Visit your local shelter and adopt a Mutt on National Mutt Day! National Mutt Day was created in 2005 by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige. It’s celebrated twice a year, on July 31 and December 2.
Saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs is the driving purpose behind National Mutt Day. It strives to raise awareness and educate the public about the millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs in shelters around the nation that desperately await new homes. On July 31, shelters across the country are hoping to adopt out hundreds of pets.
Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier, better behaved and live longer than pure bred dogs. They are also just as capable to perform the duties of pure bred dogs including bomb and drug sniffing, search and rescue, and guiding the blind. Did you know some of the country’s most famous movie dogs were mixed breeds? Benji was a Spaniel mix adopted from the Burbank Animal Shelter and Old Yeller was a Labrador Retriever/Mastiff cross, adopted from the Van Nuys CA Animal Shelter.
Looking for ways to celebrate National Mutt Day? Here are some ideas from the National Mutt Day website!
- Adopt a mutt from your local shelter or rescue organization.
- Are you prepared for a new mutt? Make sure you have all the items necessary when bringing a new mutt home.
- Donate blankets, food and toys to animal welfare organizations.
- Offer to walk the mutt of an elderly neighbor.
- Buy some all natural, organic dog shampoo and give that mutt a bath!
- Take your friendly mutt to visit an elderly home.
- Buy your mutt a fun new dog toy.
- Give your mutt some fun, mutt-needed exercise by taking him or her to a doggy daycare.
- Brush your mutt to reduce shedding and matted fur.
- Get your mutt some leash training lessons.
- Buy your mutt a cute new outfit or fashionable collar and leash.
- Take your mutt to the dog park for a romp.
- Mutt-proof your home and yard.
- Install a car safety harness to keep your mutt safe during travel.
- Buy your mutt a comfy new bed.
- Take your mutt on a pet friendly vacation.
- Buy a dog gate to keep your mutt out of hazardous areas of the home.
- Buy a canine first aid kit and put it in your car in case of injury while away from home.
- Microchip &I.D. Tag your mutt so the shelter can locate you if he/she gets lost.
- Make sure your mutt has all vaccines and a regular health exam.
- Teach your children and their friends to be kind to your mutt by never pulling on his ears or tail.
- Pledge to walk your mutt every day for proper health and behavior management.
- Teach your mutt some obedience skills.
- Install a fence around your unfenced yard so your mutt can run and enjoy some freedom at home.
- Carpet any stairs you may have to reduce risk of injury to your mutt by slipping and falling.
Help save a life by spreading the word about National Mutt Day! Celebrate the day locally by checking out Mutt Strut at Langus Park on Saturday, Aug. 8, presented by the Everett Animal Shelter! For more information, please visit everettwa.gov/muttstrut.
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter. Plan a visit, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and check out all of our adoptable pets. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel.
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