NATIONAL HUG YOUR HOUND DAY

On the second Sunday in September, National Hug Your Hound Day dedicates a furry hug to our canine companions. All day long, be sure to give your pooch your full attention. Even spend the day much the way your dog spends it.

The idea of Hug Your Hound Day is about observing your dog (from his point of view). That means, explore your dog’s world from his perspective. Investigate his environment and habits. You may discover some hazards as you roam around the house or yard. For example, you might find broken chew toys that have become choking risks. Perhaps your fur baby leads you to realize he has access to toxic chemicals.

Look for items or places that put your forever friend in danger. Place childproof locks on cabinets. Discard or repair any broken items. Our yards can be surprisingly risky, too. Check for toxic plants or holes in the fencing. 

Not only will your pup enjoy the companionship, but he will also be safer for all your exploring, too.

NATIONAL HUG YOUR HOUND DAY HISTORY

Ami Moore, author and canine behaviorist, created National Hug Your Hound Day. Her desire is to make America more pup-friendly, as it is in Europe. She would like for our dogs to be accepted in more places. Examples provided include taxis, malls, and restaurants. She encourages the appreciation of the companionship and value our dogs give us emotionally and physically. 

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHugYourHoundDay

Spend a little extra time with your pups.  Get down to their level. Make sure their environment and the places you take them are warm, comforting, inviting and safe. Oh yeah, and give your hounds some hugs! Use #NationalHugYourHoundDay to post on social media.

Ginger Cat Appreciation Day

Meet Leo
Leo keeps us on our toes while being a sweet cuddle bug when he wants to…

Ginger Cat Appreciation Day brings a little love to ginger cats. Sometimes called marmalade cats or tiger cats, ginger cats are orange tabby cats. Tabby cats have striped, marbled, ticked, or spotted markings on their coats, and almost always have a marking in the shape of an M on their forehead. All orange cats are tabbies, but not all tabbies are orange. There are no solid orange or ginger cats. Ginger cats come in shades of orange, gold, and red. Most ginger cats are male, and both domestic or wild cats can be ginger cats.

While all ginger cats are honored today, one particular ginger cat, Doobert, is recognized today for his role in helping change animal transport. Chris Roy created a software platform that helps coordinate animal rescue relay transport, which is used by rescue organizations and volunteers, and named it after Doobert, his late ginger cat. Doobert is by no means the only ginger cat to have ever garnered a bit of attention. Milo of The Adventures of Milo and Otis fame, Garfield, Winston Churchill’s cat, JockJones from Alien, and Orangey, who starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, among other films, all have had their time in the spotlight. But whether famous or not, all ginger cats are celebrated today!

That is our Leo pictured. He looks like a lion cub and definitely has the heart of one. This baby fell down a wall from a space in the attic. His momma somehow broke in, and had her litter up there. All his siblings are jet black. We had to rescue him from behind the bedroom walls. Took us 3 days to find him, cut the wall open and eventually animal services was able to help recover him from the crawl space under the floor. Meet Leo on my YouTube channel!

While now he does not look it, he was rescued at two weeks old. Cold, starved and scared to death after his trip, it was touch and go for a while. Somewhere on his journey he must have consumed drywall or insulation that caused a bowel blockage. We had 3 vets tell us he just wouldn’t make it and we should let them euthanize him.. Today he lives happily chasing all our inside cats up the nearest wall and getting baths from them all.

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How to Observe Ginger Cat Appreciation Day

Some ways you could celebrate the day include:

  • If you have a ginger cat, show some extra appreciation for them. Give them more of your time, a new toy, or a special treat.
  • Show appreciation for someone else’s ginger cat.
  • Adopt a ginger cat.
  • Celebrate the legacy of Doobert by getting involved in animal rescue.
  • Watch a film with a ginger cat such as Breakfast at Tiffany’sThe Adventures of Milo and Otis, or Alien.
  • Read some Garfield comics.
  • Make sure to share on social media too…#GingerCatAppreciationDay
Adopt a shelter Pet
Adopt a shelter Pet

NATIONAL DOG DAY

National Dog Day on August 26th encourages dog ownership of all breeds. While seeking a new companion, be sure to consider the mutts, mixes, purebreds, and everything in between. 

