National Rescue Dog Day
May 20, Tuesday

History of the day
National Rescue Dog Day was established in 2018 by Lisa Wiehebrink, a children's book author and founder of the organization Tails That Teach. She was inspired by the story of her rescued dog, Cooper, whom she adopted from a Los Angeles shelter in 2009. Cooper became the main character in a series of books teaching children to care for animals and treat them with kindness and respect.
The importance of rescue dogs
Every year, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters in the United States. Many of them have suffered abuse or abandonment, but despite their past, they are capable of offering unconditional love and loyalty to their new owners. Rescue dogs often become not only faithful companions, but also serve important roles, such as service dogs for people with disabilities, therapy animals for the elderly, and emotional support for individuals with PTSD or depression.
How to celebrate the day
There are many ways to celebrate National Rescue Dog Day:
* Share a photo of your rescue dog on social media using the hashtag #NationalRescueDogDay.
* Volunteer at a local shelter by helping care for animals.
* Donate money or needed items (blankets, toys, leashes) to a shelter.
* Consider fostering a dog in need of temporary care.
* If you're ready, adopt a shelter dog and give them a new home and family.
* Teach children the importance of caring for animals and being responsible pet owners.
Fun facts
* Rescue dogs often show incredible gratitude and attachment to their new owners.
* Many rescue dogs become social media stars, inspiring others to adopt.
* In some countries, there are programs that transfer dogs from overcrowded shelters to regions with fewer homeless animals, reducing euthanasia rates and increasing adoption chances.
National Rescue Dog Day is not only a chance to celebrate the love and loyalty of these amazing animals but also an opportunity to make the world a little better by giving a second chance to those in need.
National Rescue Dog Day in other years
National Rescue Dog Day in other countries
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- CAR
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- DR Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- East Timor
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saint-Barthelemy
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Pierre and Miquelon
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- UAE
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Western Sahara
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe