Raising Awareness on National Dog Day 26th of August: Shedding Light on Shelter Dogs’ Plight in the United States – Don’t Kill

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day: Celebrating Our Canine Companions and Advocating for Their Well-being

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day: Introduction

National Dog Day, a heartfelt celebration founded in 2004 by Colleen Paige, an esteemed Animal Welfare Advocate, Pet Lifestyle Expert, and Conservationist, resonates with dog lovers worldwide.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

Notably, Paige has pioneered numerous other commemorative occasions, including National Mutt Day, National Puppy Day, and National Cat Day.

This august event, observed annually on the 26th of August, holds deep personal significance for Paige, coinciding with the day her family embraced their first canine companion, “Sheltie,” when she was merely 10 years old.

Embracing Canine Diversity: A Unifying Mission on National Dog Day – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

The essence of National Dog Day transcends breed boundaries, encompassing both purebred and mixed-breed dogs.

It serves as a clarion call, compelling the public to fathom the staggering numbers of dogs in dire need of rescue each year, encompassing those languishing in public shelters, rescues, and pure breed sanctuaries.

Beyond this, the day celebrates the dual roles played by dogs: as cherished family members and as unsung heroes devoted to safeguarding lives, offering solace, and contributing to our shared human experience.

Canines, standing as steadfast partners for law enforcement, aids for the visually impaired, and lifelines for the disabled, orchestrate an orchestra of enrichment in myriad facets of our lives.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

A Chronicle of Dedication: Dogs as Protectors and Comforters – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

National Dog Day stands as an enduring tribute to the gallant canines that selflessly lay their lives on the line. These valiant creatures stand guard, whether it’s for personal protection, law enforcement collaborations, or supporting individuals with disabilities.

They embody a potent symbol of freedom, vigilantly unmasking bombs and drugs, while also rendering aid in locating and rescuing victims caught in the throes of accidents and calamities.

Their exceptional abilities now even extend to detecting cancers and seizures, feats that transcend human capabilities. This profound dedication led to the formal recognition of National Dog Day through its inclusion in New York State Legislation in 2013.

Bridging Understanding: Shunning Breed Bias – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

An underlying tenet of National Dog Day staunchly opposes any form of breed ban. Paige ardently contends that no dog should endure life’s forfeiture due to the transgressions imposed upon them by humanity.

She advocates, “Dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man.”

Thus, the day resounds as a clarion call to embrace compassion and respect for dogs, acknowledging their extraordinary attributes and the unwavering love they unreservedly shower upon us.

A Pledge Against Uninformed Choices: Encouraging Responsible Adoption – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

While the prerogative to acquire a purebred dog is acknowledged, the prevailing wisdom vehemently discourages patronizing pet stores linked to puppy mills, amateur breeders, online platforms, or newspaper advertisements.

Rather, the clarion call resonates to explore adoption as a primary option. For those drawn to purebred canines, perusing purebreed rescues offers a channel to discover a furry companion awaiting a forever home.

Large chain pet stores that actively foster adoption from local shelters and rescues serve as another avenue.

When considering breeder options, due diligence is paramount: scrutinize licenses, peruse internet reviews, and solicit feedback from local veterinarians to ensure ethical practices and informed decisions.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

An Unwanted Tragedy: The Struggle of Unclaimed Love

Colleen Paige, the visionary behind National Dog Day, underscores the somber reality that countless dogs meet untimely demises due to sheer abandonment.

Their plight hinges on varied circumstances: lack of understanding about the breed’s requirements, ill-fated Christmas gifts that lose their charm, excessive shedding or barking, or simply a change of heart.

Yet, all a dog yearns for is a chance to reciprocate love and find a loving home. In the tapestry of their being, dogs embody courage, sensitivity, and an innate connection to human emotions.

National Dog Day champions their cause, imploring us to embrace these beings of “unwanted love” and grant them the solace of a caring home.

Fighting for Their Lives: The Current Landscape – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

As National Dog Day, August 26th, approaches, it serves as a poignant juncture to address the alarming rise in the euthanizing of shelter dogs.

A staggering 450 dogs meet this tragic fate daily across the United States due to homelessness. This unsettling reality has prompted organizations like the Best Friends Animal Society to rally for change, striving to end feline and canine killings in shelters by 2025.

Notably, shelter admissions surged by 100,000 in 2022, juxtaposed against a stagnant figure of dog adoptions just below a million. Concurrently, breeder and pet store acquisitions have witnessed a steady climb over recent years.

