By Dr. Becker
National Dog Day – also known as International Dog Day, World Dog Day, and National Dog Appreciation Day – was founded in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and author, and is celebrated each year on August 26th.
The purpose of National Dog Day is to remind people of the number of dogs needing rescue each year, and to acknowledge the role of family dogs and working dogs in our lives.
In the words of Ms. Paige:
“I founded National Dog Day in 2004 to honor dogs… for their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work protecting our streets, homes and families as Police K-9’s, Military Working Dogs, Guide Dogs, and Therapy Dogs.
I want the world to celebrate dogs for their capacity to love and their ability to impact our lives everyday in the most miraculous ways.
I want this to be a day to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure – to help abolish puppy mills and end breed specific legislation so we can create a world where all dogs (and every animal) can live a happy, safe and ‘abuse-free life.’”
Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day
The National Dog Day website offers a list of ways to celebrate today, including these:
- Adopt a dog from your local shelter or rescue organization.
Alternatives: Volunteer at your local shelter and offer to walk or play with a dog, clean cages, or anything else they need help with. Donate blankets, food, and toys to animal welfare organizations.
- Organize a peaceful demonstration in front of your community pet store that sells puppies.
Alternative: Write your congressman and ask that he/she support the ban of puppy mills and gas chambers in your state.
- Have a National Dog Day party and invite all your friends and their dogs!
- Spend the day taking photos of your dog.
Alternative: Hire a professional pet photographer for a fun photo shoot. Have a portrait painted of your dog to suspend the fleeting magic of dogdom.
- Assist an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog.
- Buy your dog a fun new dog toy… or two… or five.
Alternative: Buy your dog a fashionable collar and leash.
- Give your dog some fun exercise by taking him or her to a doggy play resort.
Alternative: Take your dog to the beach.
- Brush your dog to eliminate excess fur.
Alternative: Give your dog a massage or holistic spa treatment.
- Teach your dog a new trick.
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Considering Adoption? One of These Dogs Would Love to Come Home with You
If you’re thinking about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization as a way to celebrate National Dog Day, I hope you'll keep in mind that certain kinds of pets – through no fault of their own – have a much harder time finding a new home than others.
By far the pets least likely to find new families to love are older pets, followed by animals with medical problems, dogs suffering from breed prejudice (primarily pit bulls), shy pets, and pets that need to be the only animal in the home.
Large dogs, black dogs, and pets with special needs also tend to languish in shelters much longer, and are euthanized more often, than animals considered more desirable by adoptive families.
