National Rescue Dog Day 2024 Date, Origin, and Ways to Celebrate

Those who have adopted a dog from a shelter or rescue know the profound impact it has. Not only are you making a huge difference in the dog’s life, but you’re also easing the burden of the rescue workers and making the world a better place. Whether you’ve rescued a dog before, or you’re just passionate about animal welfare, National Rescue Dog Day is for you!

When’s the Best Time to Adopt?

According to PETA, rescues fill up most often after the holidays, when “present” pets are returned. They state that, “by January, many of those ‘present’ animals will have joined the more than six million who enter shelters in the U.S. every year. Some animal shelters even get in on the craze, offering discounted or free adoptions and encouraging people to give animals away as gifts. Their intentions may be good, but they likely don’t realize that they’re exacerbating the homeless-animal crisis.” In addition, summer seems to be another hot spot. People sometimes realize that they can’t afford pet accommodations when going on vacation and elect to surrender their animal instead. This means that January and July are good times to adopt!

Origins of National Rescue Dog Day

Back in 2018, a woman named Lisa Wiehebrink founded this holiday to raise awareness about the growing population of dogs who spend their lives in shelters. She felt inspired to create this holiday after having her own life changed through the love of a rescue dog named Cooper. She hopes that National Rescue Dog Day will grow in popularity each year and that more people will feel compelled to adopt rather than shop. National Rescue Dog Day takes place on May 20th each year. Let’s dive into some ways that you can join in on the fun!

1. Adopt a Dog

Although May 20th isn’t necessarily a busy shelter drop-off month, it’s still a great time to add a rescue dog to your family. Those who work at shelters know that resources are spread thin, regardless of the time of year. Any dog adopted makes a profound impact, not just on the chosen dog, but on all the ones left in the shelter as well. With more adoptions, workers have fewer animals to care for, and supplies last longer!

2. Spend Time Volunteering at a Rescue

If you’re not able to bring home a rescue dog of your own, why not spend some time volunteering at a shelter? This is a great way to give back to your community and help animals in need. Often, shelters and rescues rely on volunteers to donate their time. It doesn’t have to be on May 20th. If you have some free time coming up, consider spending your day at a rescue. You might wind up loving it and return again and again!

3. Spread Awareness on Social Media

Not everyone can afford to bring a dog into their home or donate their time to work at a rescue. However, one action nearly everyone can take is posting about National Rescue Dog Day on social media. Those who want to spread awareness can use the hashtag #NationalRescueDogDay to share photos and stories online. This is a way you can connect with others who are also impassioned about this very noble cause!