National Dog Day is Thursday, consider adoption

National Dog Day on Thursday is the time to pause and appreciate the joy dogs bring, and the comfort and companionship they provide.
Millions of people craved canine camaraderie and welcomed new dogs and puppies into their homes over the past year or so. According to the American Pet Products Association, dog ownership increased by nearly 11% in 2020, with roughly 108 million dogs in U.S. households, up from 97 million in 2018.
National Dog Day, established in 2004, celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed, and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, either from public shelters, rescues and pure breed rescues.
National Dog Day honors family dogs and dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort, according to a news release from BestFriends.org. 
Whether you’re remote, back to work, or both, dogs would rather be in homes than in shelters, the release states. Dogs do lots of napping, no matter if they’re alone or they have human company. Leave them with enrichment toys and food puzzles while you’re gone, and give them love, exercise and playtime when you’re home, and they’ll be happy hounds.
Numerous studies have determined that the presence of pets is beneficial for our physical and mental health. The companionship of animals has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety, helping people to feel calmer and more secure no matter what’s going on in the outside world.
According to recent data from 24PetWatch from nearly 1,200 shelters, adoptions are down 3.7% overall this year, and for the month of June intake was up 5.9% as compared to 2020. More animals coming in and fewer going out is causing stress for shelters. Adopting or fostering from a shelter or rescue group literally saves lives.
Looking for a certain type of dog to adopt? Many of the dogs that enter shelters are purebreds and even trendy mixed breeds, like doodles. Check petfinder.com to start a search. Adopting from shelters or rescue groups rather than buying from breeders, pet stores or online retailers saves lives.
To acclimate the new family member, work regularly with the dog on training and socialization so that it can be a well-behaved member of the family, and react appropriately when meeting people in the outside world.
Not ready to foster or adopt? The celebrate National Dog Day by volunteering or donating to a local shelter or rescue group, to support its lifesaving efforts.
For more information or to find a local shelter or rescue, visit www.bestfriends.org.
Best Friends Animal Society is an animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025.