What is DOGust 1st? Exploring the Birthday for Shelter Dogs (2024 Update)
By Lorre Luther
Updated on
Let’s be honest; doggy birthdays are important. We get to shower our beloved four-legged friends with treats, love, extra bits of their favorite foods, and trips to their favorite places. And that’s before we even get started on the gifts! Shelter dogs deserve birthday celebrations too. That’s precisely what happens every year on August 1st; it’s the universal birthday for shelter dogs and dogs whose birthdays aren’t precisely known.
The North Shore Animal League of America, a no-kill shelter in New York, came up with the idea, and the first celebration occurred in 2008. Shelters around the US participate by running social media campaigns to encourage people to consider adopting a canine companion, often offering discounts on fees. It’s a celebratory day for all dogs with unknown birthdays, including former shelter dogs who’ve been adopted. When it comes to celebrating DOGust 1st, the sky’s the absolute limit. It’s all about finding your own way to celebrate the love dogs bring into our world. Below, you’ll find a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.
How to Show Shelter Dogs Some Love
There are many ways to show your love for shelter dogs, from volunteering to donating to support animal welfare work that resonates with your values. Read on for a few suggestions on supporting the vital work shelters do.
1. Volunteer
Shelters and animal welfare organizations run largely on the work of volunteers and rely on them to take care of just about everything, from administrative tasks to animal socialization. Many organizations lost volunteers during the pandemic and are actively looking to increase community participation. Most organizations have volunteer opportunities requiring different time commitments, from one-time 2-hour options to ongoing weekly ones. Almost all local animal welfare organizations and shelters have volunteer contact forms on their websites you can use to inquire about getting started.
2. Donate
If you don’t have the time or the interest in volunteering, consider donating to your local shelter. No-kill shelters won’t euthanize healthy dogs or pets with treatable illnesses. They will euthanize pets who are seriously suffering and those with behavioral problems so extreme that they pose a danger to others. They often work with other organizations around the country to send adoptable pets to places where dogs are needed. A save rate of 90 to 95% is the gold standard for no-kill shelters. Never-kill shelters don’t euthanize pets, but they remain controversial due to the quality of life concerns. Regular shelters euthanize healthy animals often due to space limitations. Check out a few organizations’ websites to decide which shelter type appeals to you. Most contain information about the shelter’s philosophy and statistics showing admissions and outcomes you can use to guide your decision.
3. Foster
Organizations sometimes ask foster volunteers to give a dog a temporary home when spots at the shelter start filling up. Fostering helps no-kill shelters expand their available places when space starts running short.
Foster parents also help care for animals who need extra care or attention, such as animals recovering from illness or those who need a calm environment. Fosters also play a huge role in preparing puppies for adoption since they provide the socialization shelter pups need to thrive when they go home.
Getting started with fostering usually requires volunteers to fill out an application and complete training. Shelters typically provide everything needed, including toys and supplies like puppy pads. Food and medical care are also covered. Fostering a dog is a great way to spend time with a loving companion if you’re not prepared to make a long-term commitment.
4. Adopt
Shelters often have special events and run campaigns to facilitate adoptions on and around DOGust 1st. Many offer discounts on adoptions as well as spay and neuter fees. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a dog and are ready to make one of the most joyful commitments of your life, there’s no reason to wait until DOGust1st as there are several adoptable pets currently in shelters ready to hit their forever homes.
Pets bring lots of love and serious responsibilities, so don’t forget to factor your housing situation, health, finances, time commitments, and the number of years you’ll likely spend caring for your dog into your decision. Adopting a pet is a long-term life-altering commitment, as the average dog lives between 10 and 13 years, with some breeds like Chihuahuas often making it into their late teens.
Is DOGust 1st for Former Shelter Dogs Too?
Absolutely! If you’re the proud companion of a former shelter dog, feel free to celebrate your buddy’s birthday on DOGust 1st; it’s the universal birthday for all pets with unknown birthdays. There’s no such thing as giving your dog too many special days! Just go easy on the treats if you decide to throw multiple doggie parties.
Summary
DOGust 1st is the universal birthday for dogs without a known birthday. It was thought up by the dog lovers at the North Shore Animal League of America and has been an event since 2008. There are several ways to celebrate DOGust1st, from making a donation to your local shelter to getting serious about your dog’s birthday. Whether you throw a party or volunteer, we hope you make the most of August 1st!
Featured Image Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock
