Okay – we know all about pure breeds especially through our spotlight series but we want to talk to all of you who are claimed and loved by mutts.
Those fabulous four-leggers with different colored eyes, odd shaped ears or fur that’s less than sleek.
We love our mutts!
On July 31, Americans everywhere will join together to celebrate National Mutt Day. Here’s more info about how you can join the fun and give shelter mutts a second chance at a forever home.
What it Takes
What does it take to be declared a true mutt? Mixing and matching. We’re not talking about a cross breed like a Labradoodle or a Cockapoo.
Nope, we’re talking about the Heinz 57 of dogdom. These dogs have more strains in them than we can ever know. And it’s what makes them so lovable!
Some History
In 2005, Colleen Paige created National Mutt Day on July 31 and December 2 to spotlight the plight of mutts in shelters everywhere. Why two dates? There are just a bucket load of mutts in overcrowded shelters all over the country.
And they’re the ones who are losing out to the puppies, purebreds and the new onslaught of designer dogs. They need you now.
Betcha Didn’t Know …
Two of the most famous performing mutts were Benji, a mixed breed Terrier, and Old Yeller who was a mix of Lab and Mastiff who topped out at 172 pounds.
The goal of National Mutt Day is to get 10,000 dogs out of shelters and into loving homes where they will enjoy a happy, healthy life.
Why Adopt a Mutt?
In a word, longevity. These dogs can go long and be with you and your family for years past their purebred cousins’ expiration dates. They live longer because mutts tend to be heartier with a more diverse gene pool to pull from.
Their health tends to be better than purebred dogs and, let’s face it, your mutt will truly be one of a kind.
And every mutt that’s snatched from a shelter is one less puppy bought from a puppy mill. That, in itself, should be enough impetus to get out there and find the perfect mutt for you and your family.
How You Can Help
Getting the word out is critical and you can do that by going on your Facebook page and sharing the National Mutt Day page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMuttDay?fref=ts
If you aren’t in a position to be able to adopt right now … that’s fine, everyone understands that … you could go to your local shelter and see what you can do to volunteer. Walk dogs, feed them, give them the love they deserve.
You could also walk a neighbor’s mutt to help out or even order a National Mutt Day T-shirt. There’s no stopping what you can do when you get started.
It just takes one. One adoption from a shelter helps mutts everywhere. Just one more life saved from the shelter.
On July 31, celebrate the joy of the mutt. Throw a party and invite everyone to bring their mutts. And remember to love them every single day.
Reference link: http://nationalmuttday.com/index2.htm
http://dogtime.com/december-2-is-national-mutt-day.html
Image Credit: istockphoto.com
