Dog Appreciation Day
The wolf was one of the first to be domesticated among other wild animals
The domestication of the predator 32-33,000 years ago marked the beginning of peaceful coexistence and friendship between man and dog Since ancient times, representatives of the canine family accompanied their owners on hunts, guarded their homes, and helped herd herds of cows and sheep As a sign of gratitude and love for pets, a touching and sweet Dog Appreciation Day was established in 2004
At first, Dog Appreciation Day was celebrated only in the United States, but gradually the tradition of celebration spread to other countries The world owes the appearance of such a remarkable date on the calendar to dog handler Colleen Page, who also came up with the idea of establishing National Puppy Day in March and Mongrel Day in July Thanks to the initiative of the American animal rights activist, the attention of many people has been drawn to the plight of stray dogs and their exploitation by breeders for their own benefit
The large number of mongrels living on the street is a consequence of the negligence and callousness of their owners Using the example of dingoes, scientists talk about the possibility of involution - domestic dogs going wild and turning them into predators According to one version, the reason for this process was the unsuccessful resettlement of residents of Southeast Asia to Australia The hunter-gatherer tribes were unable to adapt to the difficult living conditions on the continent After most of the settlers died, the dogs they brought began to get their own food
Dingoes abandoned or escaped from their owners in Australia were provided with excellent living conditions: a lot of game, the absence of natural enemies and serious competitors Wild dogs multiplied, gradually settling throughout the continent and the nearest islands The ability to hunt in packs became an important advantage for them over solitary marsupial predators
This is the origin story of the dingo, the most dangerous canine species in existence and a genetic relative of Indonesian domesticated dogs “We are responsible for those we have tamed,” said the great humanist Antoine de Saint Exupéry Packs of aggressive mongrels in modern cities and villages are the result of the immoral behavior of the owners and the deviation of people from the laws of morality and ethics
The holiday, which falls on August 26, is celebrated by both dog handlers and pet owners Dog Appreciation Day calls for giving thanks to a dog - a faithful companion and man's best friend We owe a lot to four-legged pets: Belka, Strelka and other representatives of canines sacrificed their lives, flew into space, participated in the past and continue now in testing medical drugs Dogs help Emergency Ministry workers find earthquake victims among the rubble and save drowning people, police help neutralize criminals, and rescuers help locate people lost in the forests
The Russian Federation, together with China, the USA and Brazil, is one of the four leaders in terms of the number of dogs in the population, so in Russia the holiday is celebrated especially widely On August 26, a fundraiser for the maintenance of shelters is organized, and photo competitions featuring pets are held on social networks In honor of the holiday, owners pamper dogs with attention and treats, making it clear how grateful they are to their four-legged friends for their selfless love, loyalty and devotion