It's National Dog Week! =)

For those who own them, dogs become a huge part of their daily lives. They are excellent "cuddle buddies," and are some of the most loyal companions you could find. For their loyal companionship and for all of the ways that dogs work to enhance human life, a week has been set aside to honor dogs all across the country. And it's no new occurrence; the week, dubbed National Dog Week, is being observed for the 84th time.

National Dog Week was pioneered 84 years ago by Captain William Lewis Judy, a dog enthusiast who felt we ought to celebrate the military service of our canine companions as well as celebrate the ways that dogs all across our country enrich our lives.

The week is also used to raise awareness about what it means to be a responsible pet owner. National Dog Week supports and promotes certain important issues including spay and neuter initiatives, canine health andshelter reformation.

Over the years, the National Dog Week Movement (the group of supporters who have kept the spirit of the week alive) has strived to raise awareness for the week and to vocalize the importance of honoring our dogs through responsible pet ownership. They are still fighting to raise awareness about the movement in the hopes of it gaining traction on a grander scale than it currently is.

For more information, read the National Dog Week blog.