National Rescue Dog Day 2024: What & When It Is
Updated on
National Rescue Dog Day is observed each year on May 20th. This day is set aside to bring awareness to the numerous dogs in shelters all across the country that need loving, forever homes.
According to national estimates, approximately 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters each year in the United States. With this staggering amount of unwanted and abandoned animals, around 390,000 dogs are being euthanized every year due to overcrowding.
National Rescue Dog Day exists to shed light on this problem and encourage dog-lovers all over the country to do their part to combat this ongoing tragedy.
The History of National Rescue Dog Day
Lisa Wiehebrink, a children’s book author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach founded National Rescue Dog Day in 2018. It all started when she adopted her very own rescue dog, Cooper. Sometimes, you just meet an animal that leaves an everlasting impact on your life and that’s what Cooper did for Lisa.
The bond she shared with Cooper and his incredible spirit inspired her to encourage others to adopt shelter dogs. Established in 2018, National Rescue Dog Day holds an annual campaign to raise money to give back to animal shelters all over the country. There are even adoption events held in honor of National Rescue Dog Day.
The Best Ways to Observe National Rescue Dog Day
There are many things you can do to observe National Rescue Dog Day. You can even get your family and friends involved. Here are some ideas.
Adopt or Foster a Dog
One of the best ways to observe National Rescue Dog Day is by adopting or fostering a rescue dog. Of course, you don’t need it to be May 20th to honor this holiday. If you are fully prepared for the responsibility of a dog and you are ready to bring a new four-legged family member home, there’s no time like the present.
You can visit local shelters, scour available pups online, or contact local rescue groups to help you find your new best friend. If you are not planning on adopting, consider being a foster parent for rescue organizations. This is another very rewarding experience, as you get to provide the dogs with a safe place to stay while they wait for their forever family. Regardless of whether you foster or adopt, it frees up space for another dog to be rescued.
Volunteer at a Shelter or Rescue
You can volunteer your time by heading to a local shelter or rescue and lending them a helping hand. These places are typically overwhelmed with animals and could always use help. The staff cannot provide undivided attention to each dog; by volunteering and encouraging others to do so, you can provide these dogs with much-needed love and social interaction. You can play with them, take them on walks, bathe them, feed them, and just shower them in love. What better way to spend your free time?
Spread Awareness of National Rescue Dog Day and the Benefits of Rescuing
If you are unable to adopt, foster, or volunteer at the moment, you can use your connections to help spread awareness of the need for the adoption of rescue dogs, National Rescue Dog Day, and the current companion animal overpopulation concerns.
Do you have your own rescue dog at home? Take the day to celebrate them. Take some photos and share your story. You can use social media to spread awareness of National Rescue Dog Day by mentioning it in your posts and/or using the hashtag: #NationalRescueDogDay.
Donate
Not only can you donate on the National Rescue Dog Day website, but you can also donate to local rescue organizations or animal shelters. You don’t necessarily have to donate money, either. Shelters and rescues are always in need of food and supplies, so you can reach out and see what they need.
Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog
You Are Saving Lives
When you choose to adopt a rescue dog, you are quite literally becoming a lifesaver. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized each year due to the overcrowding of shelters nationwide. When you choose to adopt from an animal shelter or a rescue organization, you are saving not only your new dog’s life but the life of another. Each time an adoption takes place, it frees up room for another animal to be taken in and rescued.
You Will Save Money
Not only are adoption fees substantially less than the cost of purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder, but there is some degree of veterinary care already completed upon adoption, which also saves you a lot of money.
Shelters will ensure your new dog is already spayed or neutered before going home and some even offer microchip services. With rescue organizations, their dogs are not only spayed or neutered but are typically up to date on vaccinations and parasite prevention. These are heavy expenses you can simply avoid by rescuing.
You Are Helping Combat Companion Animal Overpopulation and Puppy Mills
Each time someone opts to adopt an animal, it takes away not only the companion animal overpopulation, but it’s a way to give back to your community and pulls support from those dreaded puppy mills. There’s no shortage of cruel breeding practices happening here in the United States and all over the world. Dogs and puppies are subjected to small, confined spaces, horrendous living conditions, and overbreeding. The best way to put an end to this inhumane practice is by supporting adoption and raising awareness of this cruelty.
It’s Good For Your Health
According to research, owning a dog is good for both your mental and physical health. Having a dog will help keep you physically active, become more social, can help alleviate stress and anxiety, and even help lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. The truth is, you aren’t just improving your dog’s life by adopting them, they are improving yours as well.
Rescue Dogs are Special
The bond you can form with a rescue dog is like no other. If you have already rescued a dog, you are most likely familiar with this special connection that is truly hard to describe. Rescue dogs have a way of making you think they are fully aware of what you’ve done for them and tend to exhibit fierce loyalty and appreciation for their families.
Rescue dogs have suffered in one way or another. Many have been subject to both physical and emotional abuse and even neglect. Even those that were abandoned by owners that did not mistreat them are going to suffer from the emotional effects of the abandonment. When you make room for them in your family, they will return the favor by providing you with unbreakable loyalty and unconditional love.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’d like to adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, or just spread some much-needed awareness, there are many ways to celebrate National Rescue Dog Day. You don’t just have to observe National Rescue Dog Day on May 20th, any day of the year is the perfect day to rescue a dog in need or just appreciate the beloved rescue pups we have at home.
See also
- What is the 3-Day, 3-Week, 3-Month Rule for Rescue Dogs? Important Facts to Know
- When & What Is Thankful for My Dog Day? Update
Featured Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock
