Although every day is the perfect day to celebrate your dog, National Dog Day offers yet another opportunity to treat your dog a little extra special than an average day. On August 26, 2004, National Dog day was created by animal advocate Colleen Paige to provide an opportunity for all dogs to be celebrated and loved, but also to bring attention to the dogs in shelters waiting for their loving homes. Need some inspiration on how you can make the most of National Dog Day this year? Here are just a few of our favorite ways to celebrate!
- Adopt a new family member: When it comes to changing a shelter dog’s life, there are many ways you can help. One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of ways you can help change a shelter dog’s life is adoption. If you are looking to add a dog to your life, adopting from a reputable shelter is an excellent way to celebrate dogs. Not only do you change the life of the dog you are adopting by providing him a loving home, but you are also changing the life of the dog who will fill his place at the shelter now that there is a kennel open for him. There are dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds, and ages waiting to be adopted into loving homes! Click here to view our available pets!
- Fostering saves lives: If adoption isn’t on the table for you at the moment, another option you can consider is fostering. All of the available dogs at Roice-Hurst are eligible to move into a foster home while they await adoption, but we also have dogs who aren’t eligible for adoption yet and need a foster home to help get them ready for their new lives. This can include a nursing momma dog and her babies, orphaned puppies, low-confidence dogs, dogs with medical needs, and more. When you choose to foster a dog, in many cases it sets them up for success in their adoptive homes better than the shelter environment. The amount of individualized care and attention a dog receives in foster care is often far greater than a shelter setting can provide due to limited staff hours and many animals to care for. Foster homes often provide a better glimpse into a dog’s behavior and personality when compared to a shelter setting; for many dogs, a shelter is a scary and stressful place that may cause them to behave in ways they normally wouldn’t in a home setting. A foster home is a safe and comfortable place where they can feel free to be themselves and learn while they wait for their new family. Adding a foster dog to your life creates more room at the shelter for other dogs needing help and provides a rewarding experience for both the dog and their foster family. Click here to sign up or learn more about fostering for RHHS.
- Volunteer: Another great way to celebrate dogs any time of the year is by volunteering. Volunteers are a priceless resource for animal shelters, and Roice-Hurst is no different! Our volunteers are so important to everyone at RHHS, from staff members to the animals we care for. There are so many different and equally important ways volunteers are able to help–even if you know nothing about working with animals! Office work, dog/cat care, cleaning and maintenance, transporting pets, vaccine clinics and surgery days, events, supply drives, fundraisers, and community outreach opportunities are all available tasks through our volunteer program! You’ll never find a more grateful and accepting friend than an animal you’ve comforted and helped to find a “forever home” for, no matter what that help looks like. Click here to sign up or learn more about volunteering for RHHS.
- Spend time with your dog! Carve out some time in your schedule for one-on-one time with your dog–you and your pup won’t regret it! Taking a stroll around the neighborhood, finding a new trail to hike, teaching your dog a new trick, or even signing your dog up for a class or activity are great ways to spend quality time together. Even simple things like picking up your pup’s favorite treat or a few extra minutes of playtime and snuggles will mean the world to your dog!
For more information about National Dog Days and other great ideas to help you celebrate, visit National Dog Day online.