Maybe your sweetheart wasn’t super creative last year.  Or maybe that sweetheart isn’t around at all anymore.  But good old Rover or your faithful Kitty is always there when you need them.  Pass over Valentine’s this year and set aside February 20 to have a date with your pet.  Celebrate the official “Love Your Pet Day.”

Plan a romantic (and possibly chilly) walk with your favorite pet.  Did you know you can even get coats and leashes for rabbits now?  Seriously.  Even Thumper can get in on the cardio action with a stroll (or hop) in the park.

Prepare a special meal.  If you normally stick to dry food, go exotic and buy the aromatic canned variety.  Some animals will go nuts for the stuff.  Feed your guinea pig a spinach salad and listen to him squeak in delight.  Give your dog a bone wrapped in a pretty ribbon and capture his loyalty forever (you know you already had it, but it’s kind of like a wedding band – in sickness and in health and all of that…)

Have a party.  Here’s where you can involve friends and family.  Send out invites to anybody who has a pet that can behave themselves.  (So you don’t want Auntie’s Persian coming over if your canary is hosting the show.)  Go wild and make it a costume party.  Then things can get really interesting.

Dress as a princess yourself and get a Frog Princess costume for your pup.  Then you’ll know it will end happily ever after.

Or disguise yourself as an elf and dress your cat or dog as the famous Santa Claus himself.  Hand out presents to all the pets at the party and they’re sure to come back next year.

Try transforming your home into an adventure with pirate and buccaneer costumes for both you and your pet.  Swing from the rafters, make party poopers walk the plank and just generally get rowdy and have fun.  Your pet will be the most popular in the neighborhood.

Have an exciting and even romantic February by celebrating with your most loyal companion on “Love Your Pet Day.”  There’s a friend who’ll never let you down.