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Happy Birthday to All DOGust “Mutts”

Happy Birthday to All DOGust “Mutts”
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July 30, 2025
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair

In 2008, one of the world’s largest animal shelters and adoption organizations, North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, New York, chose August 1st to be “DOGust,” the universal birthday for all shelter dogs, or as they like to call them, “Mutt-i-grees,” rescues who have no records.

Shelter workers can estimate a dog’s age, but they cannot precisely determine the day a dog was born unless they are born in-care. Because no one at North Shore Animal League wanted to see a sweet dog without a birthday, DOGust began.

It is now considered a universal birthday for all shelter dogs and a way shelters across America come together to call attention to all the dogs in shelters waiting for their adoptive homes, a way to keep their lives happy, healthy, and fulfilled.

DOGust is also a way to spread the word and raise awareness about pet adoption services and shelters in general, praising them for all the incredible work they do in rescuing and caring for animals across the country.

According to Shelter Animals Count (SAC), in 2024, there were over 13,500 animal sheltering organizations in the United States and at least 4,000 of those were brick and mortar shelters.

One of the largest challenges facing animal welfare organizations today is the sheer number of animals in need of assistance.

According to SAC, in 2023, 6.5 million dogs and cats entered shelters and of that number 4.8 million were adopted. Since then, the number of animals arriving has increased, but the number of adoptions have decreased. Additionally, the length of stays has steadily increased over the last five years, adding to the overcrowding in shelters.

The number of animals and families with pets in need of assistance at Ark-Valley Humane Society (AVHS) has increased, too. Our organization helped more animals and pet families in 2024 than in 2023 and has already helped over 100 more animals than last year at this time.
One hope of celebrating DOGust is to increase the number of adoptions as well as sing Happy Birthday to those with DOGust birthdays.

The entire month of August is a dog celebration as it is National Dog Month with lots of special holidays to enjoy: August 4 – Assistance Dog Day, August 5 – Work Like a Dog Day, August 10 – Spoil Your Dog Day, August 15 – National Check the Chip Day, August 16 – Clear the Shelters Day, and August 26 – National Dog Day.

Of course you can “party” with your dogs every day in August, giving them some extra attention, to show them how much you love them.

You also can bring joy into your life by being part of this DOGust celebration at AVHS. You can adopt, foster, volunteer or donate.

Extra good news is that whatever you donate this August will be doubled, as there is a matching campaign going on throughout the entire month, August 1-31. Whatever you donate will be matched, up to $16,200.

You can donate online at https://www.ark-valley.org/donate/ or send cash or a check payable to: Ark-Valley Humane Society to mailing address: AVHS, P.O. Box 1335, Buena Vista, CO 81211. You can also stop in at 701 Gregg Drive in Buena Vista, CO during open hours of operation: Monday through Saturday from 12-5PM.

Your contribution is a wonderful DOGust birthday present to the Ark-Valley Humane Society. According to Nikki Ritter, AVHS Executive Director, “Through our programs and services, we have helped almost 1,000 animals this year already. With your support, we can transform lives, ease suffering, and make happy endings possible.”

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