It’s March 23 and there’s no other way to celebrate the day than to recognize it as National Dog Day.
Observed each year on March 23, National Dog Day, or National Puppy Day – whichever you’d like to call it – celebrates the unconditional love and affection puppies have brought into our lives. For dog lovers everywhere, this is your day to limitlessly hug, cuddle and shamelessly squeal in delight, at the cuteness of your fur-babies!
But today isn’t just to celebrate how cute puppies are.
According to National Day Calendar, the day also brings awareness to the need for care and homes for orphaned pups as well as to educate people on some of the awful things being done in puppy mills across the nation.
According to USA Today, animal rights groups adopted the “Adopt Don’t Stop” slogan, spreading awareness of the inhumane practices happenings at puppy mills that often supply dogs sold online and at pet stores.
The day also brings a great deal of attention to puppy adoption services as well. Puppies are a huge responsibility and those who stay in shelters need love, as well as a home. It’s a day to recognize the importance of taking in dogs who may not have homes and to encourage prospective pet owners to adopt puppies instead of buying them.
Recently, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres teamed up with Wagmor Pets, a non-profit dog rescue, to celebrate National Dog Day on her show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” where she showcased puppies named Madrid, a 10-year-old Chihuahua Beagle mix, Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of 1 and a half-year-old Huskies, Skittles, a 4-month-old Shephard mix, Duck, a 7-year-old Chihuahua Spaniel mix, and Jill, a 12-week-old mix breed puppy, Entertainment Tonight reports.
DeGeneres has been a long-time advocate for the non-profit where she found herself adopting her own pet in 2019.
Wagmor Pets Founder Melissa Bacelar, who met and worked with DeGeneres to match her with the right pet to fit her home, encouraged many to celebrate the day by adopting a puppy and finding a home for a dog.
“We really hope that people will see our dogs up for adoption and realize that when they are looking for a dog, whether it be now or in the future, rescue is the only way to go,” Bacelar told ET. “There are so many amazing dogs that are looking for their forever homes, and it is always so inspiring and so exciting when a show like ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ puts these dogs in front of their audience.”
Bacelar says if you can’t adopt a puppy in celebration of National Dog Day, many can still help and get involved through promotion.
“People need to really look at the fact that rescue groups all over the country are getting litters. of puppies every week that need homes. This is a huge issue. One of the ways we can help stop this is by promoting spay and neuter programs…You can also go to our wish list and send puppy pads, puppy chews and puppy food,” Bacelar noted to ET.
Wagmore Pets offers adoptions, fostering, volunteer opportunities, transportation and fundraising. If you’re considering adopting a furry friend, all adoptions are available on the @WagmorePets Instagram page. If you’d like to donate, all information can be found at www.wagmorepets.org.
Read More at USAToday.
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