News and Events

Golisano Foundation Awards $426,000 in First Round of COVID-19 Response Grants

Rochester, NY—May 14, 2020—The Golisano Foundation announced today that is has awarded $426,300 in its first round of COVID-19 Response Grants. Now through the end of October 2020, the foundation is redirecting approximately $2 million in grant funding to assist organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida due to the coronavirus crisis.

Grants totaling $23,300 from the Foundation’s new Bailey and Friends Fund will go to organizations dedicated to animal welfare that are experiencing unexpected costs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bailey and Friends First Round COVID-19 Response Grants – $23,300

Beverly Animal Shelter – $5,000
The Humane Society of Yates County – $1,000
Mr. Grey's Strays, Inc. – $2,000
Pet Pride of NY – $4,800
Rochester Hope for Pets – $3,000
SNIP Collier – $5,000
Wyoming County SPCA – $2,500

Pet Holidays

2021 Pet Holidays and Awareness Dates

January

14 – Dress Up Your Pet Day
24 – Change a Pet’s Life Day
29 – Seeing-Eye Guide Dog Anniversary

February

14 – Pet Theft Awareness Day
20 – Love Your Pet Day
22 – Walking the Dog Day
25 – World Spay Day

March

13 – K9 Veterans Day
23 – Puppy Day
28 – Respect Your Cat Day

April

8 – Dog Fighting Awareness Day
10 – Hug Your Dog Day
11 – Pet Day, Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
23 – Lost Dog Awareness Day
28 – International Guide Dog Day
30 – Therapy Animal Day

May

3 – Specially-Abled Pets Day
9 - Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
20 – Rescue Dog Day

June

4 – Hug Your Cat Day
21 – Take Your Cat to Work Day
25 – Take Your Dog to Work Day

July

1 – ID Your Pet Day
15 – Pet Fire Safety Day
31 – Mutt’s Day

August

1 – “DOGust 1st” Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
5 – Work Like a Dog Day
21 – International Homeless Animals’ Day
22 – Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
26 – Dog Day

September

8 – Dog Walker Appreciation Day
18 – Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Responsible Dog Ownership Day
23 – Remember Me Thursday Day
28 – World Rabies Day

October

4 – World Animal Day
9 – Pet Obesity Awareness Day
16 – Feral Cat Day
21 – Pets for Veterans Day
29 – Cat Day

November

1 - Cook for Your Pets Day

December

5 – International Volunteer Day

2021 National Awareness Months

January – Walk Your Dog Month, Train Your Dog Month, Unchain a Dog Month

February – Cat Health Month, Pet Dental Month, Responsible Pet Owners Month, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, Dog Training Education Month

March – Pet Poison Prevention Month

April – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, Active Dog Month, Pet First Aid Awareness Month, Heartworm Awareness Month

May - National Pet Month, Foster Care Month, Chip Your Pet Month

June – Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, Foster a Pet Month, Pet Preparedness Month

July – Lost Pet Prevention Month, Pet Hydration Awareness Month

August – Immunization Awareness Month

September – Service Dog Month, Responsible Dog Ownership Month, Disaster Preparedness Month

October – Animal Safety and Prevention Month, Adopt-a- Shelter Dog Month, Pet Wellness Month

November – Adopt a Senior Pet Month, Senior Pet Month, Pet Awareness Month

December – Cat Lovers’ Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month