PET CALENDAR

Celebrate National Mutt Day

Three Minutes
Jun 12, 2023

All you have to do is glance at the calendar to see how many national and international holidays are devoted to celebrating our canine companions.

So get ready to raise a paw to some very special pooches today, July 31st, as we celebrate National Mutt Day, a day devoted to recognizing, and embracing all the mixed breed dogs that share our lives and hearts.

In fact, mutts deserve so much recognition that we don’t just celebrate them once a year.  December 2nd goes to the pups as well!

History of National Mutt Day

This unofficial holiday was to recognize that mixed-breed dogs are just as amazing and loving as purebred pooches. 

The day also serves as a reminder of the numerous mixed breed dogs still in shelters all over the country waiting for their forever homes.  Many loving mutts have been overlooked as a result of the designer dog craze, further contributing to the country’s pet overpopulation crisis. 

Here are a few ways you can spend National Mutt Day giving mixed-breed pups the respect and recognition they deserve: 

1. Adopt a Shelter Dog  
 
By adopting a shelter dog, you can help solve the pet overpopulation problem facing shelters, rescues, and animal welfare organizations throughout the country (and the world).  Shelters are full of mixed breed dogs just waiting for people to adopt them and give them loving homes.

Mixed breeds are just as healthy as purebred dogs, and may not be as prone to the same genetically inherited diseases.  

2. Volunteer at your Local Shelter  

If adding a mutt to your home won’t work with the family schedule, you can spend a day volunteering at a local animal shelter. 

Shelters always need volunteers to walk the dogs, play with the animals, clean the toys and food dishes, and socialize the dogs.  Continued socialization and interaction is key to keeping the shelter animals happy and healthy. 

3. Make a Donation to an Animal Shelter  

You can always make a donation to an animal shelter of your choice. 

Many shelters function primarily on grants and public donations, so any amount is much appreciated.

4. Donate Food and Supplies to Shelters

Do you have dog or cat food leftover from a pet that recently passed away?  Or do you happen to have a lot of extra, clean towels or blankets around the house that you meant to donate?  Any animal shelter would be grateful to have these items.

All shelters need towels, blankets for the animals, dog and cat beds, and of course dog toys, paper towels, pooper scoopers, and many other supplies.  Most shelters post wish lists on their websites. 

If you don’t have any items, consider checking out the wishlist and purchasing a couple of bags of the dog food or treats the shelter uses. This will make the mutts’ (and the shelter staff’s) day!  

5. Spread the Word about Mutts
 
One thing everyone can do is spread the word.  Let people who are thinking of adding a pet to their family know that shelters are full of loving, healthy mixed-breed dogs.

Let your friends and family know that they can help cut down on animal overpopulation, shelter overcrowding, and euthanasia of healthy companion animals if they choose to #adoptdontshop. 

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