Whether mixed or purebred, embrace the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe, and abuse-free life. They all give us companionship. Additionally, they keep us safe, and they aid those in need. Dogs play. Well, they play many roles in our lives, too! They keep us healthy, both physically and mentally.

While many days aim to find loving homes for dogs, this day expands that consideration to look beyond the breed. Look into the heart of the animal. The purpose of the National Dog Day Foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs each year.

A dog is man’s best friend.

Breeds

Purebreds are animals whose parents were both of the same breed. While the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes official breeds, not all dogs with parents from the same breed are considered official by the AKC. One benefit of purebred animals is that characteristics such as behavior and size are predictable.

With mixed breed animals, the genetics becomes uncertain, and some of the predictability is lost. However, when it comes to choosing a dog to add to your family or for training one to join a team, both purebred and mixed breeds may still fit the bill. Both types of dogs, young and old, find their way to shelters.

Many popular breeds fill shelters due to recent films or television shows. Families buy an animal imagining they will make the perfect pet but are unprepared for the training, care, and other responsibilities that come with canine care. Regardless of their genetics, all dogs require care and training. If there’s a particular breed that has captured your heart, check the shelters. You might be surprised to find either a purebred or one that is a mix of the kind you’re fond of.

Meet Rosie. She is spoiled rotten and happily shares our home with 5 cats and us humans too.

When dogs find a forever home, their companionship creates lifelong benefits. They bring with them joy, loyalty, and devotion. Eventually, no matter the breed, these pets become family.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDogDay

Listen to Dog Walking by The Knits from their album Pixel Parks.

When considering adoption, adopt, don’t shop. If you have your heart set on a purebred companion, consider visiting a website like bestfriends.org or petfinder.com to find one at a shelter. Learn how organizations like these are changing the way we adopt. As you search for your new family member, get prepared. Keep in mind the needs of a small versus large dog. Until you find your forever companion, consider volunteering at your shelter or becoming a foster parent.

Use #NationalDogDay and post photos of your dog on social media. Take your dog for a walk.  If you do not have a dog, ask to take your neighbor’s dog for a stroll, or volunteer at a shelter.

NEVER BEAN BETTER DAY

If you’ve waited for a Never Bean Better Day to enjoy the unconditional love of your canine companion, August 22nd is the day! Just like our ever-joyful pets, the day casts away the worries and spreads enthusiasm for life.

The celebration encourages both the spirit of generosity and sharing the joys of life with delight. Go out into the world with your family pet and plant the bean of love everywhere you go. Share it generously, like dogs do when they take care of us when we are sick or down. They give us all their love with abandon in the forms of licks and snuggles. Sometimes our furry friends do tricks and antics only canines know how to do. Other times, they even perform their own love song or woo woo. Every day should be a Never Bean Better Day to share all the love your dog stores up!

NEVER BEAN BETTER DAY HISTORY

The Drager Group, Inc. founded Never Bean Better Day to recognize the unconditional love dogs bring to human lives. The observance honors the birth of a special therapy dog, Bean, who eagerly spreads his Bean wuv everywhere he goes. Bean improves the lives of those who need it most. Visit NeverBeanBetter.com to learn more about Bean and his many talents, canine and not so canine.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NeverBeanBetterDay

In recognition of the celebration, share the Bean wuv. Fetch up some fun and make a difference like Bean, a very special therapy dog, does every day in providing comfort and joy to so many through his physical and virtual presence. Help someone by sharing your time, talent or treasure or just by making someone’s day by getting them to play … human or canine!

Follow Bean’s tail on Facebook at Never Bean Better @neverbeanbetterwoo, Instagram, and Twitter. Be sure to spread the Bean wuv by using the #NeverBeanBetterDay and @neverbeanbetter to share your never bean better moments on social media. Get out and fetch up some fun! Make every day a Never Bean Better day!