National Dog Day: Celebrate Your Passion for Pooches

Whether they're licking your face, sitting by your side or rifling through the garbage can, dogs can truly bring something special to the lives of those who love them. So why not celebrate them?

Aug. 26 is National Dog Day. That's the day animal advocate Colleen Paige has designated for honoring all those dogs who bring in the paper, and all those dogs who are neglected.

Not to be confused with National Mutt Day (Dec. 2), National Puppy Day (March 23) or National Pet Day (April 11), each of the 19 national and international pet days founded by Paige are all designed with one thing in mind: to draw attention to the need for pet rescue.

Paige, author, pet behaviorist and self proclaimed "pet celebrity lifestyle expert" founded the Animal Miracle Foundation and Network (AMFN), a nonprofit Christian faith based charity, in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Since 2004 Paige says that National Dog Day has rescued 100,000 dogs and has now spread its efforts worldwide.

"We will never meet a human who will love us without condition, without expectation, without someone, at some point, disappointing us, breaking our heart..." Paige said, "Dogs will never do this to us. They are steadfast.... and short, fat, tall, skinny, any race, any religion, there is no discrimination - we are perfect in their eyes. They deserve so much more than they get."

Paige dubbed the holiday a K-9 Fourth of July and asks pet lovers to celebrate by adopting a shelter dog, helping an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog, or with a $5 donation to a local shelter. But that's just three of National Dog Day's 50 Ways to Celebrate.

Locally, you can celebrate National Dog Day by supporting one of the three tri-boro animal shelters:

Tri-Boro Animal Welfare
P.O. Box 171
Butler, NJ 07405
(973) 831-5555

Kinnelon Volunteer Animal Shelter
118 Kinnelon Road
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
(973) 283-4120

North Jersey Community Animal Shelter
23 Brandt Lane
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
(973) 850-6767

SHARE! Post photos of your pooch to the to show 'em some love. Also, tell us in the comment section below how you are celebrating National Dog Day.