National Dog Day

A Beacon of Hope: Contributing to Change – Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

The dire situation presents a moral imperative for individuals to step up and enact change in their communities. Numerous avenues stand open to champion the cause of homeless dogs and alleviate their suffering:

  1. Adoption: A Lifeline for Canine Companions

Adoption serves as the pinnacle of humane assistance. It furnishes homes with diverse canine companions, tailored to every lifestyle and need. Shelters burgeon with dogs awaiting a loving embrace, offering the path to transforming lives and saving souls.

  1. Fostering: A Bridge to Forever Homes

For those hesitating to adopt, fostering stands as an instrumental option. It provides a transitional haven for animals, offering a reprieve from the stresses of shelter life while they adapt to domestic settings. Moreover, fostering facilitates the process of matching pets with prospective owners.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
  1. Transport: Bridging Gaps and Saving Lives

Transporting animals from regions burdened by overpopulation to areas with high demand is pivotal in curbing the euthanasia epidemic. Individuals engaging in animal transport play an indispensable role in steering society closer to a no-kill paradigm.

  1. Volunteering: A Tapestry of Support

The arduous responsibilities borne by shelter staff necessitate a robust volunteer force. Dog walking, kennel upkeep, and other essential tasks empower shelters to operate seamlessly, enabling staff to focus on adoptions and animal welfare advocacy.

  1. Donations: Nurturing Through Contribution

Donations, whether monetary or material, infuse shelters with vital resources. Food, blankets, towels, and other supplies form the lifeblood of these establishments. By extending a helping hand, contributors bolster the journey towards no-kill sanctuaries.

  1. Sharing: Amplifying the Message

Social media emerges as a powerful ally in the crusade for canine welfare. Sharing posts from shelters and rescue groups propels awareness and encourages potential adopters to step forward. A simple click can initiate profound change.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

Conclusion: Raising Awareness on National Dog Day

National Dog Day encapsulates an ethos of compassion, empathy, and activism, underpinned by the enduring bond shared between humans and dogs.

Founded by Colleen Paige, this annual celebration reverberates with the ethos of responsible adoption, the elimination of breed bias, and the transformation of lives through education and action.

In a world where countless canine lives teeter on the precipice of demise, National Dog Day ignites a spark of hope, reminding us that every gesture, whether adopting, fostering, volunteering, or advocating, furthers the cause of safeguarding these loyal and noble companions.

Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
Raising Awareness on National Dog Day
The list of dog breeds, varieties, and types, organized alphabetically
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
AAffenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Africanis, Aidi, Airedale Terrier, Akbash, Akita, Aksaray Malaklisi, Alano Español, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Alaskan husky, Alaskan Klee Kai, Alaskan Malamute, Alpine Dachsbracke, American Bulldog, American Bully, American Cocker Spaniel, American English Coonhound, American Eskimo Dog, American Foxhound, American Hairless Terrier, American Leopard Hound, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Ariège Pointer, Ariégeois, Argentine Pila, Armant, Armenian Gampr, Artois Hound, Assyrian Mastiff, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Australian Terrier, Austrian Black and Tan Hound, Austrian Pinscher, Australian Silky Terrier, Azawakh
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
BBakharwal, Banjara Hound, Bankhar Dog, Barbado da Terceira, Barbet, Basenji, Basque Shepherd Dog, Basset Artésien Normand, Basset Bleu de Gascogne, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Basset Hound, Bavarian Mountain Hound, Beagle, Beagle-Harrier, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Shepherd, Bergamasco Shepherd, Berger Picard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frisé, Biewer Terrier, Billy, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black and Tan Terrier, Black Norwegian Elkhound, Black Russian Terrier, Black Mouth Cur, Bloodhound, Blue Lacy, Blue Picardy Spaniel, Bluetick Coonhound, Boerboel, Bohemian Shepherd, Bolognese, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Ardennes, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Boykin Spaniel, Bracco Italiano, Braque d’Auvergne, Braque du Bourbonnais, Braque Français, Braque Saint-Germain, Brazilian Terrier, Briard, Briquet Griffon Vendéen, Brittany, Broholmer, Bruno Jura Hound, Bucovina Shepherd Dog, Bulgarian Hound, Bulgarian Scenthound, Bull Arab, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Bully Kutta, Burgos Pointer
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
CCa Mè Mallorquí, Ca de Bou, Ca Rater Mallorquí, Cairn Terrier, Calupoh, Campeiro Bulldog, Can de Chira, Can de Palleiro, Canaan Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Cane Corso, Cane di Oropa, Cane Paratore, Cantabrian Water Dog, Cão de Gado Transmontano, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Carea Leonés, Carolina Dog, Carpathian Shepherd Dog, Castro Laboreiro Dog, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Catalan Sheepdog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Český fousek, Český strakatý pes, Cesky Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chien Français Blanc et Noir, Chien Français Blanc et Orange, Chien Français Tricolore, Chihuahua, Chilean Terrier, Chinese Crested Dog, Chinook, Chippiparai, Chongqing, Chortai, Chow Chow, Chukotka sled dog, Cimarrón Uruguayo, Cirneco dell’Etna, Clumber Spaniel, Colombian Fino Hound, Continental bulldog, Corsican Dog, Coton de Tulear, Cretan Hound, Croatian Sheepdog, Curly-coated Retriever, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
DDachshund, Dalmatian, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Danish Spitz, Danish–Swedish Farmdog, Denmark Feist, Dingo, Dobermann, Dogo Argentino, Dogo Sardesco, Dogue Brasileiro, Dogue de Bordeaux, Donggyeongi, Drentse Patrijshond, Drever, Dunker, Dutch Shepherd, Dutch Smoushond
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
EEast Siberian Laika, East European Shepherd, Ecuadorian Hairless Dog, English Cocker Spaniel, English Foxhound, English Mastiff, English Setter, English Shepherd, English Springer Spaniel, English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Erbi Txakur, Estonian Hound, Estrela Mountain Dog, Eurasier
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
FFaroese Sheepdog, Field Spaniel, Fila Brasileiro, Finnish Hound, Finnish Lapphund, Finnish Spitz, Flat-coated Retriever, French Bulldog, French Spaniel
National DOg Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
GGalgo Español, Gascon Saintongeois, Gaucho sheepdog, Georgian Shepherd, German Hound, German Longhaired Pointer, German Pinscher, German Roughhaired Pointer, German Shepherd, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Spaniel, German Spitz, German Wirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Golden Retriever, Gończy Polski, Gordon Setter, Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir, Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange, Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, Grand Bleu de Gascogne, Grand Griffon Vendéen, Great Dane, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Greek Harehound, Greek Shepherd, Greenland Dog, Greyhound, Griffon Bleu de Gascogne, Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, Griffon Nivernais, Guatemalan Dogo, Gull Dong, Gull Terrier
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
HHällefors Elkhound, Halden Hound, Hamiltonstövare, Hanover Hound, Harrier, Havanese, Himalayan Sheepdog, Hmong bobtail dog, Hokkaido, Hovawart, Huntaway, Hygen Hound
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
IIbizan Hound, Icelandic Sheepdog, Indian pariah dog, Indian Spitz, Irish Red and White Setter, Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Wolfhound, Istrian Coarse-haired Hound, Istrian Shorthaired Hound, Italian Greyhound
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
JJack Russell Terrier, Jagdterrier, Jämthund, Japanese Chin, Japanese Spitz, Japanese Terrier, Jeju, Jonangi
National DOg Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
