National Mutt Day, July 31, 2014

Today is National Mutt Day!  If you don't know what that is, it's a day observed twice a year (next is December 2nd) to bring awareness that most shelter dogs are mixed-up mutts like Hobie, Hector, Charlie and Cooper, with the goal of getting shelter mutts adopted.

The observance was started by Colleen Paige who is a pet lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist, among other things.  Her aim is to bring awareness to the fact that mixed breed dogs populate shelters throughout the United States, and to make the public aware that millions of mixed-breed dogs are stuck in shelters awaiting homes (or worse, will be killed, for no good reason other than over-population).

Yes, that's right, I said millions.

Colleen's heroic efforts will attempt to save 10,000 dogs on both observance days, a mere 20,000 dogs in what she describes as a "sea of mixed breed dogs" will be adopted, or sponsored, in observance of National Mutt Day.

Adopting a mutt from a shelter is the best way to help.  If you want to help, and can't adopt, make a donation, or volunteer at your local shelter; share this post (and others) about National Mutt Day, and use the hashtag #nationalmuttday.  Follow National Mutt Day on Facebook and other social media outlets.

I can't tell you the joy and happiness I've experienced over the last decade-and-a-half with our four dogs Hobie, Hector, Charlie Brown and Cooper.  All four of them are mixed-up mutts, "Heinz 57", one-of-a-kind animals.

To commemorate National Mutt Day, here are some photos of our boys, including the late, great Hector.  Observing this day would not be complete without including Timba.  We're not really sure if she was a mixed breed or a purebred Lab, but I'm including her anyway!

The three!  A rare occurrence to get them all in one photo.

My love, Hobie... a Lab/Shepherd/Chinook/Black Mouth Cur mix.

Cooper, when he still had 4 legs.  Hound/Collie mix.

Charlie Brown, Cooper's brother, hound/collie mix.

The three together another time!  How lucky!

Hector and Hobie.  Today, this is one of my favorite photos, but it was taken at an extremely stressful moment.
They had gotten loose at my friend's house at the beach, and I managed to catch up to them.
This picture was taken once we all calmed down. 

I toldja I'm bad at selfies!  Here I am with Hector.  Hector was also a hound-mix.  We think Hound/Lab/Border Collie, but we are not exactly sure.  Heinz 57, or as I like to say "A one-of-a-kind dog"!

Timba, who was either a purebred Lab or some kind of undeterminable mix!

How I spent most of my time with Hobie and Hector over the years.
All three of us on the loveseat.
This is NOT a full-size couch and they each weighed 80 pounds!

Another of my favorite pics of Hector and Hobie