August 1 is known as DOGust 1st: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs. Thousands of dogs land each year at animal shelters where they stay until they can find new homes. Unfortunately, they often end up there due to human irresponsibility, most commonly when people buy a pet for Christmas, but then get rid of it. Back in 2008 North Shore Animal League America chose August 1 as a celebration day for all shelter dogs whose birthdays are unknown.
200 MILLION STRAY DOGS WORLDWIDE
There are around 200 million stray dogs worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Some estimates are even higher to around half a billion. For example in India, there are more than 30 to 60 million million stray dogs. Because of the recent heat waves and temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius they are in danger of dehydration and death.
Another problem is that because of stray dogs there are around 20 thousand cases of rabies a year in India. More than 50 thousand dogs die every year on the streets of Pakistan and the government itself orders the mass killing and poisoning of the animals in almost every city of the country. There are also millions of abandoned animals in Mexico, Indonesia, Romania and almost every country. But for example the Netherlands is not part of this statistic. It has become due to various programs the first country in the world without almost any stray dogs.
Dogs are sadly also often euthanised in shelters.
Best Friends Animal Society — an animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters by 2025 — collected new data that shows in 2021, there was an increase in the number of shelter pets euthanised before they could find homes. The number of pets killed by the U.S. shelter system increased from 347,000 to 355,000.
On DOGust 1st, it is encouraged to spread the word and raise awareness about pet adoption services and shelters. It is also a day when many people across the world make donations for their local dog and pet shelters. One of the biggest ways you can support your local shelter is by adopting a dog or becoming a foster.
Source: people.com, dutchreview.com, nationaltoday.com
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