National Mutt Day is a holiday that falls on July 31^st and December 2^nd and celebrates mixed-breed dogs. It is also an unofficial holiday that proclaims these dogs are as special as their purebred counterparts and should be afforded the same love, affection, and respect.

This day should also serve as a reminder that there are millions of mixed-breed dogs in shelters all over the United States who are just waiting for a family to take them home and love them.

A Brief History of Dogs

Scholars originally believed that dogs came from wolves that were domesticated approximately 12,000 to 15,000 years ago in the Middle East, but new evidence has caused that theory to change.

The current theory is that wolves were domesticated in Northern Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe about 35,000 years ago. Scientists believe that wolves were attracted to human camps because of the leftover food scraps they could scrounge. Some of the gentler wolves came even closer to human beings and eventually became pets.

Over several generations, the wolves began to transform themselves and eventually became domesticated canines. From that time on, humans began crafting dogs through selective breeding into one of the many hundreds of dog breeds that are available today.

The History of National Mutt Day

This holiday was created by Colleen Paige—an animal welfare advocate & pet and family lifestyle expert—in 2005 to shine a light on the problem of mixed-breed dogs being abandoned and eventually euthanized because of overbreeding.

So she created this holiday, which is celebrated on both July 31^st and December 2^nd, so that everyone will understand these dogs not only need to be saved but also need to be embraced and celebrated as well.

Eight out of ten dogs in American dog shelters are mixed breeds. That’s because purebreds are adopted relatively quickly since that is generally what people are looking for when adopting a dog, and the fees for obtaining purebred dogs are significantly lower than if they were purchased at a pet store.

Puppy Mill Facts

• Half a million puppies are born in puppy mills and sold to pet stores.
• Almost 100% of puppies in pet stores are from puppy mills.
• About 99% of pet store puppies have parasites.
• There are almost 40,000 pet stores in the United States.
• Puppy mills can make over a quarter of a million dollars a year selling puppies.

Why Are Mixed Breed Dogs Awesome?

• On average, mixed-breed dogs have longer lifespans than purebred dogs.
• Mixed-breed dogs generally have better overall health, too.
• Mixed-breed dogs have a unique appearance.
• Mixed-breed dogs are generally less expensive than purebred dogs.

Celebrating National Mutt Day

The absolute best way to celebrate National Mutt Day is to find a way to help many of the mixed-breed dogs living in the world today. You can give shelters that house them money or volunteer your time, or you can simply adopt one of these animals.

You can also chronicle your efforts to help mixed-breed dogs by posting on social media using the hashtag #NationalMuttDay. And if you just so happen to have a mixed-breed dog of your own, then be sure to show it some extra love and affection on National Mutt Day.