Happy National Dog Day!

from dogwalk

If you’re a dog lover, August 26th is the day for you – and these beloved animals. Started by Animal Miracle Network, National Dog Day celebrates dogs of all breeds and types: family dogs, service dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, police dogs, rescue dogs…. But more than that, the day is to raise public awareness of the many dogs that need to be rescued, and dogs who live in shelters looking for a loving home.

They actively strive to raise awareness of the fact that although every one has the right to have a purebred dog, many of these dogs come from puppy mills which have a very low quality of life for the breeding females. Their website says, “[W]hile we feel that American’s have the constitutional right to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying from pet stores, backyard breeders, the internet, newspaper ads and puppy mills, and rather encourage those seeking new canine companions, to verify that they are buying from a reputable breeder, educate themselves about their dog’s breed and better yet – visit their local shelter or pure breed rescue group for a new furry family member that will be forever grateful.”

The day was founded by pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige in 2004. She poetically says on the National Dog Day website, “It is the human condition to love. It is Love that changes the human condition. It is the love of one human that can change a nation. It is that love which empowers one nation to save man’s best friend.”