Pet Anxiety Awareness Day is launching across Europe on October 12, 2026, supported by Orion Pharma Animal Health. The initiative brings a decade of US education on fear, anxiety and stress (FAS) in companion animals to European veterinary clinics.
The European launch is the first formal step in the international expansion of Pet Anxiety Awareness Month (PAAW), a US initiative founded by pet-care expert Kristen Levine in 2017. The US programme marks its tenth anniversary in 2026.
Unlike the US consumer- and media-facing campaign, the European programme is veterinary-led. Educational assets and resources will be distributed through veterinary clinics, reaching pet parents through their veterinary team, including veterinarians, technicians and clinic staff.
Six-country launch
The 2026 launch will include activation in:
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Sweden
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Norway
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Denmark
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Hungary
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Czech Republic
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Poland
Educational resources will also be available online across Europe through petanxietyawareness.eu in English, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Hungarian, Czech and Swedish.
Why the initiative matters
Fear, anxiety and stress are among the most common behavioural concerns in companion animals, according to the initiative. However, signs can be subtle and pet owners may not connect behavioural changes to an underlying medical condition.
Pet Anxiety Awareness Day is designed to close that gap by starting the conversation in veterinary clinics, where owners are more likely to discuss changes in their pet’s behaviour with a veterinary professional.
Orion Pharma Animal Health said that advancing education among pet owners and veterinary professionals is essential for early identification of anxiety and prevention of prolonged animal distress.
Veterinary clinic toolkit
European veterinary professionals will receive a focused set of clinic-ready tools, including:
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A clinic poster with QR code.
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An educational infographic.
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A short educational video.
