Activities to Celebrate National Dog Day August 26th
Friday August 26th is National Dog Week. There are loads of things you can do to celebrate National Dog Day. Why stop at one day? Make it National Dog Weekend! Read on to check out this list of the top 10 suggestions for how to celebrate Pooches across the Nation.
1) Volunteer at a local shelter.
“Dogs bring joy and unconditional love to our lives, but the great paradox right now is that we are literally killing our best friends,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society.
Unfortunately, dogs entering shelters increased in 2022 by approximately 100,000.
At the same time, dog adoptions have stalled at just under one million nationwide and industry data shows that dogs acquired from breeders and pet stores have been steadily increasing over the past few years.
Below are a few ways you can help homeless dogs and shelters in your community.
Adopting: For those looking to add a new four-legged companion to their home, choosing the adoption option is one of the simplest ways to help achieve no-kill. Whether you’re looking for a child-friendly companion, or a small, low-energy apartment pal, shelters across the country are filled with the best dogs for every lifestyle.
Fostering: Not ready to adopt? Fostering is a great option that provides an animal with the space and time to decompress, while acclimating to life in a home. It is also essential to no-kill since it provides animals a temporary home until they can be adopted. Many organizations offer also offer foster-to-adopt programs where individuals can see if a pet is right for their home before adopting.
Transporting: Driving animals from areas where there are too many pets looking for homes to areas where pets are in demand is crucial to saving more lives. By driving a transport of adoptable animals, people can play a vital role in achieving no-kill.
Animal Care: Shelter staff across the country are spread thin. Walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and doing laundry are all essential tasks to keep shelters running smoothly. When staff delegate tasks to volunteers, it allows them to dedicate more time to facilitating adoptions, managing intakes, and advocating for their resident animals.
Donating: If a lack of time prohibits volunteering, donating provides resources to help shelters save more lives. And donations don’t have to be monetary. Shelters are always in need of supplies like food, blankets, towels, cat litter, and even old newspapers.
Sharing: Shelters and rescue groups often post about dogs in need at their organization. By sharing these posts on social media channels, more awareness is created and can help dogs find foster or adoptive homes. It’s a quick, free, and easy way to make a positive difference.
To learn more about how to get involved Visit BestFriends.org.
2) Visit a National Park -Free Admission August 25th
The last full week in August celebrates the National Park Service Birthday. Here is a list of national parks which allow well behaved, controlled pet dogs. Please reach out before you go to under stand the rules and regulation of the park you have in mind.
Here are Some of the Best Dog Friendly National Parks:
- Acadia National Park. Maine
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cleavland Ohio
- Grand Canyon National Park. Northern Arizona
- Great Sand Dunes National Park. Southern Colorado
- Hot Springs National Park. Arkansas
- Mammoth Cave National Park. Kentucky
- Shenandoah National Park Virginia
3) Visit a small local dog parks. Some are real special some are simply dog friendly. It is a great place to meet like minded people and allow your dog to frolic with other canines. Here are a few award winning dog parks.
Beau's Dream Dog Park at Buchanan Park Lancaster, Pa.
Fort Woof Dog Park at Gateway Park Fort Worth, Texas
Elm Creek Reserve Dog Park Maple Grove, Minn.
Fort DeSoto Paw Playground and Beach Tierra Verde, Fla.
4) So you’re a city dweller. Hope is not lost. Many parks in larger cities will have sections of the park just for dogs. Here are just 2 examples of dog activities in NYC. Check out Prospect Park Dog Beach or Water4Dogs which allows you to swim with your dog. Also check out this list of Dog Hot spots in New York City. I am sure your city may have similar offerings.
5) Go shopping together in a pet-friendly store Abercrombie and Fitch, Lowes, Home Depot, Pottery Barn, Nordstrom, Old Navy and many more stores allow well behaved dogs. Visit a pet store where you can let your dog pick out a treat.
6) Enjoy the simple pleasure of driving with the windows open or the top down
7) Make a doggie playdate with a friend's dog.
8) Play in the sprinklers.
9) Eat on the patio at a dog-friendly restaurant. Start your search here.
10) Take a Trip to a Pet Friendly Hotel. DOGGYWOOD.
Reservations recommended
11) Make Homemade Dog Treats
12) Play, run, or nap with your dog (or all three)
Without compromising their rules, some national parks have started Bark Ranger programs. This was originally meant to educate visitors with pets about the park’s rules. But the program has become so popular with guests collecting badges for their pets that it’s spreading quickly.
Learn more about the 49 national parks where your pup can become a Bark Ranger.
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