Covering The Holiday That Honors And Promotes Shelter Dogs
May 20th is widely known and celebrated as National Rescue Dog Day! This wonderful holiday aims to promote and raise awareness about shelter dogs and the struggles they face. Considering May is filled with so many major holidays like Memorial Day, Cinco De Mayo, and Mother’s Day, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of National Rescue Dog Day. Don’t worry because My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting has you covered! This article will discuss everything you need to know about National Rescue Dog Day and shelter dogs in general.
How It All Began
National Rescue Dog Day was originally founded by Lisa Wiehbrink, a children’s book author and the executive director of Tails That Teach. Tails That Teach is an organization that helps children learn the proper and loving way to treat pets. Lisa created this amazing holiday because of her rescue dog Cooper. Cooper was such a compassionate and loving companion that Lisa was inspired to create an entire holiday based around rescue dogs.
For more information about Lisa and National Rescue Dog Day, check out the official NationalRescueDogDay website.
Why Have A Holiday For Rescue Dogs
Rescue dogs are incredible animals, but they typically have a rough life. They often experience and are subjected to abuse, abandonment, anxiety, displacement, and malnourishment. While these are all horrible things for any dog to experience, many rescue dogs endure and become stronger as a result. The overall goal of National Rescue Dog Day is to raise public awareness about how wonderful rescue dogs are and how many of them need a good forever home.
The Struggles Of Rescue Dogs
Rescue dogs don’t just want help, they need help. About 3.1 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters every year according to the A.S.P.C.A. Out of those 3.1 million dogs, roughly 390,000 of them are euthanized every year. This is ultimately because animal shelters can only take in and care for so many animals at a time. While these statistics are both tragic and sad, there is hope. These numbers can be changed thanks to dedicated pet lovers like you.
How You Can Get Involved
You can make a tremendous difference in a rescue dogs’ life. If you are considering getting a dog, we strongly encourage you to adopt a rescue dog from your local shelter. It’s a win for everyone involved! You get a wonderful new addition to your family, it takes some of the burden off of your local animal shelter, and you are giving that dog a second chance at life.
Besides adoption, there are other ways for you to get more involved with National Rescue Dog Day. We encourage you to donate any funds you can to your local animal shelter as even the smallest of donations go a long way. If you can’t fit that into your budget, then we encourage you to volunteer your time instead. Most animal shelters are always looking for volunteers to help with caring for and cleaning up after the many rescue animals that come in on a regular basis.
Spread The Word
Aside from adoption, donating, and volunteering, you can also get involved with National Rescue Dog Day simply by spreading the word. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow dog lovers about this wonderful and helpful holiday. Be sure to share this article with your fellow pet lovers and mention this amazing holiday on social media by using the hashtag #nationalrescuedogday. Your actions can inspire others to do the same and before you know it, everyone is celebrating National Rescue Dog Day this May 20th.