It all started with a picture.
My bestie Allison stormed in to work excitedly one morning, phone in hand, and exclaimed, “Look at this dog! OMG that face! She will not last an hour on the Oregon Humane Society’s Adopt Me page... I’m going to get her right now!”
Soon after, I learned that Zoe (yep, she’d already named her), a 6-month-old Plotthound, was home in Lake Oswego with her new mom. What I found when I got there was a delightfully goofy puppy: splayed legs, head too big for her body, white lightning bolt on her chest, with a soft brindled coat.
I fell under Zoe’s spell immediately, going on walks where she demonstrated both her strength (she’s a 
puller!) and kindness (and a licker!)—striding purposefully through her new neighborhood with friendly appeal.
She was easy to train, loving, and highly energetic. Cautiously playful, she approached other dogs with a sweet mix of gregariousness and standoffishness, wanting only to be well received by her canine cronies.
At home, she appeared skittish with long-handled cleaning utensils; like the mop and vacuum, backing down, with ears in seal mode, when in close proximity. Shouting, even just to communicate with someone in the next room, also caused alarm. What, we wondered, had happened to Zoe? We knew her birthdate, December 4, 2015, and that she came from Klamath Falls, OR, but little else. How’d she wind up in a Portland, OR shelter?
With little to go on, we focused on giving Zoe all the love we could muster, while working on assuaging her fears. She proved to be an eager learner, good eater, and charming companion.
Zoe taught us much about life in those first few months. We never took for 
granted that her story was one that could have ended very different. As I started to spend more days helping Zoe live her best life, I realized she was doing exactly the same thing for me.
While Allison has since left this earth, Zoe and I soldier on. I’m grateful to have this gift of a dog to help me through and I’m constantly asking myself, “Who rescued who?”
Stories like these, I’m happy to report, are frequent and common – seeing a handsome pup, smiling out at you, often stimulates those first pangs of longing.
NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY (NRDD) is proudly observed annually on May 20th to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing pooches in shelters around the country who deserve a second chance.
Tails That Teach, an organization that helps children learn the kind and responsible care of their pets. Lisa’s inspiration for National Rescue Dog Day came from her beloved rescue dog Cooper who was rescued as a puppy from a Los Angeles shelter in 2009 after being found in a vacant lot.
“There is something so special about Cooper. He is a gentle giant with a kind soul. His grateful spirit and unconditional love make me believe that he knows he was rescued. It’s for these reasons that I wanted to encourage others to consider adopting a dog from a shelter,” states Lisa.
You can make a positive difference in the lives of rescue dogs every day! Here are some great ideas of how everyone can celebrate National Rescue Dog Day today:
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EDUCATE: Teach young children the importance of kindness, unconditional love, and responsible care of all animals.
- POST A PHOTO: Share a photo of your rescue dog on social media by using #nationalrescuedogday. Explain what makes your rescue dog special to inspire others to adopt!
- GIVE LOVE: Shower your rescue dog with love in the form of a leisurely walk, a delicious treat, a new toy, or some extra cuddle time.
- ADOPT: Adopt a dog from a local shelter or a pure breed rescue group to save a life
- FOSTER: Provide a temporary home for a rescue dog. Many abandoned dogs thrive.
- HELP A SHELTER: Check your local shelter website to donate and to view their wish list of much needed items such as blankets, toys, treats, and leashes. You can also host a bake sale, car wash, or other event and donate the proceeds back to the shelter.
- VOLUNTEER: Help out at your local shelter. Taking dogs for walks, grooming, and giving them plenty of affection improves their socialization.
- SPAY/NEUTER: Be responsible for your pets. Overpopulation is the number one reason shelters exist. (If the Price Is Right taught us anything it’s this! "I'm Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Goodbye, everybody!")
Join us in remembering and celebrating National Rescue Dog Day (NRRD) this May 20th!
Tell us about your rescue pup or how you like to support rescues in the comments below!
Robin & Team