In the UK, it's estimated that around 44% of households have pets - that's around 51 million pets.

And we love them... so much so that we Brits spent an estimated £6.9 million on them in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

So it's only right that we should have a national day to celebrate them, and National Pet Day arrives on April 11, after being founded in 2006.

Marked around the world, it celebrates the joy pets, whether they are feathered, finned or furry, bring to our lives and also aims to highlight the need for animal adoption.

Founder Colleen Paige is an animal behaviourist and author of The Good Behaviour Book For Dogs.

She quotes well known vet James Herriot in summing up the need to celebrate them.

"If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

The day also encourages people to share their photos of their pets via social media.

To find out more about National Pet Day visit nationalpetday.org and on Twitter here.

For more days out ideas with your pet click here.