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National Rescue Dog Day Is May 20th

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National Rescue Dog Day is celebrated on May 20th. It is observed to bring awareness to all the amazing dogs in shelters who are looking for their forever homes all over the country.

Lisa Wiehebrink, author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach, founded the day in 2018. Her organization teaches children how to properly treat animals. 

So how can you celebrate National Rescue Dog Day? According to https://www.nationalrescuedogday.com, here are some ideas:

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

Share Photos. Post photos of your rescue dog on social media by using #nationalrescuedogday.  Add a comment about why your rescue dog is special. You may encourage someone to adopt.

Love. Give your rescue a long walk, tasty treat or toys, or any other item that they adore.

Adopt. If you are thinking about bringing a pet into your family, adopt through a shelter or rescue group. 

Foster. If you have space and the time to keep a rescue in your home for a period of time, consider fostering. It helps the dog decompress in a home setting and gives them an opportunity to improve their socialization skills. Some pets need quiet spaces to heal from medical concerns before they can be adopteed.

Shelter. Donate items to your local shelter.

Volunteer. Walk dogs at your local shelter and/or work on their socialization skills.

Spay. Spay or neuter your pets.

Education. Teach children how to be responsible and give love to animals in their orbit.

International Homeless Animals’ Day

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The third Saturday of August is designated as International Homeless Animals’ Day. The event was started by the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) which is an animal welfare group. According to MetLife Pet Insurance, one of the group’s main programs is related to “reducing the deaths of dogs and cats that occur due to overpopulation.”
In the US, events such as adoption fairs to dog walks to spay and neuter clinics, are used to promote awareness. We can have a local impact on pet overpopulation. Let’s highlight some of the ways you can take part in reducing the number of homeless animals and decreasing overpopulation.

Actions You Can Take

First, spay or neuter your pets. This is the most direct impact you can have on preventing overpopulation and keeping unwanted pets out of shelters. Other ways you can reduce shelter capacity include fostering shelter pets.
Pets are often stressed and do not behave as they would normally when in a shelter. Keeping a pet in a foster home reduces stress . It also allows potential adopters to see the pet as they would typically behave. It also makes for an easier transition from a foster home to a forever home. Moving from a shelter directly into an adopter’s home can take a toll on both the pet and the new pet parent. The pet will spend more time decompressing which can result in some pets being returned before they have had time to adapt.
You can also serve as an animal advocate to encourage reduced shelter capacity through microchip programs, spay and neuter programs, and rescue groups and fostering programs. Each one of us can help keep the number of homeless animals low. One day, we might reach the point where shelters are no longer a capacity. Let us know how you plan to take part in Homeless Animals’ Day.

Let’s Celebrate Your Mutt on National Mutt Day

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For those of us with mix breed dogs in our lives, we have two days to celebrate them! The first date is July 31st and the second day of celebration comes on December 2nd. What, you may be asking, is National Mutt Day?

According to nationalmuttday.com, this holiday, also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day, was created by Colleen Paige in 2005. Paige is a celebrity pet and family lifestyle expert. National Mutt Day allows individuals to celebrate and save mixed breed dogs. 

The website states that the day’s mission is to “educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes and to celebrate the amazing characteristics that the mix of breeds creates in each individual dog”.

If you are thinking about adding a new pooch to the family, consider heading out to the shelter on National Mutt Day to find your new floofin!  If you can’t adopt a mixed breed friend on July 31st or December 2nd, remember that shelters are open to donations or even volunteer assistance. You can walk dogs, donate food, or supplies. Rescue groups can also use foster assistance or dog beds or toys or other supplies. 

June Is National Foster A Pet Month

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Did you know that June is National Foster a Pet Month? If you didn’t, you might be surprised by one of the statistics shared by the Petco Foundation.

Susanne Kogut, president of the Petco Foundation, reported that if “2% of pet-owning households in the U.S. fostered just one pet a year, we could eliminate unnecessary euthanasia in this country, not just during the COVID-19 shutdown, but forever.”

Kogut encouraged individuals to continue to foster as businesses begin to reopen. [Read more…] about June Is National Foster A Pet Month

National Pet Parents Day

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When April 26th rolls around this year, the traditional methods for celebrating National Pet Parents Day might not be readily available. With many communities sheltering-in-place as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make its way across the country, getting out and participating in the pet community may not be possible. 

Many shelters and rescues have been reporting that they are empty, which is great. That means you may not be able to go and provide your time to a shelter or foster a pet.

So, if you currently don’t have a pet in your life but are considering one, don’t give up. Rescues and shelters still need supplies. Monetary donations are always helpful, if you have the resources. Also, volume surges and wanes, so you may find that your fostering services will be needed later on.
[Read more…] about National Pet Parents Day