Celebrate National Puppy Day Every March 23

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On March 23 the puppies have their day. It’s National Puppy Day.

A day to celebrate the unconditional love puppies give their humans. And hopefully they get back in spades.

But also to raise awareness of the terrible conditions in puppy mills. Those cute little bundles of joy in pet stores were born to dogs kept in small cages and never shown love or affection.

When they can’t breed any more, they’re often killed.

That’s why National Puppy Day’s motto is “Adopt instead of Shop.”

And a wonderful motto that is. Shelters and rescue organizations around the country are full of fantastic, loving dogs of all ages. From young puppies to seniors.

Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist Colleen Paige founded the day in 2006. Ms Paige loves animals and has founded many days to help improve their lives.

According to the day’s official website, National Puppy Day has gone international. It has trended worldwide on Twitter in recent years. Lots of people love puppies!

 

Some Things to Keep in Mind About Puppies

If you are thinking about getting a puppy—For National Puppy Day or any day—remember that they’re a lot of work.

Lovable and adorable, yes. But a lot of work too.

They need an initial checkup and vaccinations. You’ll want to get the vaccinations at around 6 weeks, or whatever schedule your vet recommends.

Microchipping is a good idea in case your bundle of energy gets away from you. You have a much better chance of getting him back.

They need to be spayed or neutered so they don’t have more puppies themselves.

Just like children, puppies will get into just about anything. Make sure anything potentially dangerous, like chemicals, the garbage and certain foods (chocolate, onions, etc) are locked away.

Potty training is a lot of work.

Puppies have seemingly endless energy (also like kids). She’ll need walks and lots of playtime. That’ll also help keep her healthier and happier.

Puppies aren’t for everyone. And if you think you may not have the time or energy to handle one, you might want to consider an adult dog. They still have a lot of life and love to give.

Senior dogs are especially grateful for a home to call their own.

 

Celebrating National Puppy Day

If you have a puppy, give him extra love and cuddles today. An extra treat or new toy would be nice too.

If you’re thinking about getting a puppy, today’s a good day to do that. Check with your local rescues. Or take a spin through Petfinder.com to look for puppies available at many different shelters near you.

But first make sure your home is safe for a curious puppy. If not, maybe spend today puppy-proofing it. Then it’ll be ready whenever you find your new best friend.

Breeding season is gearing up, so shelters will find themselves with more pregnant dogs, moms with newborn pups and even puppies without mothers. Consider fostering some of these animals to help them survive and find their furever homes.

Can’t foster or adopt? Donate to your local shelter or rescue organization.

Want to give more? Consider hosting a fundraiser to support your favorite shelter.

Shelters are always looking for volunteers, too. Check out ones near you to see where you might do the most good.

Check out the National Puppy Day website’s list of 50 ways to celebrate for many more ideas!