner Jill Garcia Schmidt.

(Photo: Jill Garcia Schmidt)

two dogs, brown dog and black and white Siberian Husky separated by a wall

Milly and Buck

Love birds Milly and Buck, a Siberian Husky. "I call them Romeo and Juliet," says owner Alessandra Carta.

(Photo: Alessandra Carta)

Maximus

This two-year old, 145-pound Labradane named Maximus thinks he is a lap dog. He loves to take the whole sofa for himself. "He also likes to pick clean laundry and make you chase him around and he will try to sit on your lap," writes Laura Fazlinovic.

(Photo: Laura Fazlinovic)

brown and white Boxer lies on white blanket

Karma

This cute two-year old Boxer loves to insist that one half of the couch is hers, writes owner Melissa Coon.

(Photo: Melissa Coon)

Charlie

This four-month old domestic cat was adopted two months ago, writes owner Evelina Mayatsova Sturzeneker. "The cutest thing about her is how she meows to her reflection."

(Photo: Evelina Mayatsova Sturzeneker)

two black and white cats lying in and around sink

Agatha Christie and Lucy

Both Agathie Christie (left) and Lucy (right) are short-haired domestic cats. "Aggie," as she's known, likes sleeping in the sink, while Lucy likes drinking out of it.

(Photo: Leslie Huys)

white cat and black and white Shih-poo snuggled together

Kitty and Rocky

This inter-special duo are "BFF's," writes owner Lorena Rodriguez. Rocky is a Shi-poo.

(Photo: Lorena Rodriguez)

white pitbull mix puppy sits with Hollywood sign as backdrop

Tippi

Six-month old pitbull mix Tippi is a rescue dog from Angel City Pitts in Los Angeles. She enjoys long hikes near indelible landmarks.

(Photo: Blaire Borkowski)

English Bulldog sits on beach chair, dog sits on beach chair

Roscoe

An English Bulldog, Roscoe loves to "sleep in" and "to eat cantaloupe," writes owner Christina Lindstrom.

(Photo: Christina Lindstrom)

close-up of dog's face, face of a Bull Mastiff mix

Kingston

Grace Wynter rescued Kingston, a Bull Mastiff mix, from the Humane Society three years ago. "He snores like a grown man who's just worked a double shift and he is unfamiliar with the concept of personal space."

(Photo: Grace Wynter)

white and brown pitbull lies on the lawn with a tennis ball

Jules

According to owner Becky Knoke, Jules is "a large sponge who wants to be with us at all times." This gentle giant has influenced several of Knoke's friends and family members to change their opinions about the breed.

(Photo: Becky Knoke)

Noche

This insanely cute year and a half old rescue pup is a Leo. "He loves a good dance party," writes owner Angel Lopez.

(Photo: Angel Lopez)

dog in blanket, black and brown Chihuahua lying in a white blanket

Ruby Juanita Margarita Ann

Owner Bri Simons calls this little Chihuahua with a big name "Ruby Doo" for short. "She was named after my Grandma Ruby, my mom, and my Godmother," writes Simons.

(Photo: Bri Simons)

two dogs sit on a sofa, Terrier mix and a Chihuahua/Terrier share a sofa

Charlie and Kelsey

Charlie, an 11-year old Terrier mix, and two-year old Kelsey, a Chihuahua/Terrier, are both rescue dogs.

(Photo: Bri Simmons)

Sonny

Sonny loves to play with bones—and get up close and personal for photographs!

(Photo: Jill Sunflower Ferguson)

Rocky Blueboa

Rocky Blueboa is an electric blue lobster. "He is mostly vegetarian, but sometimes likes to have fish for lunch," writes owner Bri Simons.

(Photo: Bri Simons)

black dog lying on bed, black Labrador mix lies on bed

Luna

Luna the Labrador mix loves to sleep under the covers each night—tucked in, with her head on a pillow.

(Photo: Yssa Caprica Mahoney)

Kikko

This black beauty is an American long-hair. "He plays fetch and is named after soy sauce—for his color," writes owner Amanda Dalia.

(Photo: Amanda Dalia)

Dewey

This adorable 11-year-old Jack Russell terrier "looks just like a Robert Motherwell painting," writes owner Lynn Hirschfield.

