Homeless dog awaiting a loving new family - National Dog Day 2007, Malibu CA - Photo by Tom Sadowski

Millions of animals are in shelters and rescues across the country looking
for loving families. Colleen Paige, animal behaviorist, advocate, author, founder of the Animal Miracle Network and Editor-in-Chief of Pet Home magazine, has created a host of animal related lifesaving holidays to encourage you to visit your local animal adoption organization and open your home and heart to a homeless animal.  You certainly don't have to wait until a particular day to adopt, but if you need a reason to motivate yourself, the holidays below serve as a great excuse. 

In an uncertain world, there are a few things you can count on, such the purr of a cat as she curls up on your lap, the wag of a dog's tail as he greets you after a hard day's work, and the joy that you feel as they shower you with unconditional love... simply because you cared enough to care for them. 

National Horse Protection Day – March 1^st

National Horse Protection Day serves to bring awareness to the number of abused and neglected horses that need forever homes and also to create public awareness about horse slaughter and encourage horse lovers to get involved and spread the word about the plight of horses in America. National Horse Protection Day will support legislation to end horse slaughter and support legitimate animal sanctuaries, rescues and shelters for everything they do to help preserve the lives of these great creatures. We want to educate children....our planet's future caretakers and conservationists of the importance to be kind to all animals. National Horse Protection Day will also encourage citizens to stand up and fight for animals in their community that need a voice.

National Puppy Day – March 23^rd

National Puppy Day is not only a day to celebrate the puppies in our lives, for how much joy, unconditional love and friendship they offer us, but to acknowledge the great need that many homeless puppies have for a loving and forever home and to educate the public about animal cruelty! Visit your local shelter to find wonderful puppies that need a forever home!

National Dog Day – August 26^th

National Dog Day serves 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 their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, saving their lives and often grieving the dead and dying they cannot save.

National Wildlife Day – September 4^th

National Wildlife Day is a day to reflect on the animal kingdom, how important it is to our own survival and to enjoy the magic and wonderment it offers to us. This day will encourage and promote conservation, educate the public by highlighting endangered species in need of preservation and highlight zoo's, wildlife parks and animal sanctuaries around the country - encouraging people to donate much needed funding. It will also encourage all zoo's to participate with an event on National Wildlife Day, thus increasing sales to the public and generating badly needed revenue for their animals. National Wildlife Day will be celebrated on the last day Steve Irwin graced this planet....we fight for the animals in honor of him.

National Cat Day – October 29^th

One purpose of National Cat Day is to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year. Another is to urge you to celebrate the cat(s) in your life, to give them unconditional love for the companionship they bestow.

National Mutt Day – December 2^nd

National Mutt Day is yet another day to focus on shelter dogs that need rescue and forever loving homes. Many people are proud of their Mutts and although they are not socially looked at as "pure-fect".... caretakers of mixed breeds feel that they are better behaved, healthier and just simply easier to take care of than many pedigree dogs. Mixed breeds make up 90% of all dogs in shelters awaiting new homes.