National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and was
founded in 2004 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige, also the founder of National
Puppy Day, National Mutt Day and National Cat Day and many more philanthropic
days to bring attention to the plight of animals and encourage adoption. The
date of August 26th is significant, as it's the date that Colleen's family
adopted her first dog "Sheltie" when Colleen was 10 years old.
National Dog
Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure. Our mission is to help galvanize
the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year
and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save
lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every
day...
for personal protection, for law enforcement, for the disabled, for our freedom
and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from
wreckage, now they're detecting cancer and seizures...things even humans cannot
do. NDD was adopted into New York State Legislation in 2013.
National Dog
Day is against any kind of "breed ban". Dogs should not have to lose
their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the
hands of man. And while we feel that American's have the constitutional right
to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying dogs from pet
stores supplied by puppy mills, backyard breeders, the internet and newspaper
ads. Rather, we encourage those seeking new canine companions, to consider
choosing adoption first.
If you'd like a pure breed dog, look into a
pure breed rescue in your city, to see if they might have some little furry
soul just waiting to make your life complete. Another great place to find a new
best friend is at large chain pet stores that host adoption drives for local
shelters and rescues.When considering buying from a breeder, verify that you're
buying from a reputable breeder by checking out their licensing, internet
reviews and ask for local references such as from a veterinarian. It's vital to
educate yourself about the breed you're considering parenting.
"Millions of dogs are killed each year
because they're simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog
Day. They're unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the
demands of the breed. They're unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas
gift for a child that didn't keep their promises about caring for the
dog...unwanted because they shed too much...unwanted because they bark too
much. UNWANTED...simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to
do is love you and be loved by you. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and
sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing
what was once considered "unwanted love", into your heart and home on
National Dog Day!"
For dogs adopted on August 26th, National Dog
Day becomes many a dog’s birthday and for all dogs, it's as popular and
exciting as the Super Bowl, with the anticipation of the day culminating into
an explosion of network news stories, national TV show segments, online videos,
shelter events, internet photos and K9 parties planned around the globe!
Even citizens who are not dog owners will be encouraged to donate $5 to their
local shelter or rescue on August 26th.
There has been an increase in the demand for native breeds such
as Sippipparai and Rajapalayam at the Dog Breeding Unit of the
animal husbandry department at Saidapet.
Image-RAJAPALAYAM
Records show that in 2012-13 nearly 50 puppies of native breeds
and 11 pedigree puppies were sold. The year before, 32 native breed puppies and
10 pedigree puppies were sold. The demand for native breed puppies has been on
the rise since 2010-11, when the unit sold 26 native breed puppies and seven
pedigree puppies.
Animal husbandry department
authorities said that with the increased demand for native breed puppies, the
waiting time for each breed would be more than a year. As the department did
not breed dogs on a commercial basis, they would not be able to meet the
demand, they said.
Image-SIPPIPPARAI
The unit is one of its kind
in the State and was started in the 1980s to promote native dog breeds such as
Rajapalayam, Sippipparai, Kombai and Kanni . However, Kombais and Kannis are
now bred only by private individuals.
With a steady increase in the
demand for native breeds, the State government in 2012-13 allocated Rs. 30 lakh
for the renovation of kennels in the unit. With the funds, the authorities
created tick channels (as during the summer the canines suffer from tick bites
leading to spread of diseases), fixed tiles on the kennel walls and floors and
an exhaust fan for each kennel, and raised the height of each kennel to nearly
three feet.
The authorities have also
provided individual water supply for the kennels, mainly to reduce heat
radiation, and clean water for bathing the canines every day, the officer said.
A senior animal husbandry
officer conceded that a couple of years ago, the condition of the kennels were
very bad. With the renovation, they are better now, he said.
The unit launched the
pedigree breeding programme in 1997 because of public demand. At present, the
unit houses nearly 30 canines including five puppies.
The prices of some of the
breeds at the unit are less compared to those quoted by private pedigree
breeders. For example a male Rajapalayam puppy is sold at Rs. 1,500 and a
female at Rs. 1,250. The same puppy is sold at Rs. 7,000 by a private breeder
(with proper documents about the lineage of the breed) and Rs. 5,000 without
the documents.