KKai Ken, Kaikadi, Kamchatka Sled Dog, Kangal Shepherd Dog, Kanni, Karakachan, Karelian Bear Dog, Karelo-Finnish Laika, Kars, Karst Shepherd, Keeshond, Kerry Beagle, Kerry Blue Terrier, Khala, King Charles Spaniel, King Shepherd, Kintamani, Kishu, Kokoni, Kombai, Komondor, Kooikerhondje, Koolie, Korean Jindo, Kromfohrländer, Kuchi, Kunming, Kurdish Mastiff, Kuvasz
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
LLab, Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Lài, Lakeland Terrier, Lancashire Heeler, Landseer, Lapponian Herder, Large Münsterländer, Leonberger, Levriero Sardo, Lhasa Apso, Liangshan Dog, Lithuanian Hound, Lobito Herreño, Löwchen, Lucas Terrier, Lupo Italiano
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
MMackenzie River Husky, Magyar Agár, Mahratta Hound, Majorca Shepherd Dog, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Maneto, Markiesje, Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, McNab, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Fox Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Molossus of Epirus, Mongrel, Montenegrin Mountain Hound, Moscow Watchdog, Mountain Cur, Mountain Feist, Mudhol Hound, Mudi
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
NNeapolitan Mastiff, Nenets Herding Laika, Newfoundland, Norfolk Terrier, Norrbottenspets, Northern Inuit Dog, Norwegian Buhund, Norwegian Elkhound, Norwegian Lundehund, Norwich Terrier, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Norwegian Buhund
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
OOld Danish Pointer, Old English Sheepdog, Olde English Bulldogge, Otterhound, Ovcharka, Ovtcharka
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
PPachón Navarro, Pampas Deerhound, Papillon, Parson Russell Terrier, Pastor Garafiano, Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai, Patagonian Sheepdog, Patterdale Terrier, Pekingese, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Perdigueiro Galego, Perro Majorero, Peruvian Hairless Dog, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Petit Bleu de Gascogne, Phalène, Pharaoh Hound, Phu Quoc Ridgeback, Picardy Spaniel, Plummer Terrier, Plott Hound, Polish Greyhound, Polish Hound, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Pomeranian, Pont-Audemer Spaniel, Poodle, Porcelaine, Portuguese Podengo, Portuguese Pointer, Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Water Dog, Posavac Hound, Pražský Krysařík, Presa Canario, Pudelpointer, Pug, Puli, Pumi, Pyrenean Mastiff, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Pyrenean Sheepdog
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
RRafeiro do Alentejo, Rajapalayam, Rampur Greyhound, Rat Terrier, Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz, Ratonero Murciano, Redbone Coonhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rize Koyun, Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog, Romanian Raven Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Rough Collie, Russian Spaniel, Russkiy Toy, Russo-European Laika, Ryukyu
National Dog Day
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
SSaarloos Wolfdog, Sabueso Español, Saint Miguel Cattle Dog, Saint-Usuge Spaniel, Saluki, Samoyed, Sapsali, Sarabi, Sardinian Shepherd Dog, Šarplaninac, Schapendoes, Schillerstövare, Schipperke, Schweizer Laufhund, Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund, Scottish Deerhound, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Segugio dell’Appennino, Segugio Italiano, Segugio Maremmano, Serbian Hound, Serbian Tricolour Hound, Serrano Bulldog, Shar Pei, Shetland Sheepdog, Shiba Inu, Shih Tzu, Shikoku, Shiloh Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Silken Windhound, Sinhala Hound, Skye Terrier, Sloughi, Slovak Rough-haired Pointer, Slovak Cuvac, Slovenský Kopov, Smaland Hound, Small Münsterländer, Smithfield, Smooth Collie, Smooth Fox Terrier, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, South Russian Ovcharka, Spanish Mastiff, Spanish Water Dog, Spino degli Iblei, Spinone Italiano, Sporting Lucas Terrier, St. Bernard, St. Hubert Jura Hound, Stabyhoun, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, Stephens Stock, Styrian Coarse-haired Hound, Sussex Spaniel, Swedish Lapphund, Swedish Vallhund
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
TTaigan, Taiwan Dog, Tamaskan Dog, Tang Dog, Tarsus Çatalburun, Tatra Shepherd Dog, Tazy, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, Telomian, Tenterfield Terrier, Thai Bangkaew Dog, Thai Ridgeback, Tibetan Kyi Apso, Tibetan Mastiff, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Tonya Finosu, Tornjak, Tosa, Toy Fox Terrier, Toy Manchester Terrier, Transylvanian Hound, Treeing Cur, Treeing Feist, Treeing Tennessee Brindle, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Trigg Hound, Tyrolean Hound
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
VValencian Terrier, Vikhan, Villano de Las Encartaciones, Villanuco de Las Encartaciones, Vizsla, Volkosob, Volpino Italiano
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
WWeimaraner, Welsh Hound, Welsh Sheepdog, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier, West Country Harrier, West Highland White Terrier, West Siberian Laika, Westphalian Dachsbracke, Wetterhoun, Whippet, White Shepherd, White Swiss Shepherd Dog, Wire Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Vizsla
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
XXiasi Dog, Xoloitzcuintle
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
YYakutian Laika, Yorkshire Terrier
LetterBreeds/Varieties/Types
ZZerdava

More Interesting Articles


2 thoughts on “Raising Awareness on National Dog Day 26th of August: Shedding Light on Shelter Dogs’ Plight in the United States – Don’t Kill”

Leave a Comment