(Photo: Lynn Hirschfield)

Gumpy Girl

Gumpy Girl is a medium-haired tabby cat. "If I ask for kisses, she puts her face out to the side so I can kiss her cheek," says owner Julia Jay Hatch.

(Photo: Julia Jay Hatch)

black, white and brown Shetland sheepdog

Orlo

This happy Shetland sheepdog loves to lick, writes owner Karen Stancliffe.

(Photo: Karen Stancliffe)

Pearl

What hair! Pearl, a Shetland sheepdog, is the adopted sister of Orlo.

(Photo: Karen Stancliffe)

brown dog with owner at the office, brown Golden Retreiver/Chow mix with owner at office

Simon

This super cute Golden Retreiver/Chow loves typing emails at the desk of his owner Lauren Isaacson. "When we adopted him from the shelter, his name was Rod Stewart because of his fluffy head of blonde hair," she writes.

(Photo: Lauren Isaacson)

white and brown hound lies on back on chair

Prada the Wonder Basset Hound

"She was the last of many foster hounds from the Basset Hound Rescue of Souther California," writes owner Mary Vuong. She was adopted then was returned becuase the adopting owner wasn't home enough. "When she came back to us, we couldn't let her go again. She is the one who came back to stay and we love her."

(Photo: Mary Vuong)

black dog wearing a hoodie, black miniature poodle wears a hoodie

Nougat

Nougat is an eight-year old miniature poodle. He loves bread, cheese, and the swag of his hoodie, writes owner Sara Gelinas-Mercier.

(Photo: Sara Gelinas-Mercier)

dog wears red goggles and puts face out the car window

Darla

This adopted American bulldog / Dogo Argentino "enjoys road trips, long walks on the beach, and cuddling with humans—as long as they're not wearing hats," writes owner Diana Hanyak.

(Photo: Diana Hanyak)

Czikczik

Cikczik is a six-month old domestic cat. "She came to us in our holidays and she brought happiness into our life!" writes owner Pani Delfina.

(Photo: Pani Delfina)

Princess Tiger Lily

"Apple now employs feline laborers," jokes Princess Tiger Lily's owner Erik Andreasen.

(Photo: Erik Andreasen)

Diablo

Diablo is a 12-year-old pug. Allegedly, he has "Pug Life" tattoo across his belly—a la Tupac's infamous ink job "Thug Life," writes owner Derek Doneen.

(Photo: Derek Doneen)

Mookie

Mookie, an Old English Bulldog, is a "water snob," writes owner Carrie Alling. "She won't drink her water if anything weird has landed in it—piece of food, bug, whatever." Other interesting "Mook" facts: she loves to sunbathe like a cat with her eyes closed and her ears back.

(Photo: Carrie Alling)

Paddington

Owners Chris and Celeste Gebhardt decided to get Paddington after watching the singing pug scene in Men in Black II.

(Photo: Chris Gebhardt)

Wesley and Rupert

Wesley and Rupert are brother Schoodles—Schnauzer and poodle mix. They were named after "Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, the watchers Rupert Giles and Wesley Wyndham Pryce," writes owner Bronwyn Beck.

(Photo: Bronwyn Beck)

Poncho

"We took him from a friend who couldn't take care of him anymore," writes owner Dianuski Kirikii of Poncho. "He keeps yawning all day long—and he really looks like a cat when he does it."

(Photo: Dianuski Kirikii)

Elvis

Elvis is a 13-month-old, long-haired mini-doxy, writes owner Christy Williams Burdine. "Just like his namesake, he's a lady's man and his favorite snack is peanut butter and banana."

(Photo: Christy Williams Burdine)

Memphis

Memphis, a spunky four-month-old, long-haired mini soxy, insists on wearing his aloha shirt everywhere, writes owner Christy Williams Burdine.

(Photo: Christy Williams Burdine)

black Labrador mix on leash lies on sand

Maddie

Three-year-old Labrador mix Maddie loves sleeping in on cold mornings and going for long runs with her owners, Sal Cardoni and Cristina Carpintero.

(Photo: Sal Cardoni)

Topics

Animals, Love Your Pet Day, pets, dogs, Cats