Posted: 30 Jul 2015 10:34
AM PDT
It used to be that “mutt” was considered something of an insult.
For decades, if not centuries, people prized purebred dogs, singling out and
paying top dollar for those pups with a long list of certified parentage and
prize-winning rearing. They wanted purebred dogs for hunting, for sports, for
home living, or simply for the notoriety of it. Mutts often went by the
wayside, considered of “lesser” value. Fortunately, that attitude is changing
in more recent years and people are starting to recognize that mutts are just
as worthy of our recognition and love as any other pup.
To celebrate this fact, join us for National Mutt Day on July 31st! This holiday helps raise awareness of the plight of
mutts across the country that are ignored, left without a home or family just
because they’re of a mixed breed. The goal of this year’s National Mutt Day is
to get at least 10,000 mutts adopted nationwide. Are you ready to join in the
effort?
A few advantages of mixed breed dogs include mutts generally being
better behaved, healthier, and longer lived than purebreds while able to be as
skilled and trainable as any other dog. Unfortunately, many mutts are
euthanized because of over-breeding, puppy mills, and other poor pet-raising
practices that contribute to animal overpopulation. If more mutts are adopted
from shelters rather than being passed over for pricey purebreds, that would
alleviate much of the stress animal shelters and volunteers experience in
caring for them.
A big part of National Mutt Day is simply making people aware of
the inherent value mutts hold and how much adopting one can mean–both to the
dog in question as well as the family they join. Contact your local shelter and
see if they’re participating in National Mutt Day, help spread the word to your
local community, or even adopt a mutt yourself and discover the love and joy
they can bring into your life.
Do you own a mutt? What’s the experience been like? How can
you support your local shelters or adoption programs that have many mutts up
for adoption?
