National Dog Day

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Happy National Dog Day!! It seems like nowadays there’s a day for everything, but of all the random days, National Dog Day is certainly my favorite.  Primarily because my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds blow up with pictures of everyone’s fur babes (can’t complain about that). But also because I LOVE dogs and pet adoption is very near and dear to my heart. I have two babes. Lily, a precious beagle mix that is basically my heart, and Gwen (pictured), a tall, skinny shepherd mix that thinks she’s a tiny baby. Both of my girls are rescues.

Lily was abandoned with two other pups on a farm that belongs to my sister’s husbands’ family and somehow my sister ended up with the babes. She posted on Facebook that they needed a home and I took one look at Lily and knew she had to be mine. There was only one problem. I was still in college and couldn’t have a puppy in my dorm. Oh, and I lived 1,000 miles away from my sister. So I met Lily on my spring break and begged my sister to keep her until I graduated in two months. She agreed (thanks, Jenn!) and Lily soon became mine. I also got married a week after my graduation so my sister ended up keeping Lily for an extra month while Nick and I figured out where we would live. Then we picked her up and drove back to FL where we would live for the summer. Lily, a 20-pound little thing then, sat in my lap the WHOLE 18 hour drive. I was incredibly uncomfortable but it was worth it. By the time we got to FL, I was hers and she was mine. There was no doubt.

We adopted Gwen (also called “Ginny,” “Bear,” “The Bear,” “Gwindle,” and most commonly, “Baby Bear”) a year later from a shelter and she adopted me immediately. When we introduced Gwen to Lily in our home, she wouldn’t let Lily anywhere near me. I don’t remember when or how it happened, but eventually they learned to love one another and now they are inseparable. They cuddle all day and can’t stand when they aren’t together (unless it’s to go on a fun photo shoot like this…Gwen really didn’t seem to mind). Gwen thinks she weighs 5 pounds and would love to just sit in your lap all day long. She always has her floppy, spotted tongue hanging out and her favorite thing everrrr is a tennis ball. She has a collection of them but whenever she has one, she carries it around with her everywhere.

I could talk about these girls all day long because they are such a big part of my life, but I’ll spare you the details. If you’re a dog person…first of all, let’s be friends, but then ask me about my dogs and I’ll tell you how adorable they are. I love these girls and I feel so lucky to have them in my life. I know how I sound, but I don’t have any children so just let me have this. K?

Make sure you check out #NationalDogDay’s recommendations for how to celebrate. My favorite is adopting from a local shelter or volunteering (duh). I’m not even kidding when I tell you that I check the local shelters’ (GA SPCA and Gwinnett County) websites DAILY. If you live in GA, LifeLine Animal Project is waiving adoption fees all day long. Read more from the AJC here. If you’re looking for a furry friend, now is the time to rescue (but it’s always a good time to rescue). I looked through every page of their adoptable dogs last night and wish I could give them ALL a home. But alas I cannot. So do it for me.

xo,

PS – I’m in no way affiliated with National Dog Day, LifeLine Animal Project, or any shelters.