It’s DOGUST, let’s pawty!

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When dogs enter animal shelters, the staff has to guess their age by looking at their teeth, eye clarity, body composition, and coat color. Guessing their true birthday is just not possible.

Shelter dogs rejoice because TODAY is your birthday. The North Animal Shore League, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue organization, declared August 1st, known as DOGUST, as the universal birthday for all shelter dogs. Hooray and Happy Birthday to all dogs who are waiting for their forever home in an animal shelter- that’s a lot of candles on top of that pup cake! If you have extra time today stop by a shelter with treats and take a doggo for a birthday stroll (singing is optional).

Pet birthdays are a time where pet owners really let our freak flags fly. Bacon for breakfast, Big Mac’s at the top of their favorite hike, new plush toys and baskets full of tennis balls dumped on top of them for the ultimate Instagram worthy ball freak birthday experience. In a recent MoneyTalksNews.com article, a poll showed that more than one in five humans have held or attended a birthday party for a pet, and 36 percent of pet birthday bashes cost between $20 to $49.

Ready to start planning your pet’s next birthday? We’ve compiled a list of 5 pet-perfect Birthday parties to help:

1) Start the day with a hike and swim and end it with French fries at the Fido-friendly decks of Streetfood or the Byrd.

2) Is your pet a total ham for the camera? Grab some festive props and set up a photo booth. Let their inner model glow! Make yearly albums highlighting their year for a keepsake.

3) Got a car-ride crazy canine? Turn up the tunes and take them on a drive. [We have photo shoot above]End the mini road trip with a puppucino from a local coffee shop or a birthday baked good from your favorite pet supply store.

4) Does your cat go bananas for laser pointers? Turn down the lights, sprinkle some catnip, break out your disco light, and let them rip. End their soiree with a feline-friendly birthday cake: Combine drained white albacore tuna, sweet potato puree, and a little rice flour in a bowl. Scoop into cookie cutters to create little, round cakes. If you want to get extra fancy, you can make “frosting” by piping mashed potatoes on the cakes. YUMMEOW!

5) Got a less active pet? Host a sleepover. Everyone put on their party pajamas on, make a big bed on the floor, pop some corn, cue the movie marathon, and let the snuggle fest begin! Serve pup-tails of low sodium chicken broth and peanut butter. Shaken not stirred.

Change their Future, become a Foster Parent.

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Dubie, with his new family, recently adopted from the J/TC Shelter.

We are so happy to report that a recent dog we fostered, Dubie, is now happy in a home of his very own. When fostering the Dubes, we took him along to a couple of public events, bopped around town with him, he even went up Snow King! This little guy had stamina and was just so happy to be out and about, EVERYTHING was exciting to him.

While showing Dubie off around town in his sporty petite Adopt Me vest, people often stopped us to learn more about the little fella. Mid-way through our spiel, inquiring humans would chime in with, “I could never foster, I would feel so bad bringing him back.” Typically, we answer this question the same way, “we get to be the first part of a positive change for them,” or “fostering does such a service to these little guys,” but neither of these classic responses encompasses why we foster. Recently we saw a quote on Facebook that hit the nail right on the proverbial adoptable head.

Foster homes aid the adoption process by providing a plan of introduction into their new future homes, a “What to expect, when you’re adopting this dog,” if you will. Last winter we fostered a young gal from the J/TC Shelter who had been returned 3 times while out on adoption trials! We volunteered to take her home to see this Jekel and Hyde in action. One minute she was laying on the kitchen floor and then the next she was standing proudly on top of the fridge. Knowing ahead of time that she needed to be kept on leash in the house to teach appropriate house manners was an incredibly useful tool for her future home. Most people are not looking for a fridge surfing dog. We’re happy to report she has never summited a refrigerator in her new home.

Within Jackson, there are two organizations that have Foster Programs: the Jackson/Teton County Animal Shelter and the Animal Adoption Center. Each of these organizations will send you home with everything you need to make your doggie sleepover successful. To inquire about joining their foster programs, give them a call at 307-733-2139 (J/TC Shelter) or 307-739-1881 (AAC). Both offer foster to adopt opportunities as well if you are in the market for a new fur-clad family member.

Olivia Pollard reading to foster puppy while resident canine sister supervises. (Foster puppy is available through the Animal Adoption Center).

5 Self Indulgent Reasons to Foster:

1) Teach your kids what it takes to own and respect a pet.

2) It’s like speed dating for dogs- not ready for a full-time commitment? Fostering gives you the doggie-fix without the 24/7, 365-day commitment.

3) A fun night for your own pet. Can only own one pup, but have a social pupper-fly on your hands? Make their night and entertain a local adoptable for a sleepover.

4) It’s the perfect volunteer opportunity for the non-people person. If crowds, customer service, and manual labor are not for you, fostering dogs is a great way to give back to your community.

5) The heart explosion YOU feel when you see past foster dogs enjoying life with their new families. There is no better feeling, we promise you that!

 

Buddy, J/TC Animal Shelter, with foster brother ready to be fostered for the weekend.

AAC’s Frito, learning the ropes from foster sister, Ella.

Foster kitten at Aska’s Animals getting healthy and growing while learning valuable pig climbing skills.