National Rescue Dog Day

Each year, pet shelters and rescue centers take care of millions of dogs that are looking for a new home. National Rescue Dog Day is here to celebrate the beautiful friendship that rescue dogs have to offer! 

History of National Rescue Dog Day

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately two million dogs are adopted from shelters into homes every year in the US. These are dogs that find themselves without a home for a variety of reasons, whether the family is moving, can no longer afford to take care of a pet, there is an illness in the family or other viable reasons. These dogs are typically in need of rescue by no fault of their own and they wait in pet shelters all over the country for a family to take them home and love them!

National Rescue Dog Day was founded by Lisa Wiehebrink, in 2018. Wiehebrink is an author of children’s books as well as director of the non-profit organization, Tails that Teach. The purpose of establishing the day was to bring awareness and attention to the amazing job that pet shelters are doing to help find forever homes for dogs that deserve a second chance.

How to Celebrate National Rescue Dog Day

National Rescue Dog Day offers a ton of different ways to be able to celebrate! Try out some of these ideas:

Show Your Rescue Dog Some Love

Those who have a canine member of their family who has been rescued can certainly celebrate this day in style! Get a little gift from the pet shop for your pup, such as a new chew toy or a bag of their favorite treats. Even better, spend some quality time with your pooch by taking them to a dog park or just on a little walk through the neighborhood.

Adopt or Foster a Rescue Dog

Families and individuals who have the capacity to take care of a rescue dog, whether for the long term or the short term, can sign up at a local pet shelter. Those who are looking for a long-term relationship with a pet can visit the shelter and find out what types of dogs are available that would be a good fit for their family. And those who can’t necessarily commit to long-term adoption can still help out by volunteering to foster a rescue dog temporarily while they wait for a forever home.

Volunteer at a Pet Shelter

Pet shelters are the places that provide rescue for dogs and take care of them until they can find their forever home. Families who can’t necessarily take care of a rescue dog of their own, those who already have as many pets as they can handle, or perhaps those who don’t have a large enough space, might want to consider volunteering at a pet shelter. This is a great way to get involved in the lives of rescue dogs and make a big difference on National Rescue Dog Day, without the big responsibility of dog ownership.