National Mutt Day, on July 31 A focus on the mixed breed dogs who sometimes get overlooked

NATIONAL MUTT DAY July 31, 2021

Dogs are special and there are oodles of national (and international) holidays to prove it. But unlike most of our doggy days, National Mutt Day, on July 31, focuses on the mixed breed dogs who sometimes get overlooked. This holiday inspires people to learn more about adopting one.

National Mutt Day also brings attention to the many great mixed breed dogs in need of homes. In fact, they benefit from the spotlight so much that we celebrate mixed breed dogs not just once, but twice a year! On both July 31 and December 2, join us in celebrating all the mutts and mixed breed dogs that make our lives so great.

NATIONAL MUTT DAY TIMELINE

1800s DEROGATORY TERM

‘Mutt’ is considered a derogatory term, meaning ‘stupid person.’ September 17, 1884 AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB OPENS

The world’s largest and oldest not-for-profit all-breed registry is founded.

September 13, 1969 “DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY”

Cartoon dog Muttley debuts in the show “Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.” September 5, 1994 COMIC MUTT “Mutts” is a daily comic strip created by Patrick McDonnell.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MUTT DAY

Adopt a mixed breed dog

There are lots of great dogs out there who lack a home just because they don’t have the right pedigree. But you can do your part to change all that. Getting any dog is a big responsibility, but a mixed breed will likely be healthier, happier, better behaved — and live longer than a purebred of the same age.

Donate to your local shelter

Not in the position to adopt a mutt? You can still help out your local shelter with a donation. Your money goes to things like food, toys, and medicine. Every dollar counts, so you can really make a difference in the lives of all the dogs at the shelter.

Volunteer to help out

If donations aren’t your style, you can always volunteer. Shelters need volunteers to befriend the dogs, play with them and take them for walks. A few hours of your time can make a big difference in their happiness and happy dogs stand a better chance of getting adopted.

WHY NATIONAL MUTT DAY IS IMPORTANT

All dogs love us for who we are

Whether your dog is from a famous breeder or your local shelter, he or she loves you in a way that can’t be expressed in words. Though mixed breed dogs aren’t usually as highly regarded as their purebred cousins, they’ve got lots of love in their hearts. And some people even argue that since most mutts weren’t born on Easy Street, they love us even more.

Mixed breeds have better health

These dogs have hit the genetic lottery. The blending of genes helps fight deficiencies by providing healthier gene sequences from other breeds. Think of it this way: the smaller the gene pool, the less healthy the genes. Your mutt, on the other hand, has a sampling from all over, adding to the dog’s overall lifespan and well-being.

Mutts need people, too

Often passed over for their pedigreed cousins, mixed breed dogs end up at a pet shelter more frequently and they tend to wait longer before getting adopted. But mutts have all the doggedness we love about dogs and National Mutt Day is about getting them the love and attention they deserve.