Celebrate National Rescue Dog Day

National Rescue Dog Day serves as a reminder to recognize the over 3 million dogs that enter U.S. animal shelters each year and are available for adoption. This day encourages people to adopt their next dog from a shelter or rescue, giving them a second chance at a happy life. Although the number of surrendered dogs has decreased, over 600,000 dogs are still euthanized annually in the U.S. Raising awareness can encourage more people to adopt rather than shop.¹

National Rescue Dog Day was founded in 2018 by Lisa Wiehebrink, children’s book author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach, an organization that helps children learn their pets' kind and responsible care. Lisa’s inspiration for National Rescue Dog Day came from her rescue dog Cooper, who was rescued as a puppy from a Los Angeles shelter in 2009 after being found living in a vacant lot. “There is something so special about Cooper. He is a gentle giant with a kind soul. His grateful spirit and unconditional love make me believe that he knows he was rescued. It’s for these reasons that I wanted to encourage others to consider adopting a dog from a shelter,” states Lisa.²

Why Adopt?

Adopting a dog from a shelter offers many benefits beyond simply providing a home for a pet. Many shelter dogs are already house-trained and have received vaccinations, making the transition easier and often more affordable than adopting from a breeder. Adopting saves lives and creates space in overcrowded shelters, enabling them to rescue more dogs in need. Each adoption generates a positive ripple effect that benefits the entire community.

It's a common misconception that dogs in shelters are there because of behavioral issues. This is not usually the case. Often, these animals are surrendered by their owners because of human-related issues.

Ways to Celebrate

1. Adopt Your Next Dog - Adopt from a local rescue or shelter and give a dog a second chance.
2. Post a Photo of Your Rescue Dog - This is a way to celebrate all the dogs that have been saved and encourage others to rescue.
3. Foster a Dog - If having a dog is too big of a commitment at the moment, consider fostering one instead. Fostering helps a dog adjust to a home environment rather than living in a shelter. It's also a great way to determine if you are ready for a pet full-time!
4. Donate to a Rescue or Shelter of Your Choice - Check their website or social media to donate or view through their wishlist. Every donation counts.

Rescue Organizations You Can Help

Here are just a few rescues you can donate to:

• North Shore Animal League America - https://www.animalleague.org/
• ASPCA - https://www.aspca.org/
• Best Friends - https://bestfriends.org/
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue -  https://www.bwar.org/
• Joybound -  https://joybound.org/

Use PAL's Pet Finder

Browse through adoptable dogs in your area using our pet finder tool. You can filter by breed, age, size, and gender.

Browse Now ➔

References

1. https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics
2. https://www.nationalrescuedogday.com/home