Wednesday Open Line


It is said that “every dog has its day,” and according to an animal welfare activist in the Pacific Northwest, today is the day for every dog. Now in its 11th year, this is National Dog Day, about five months after National Puppy Day. The occasion has two goals. One is to honor dogs, which serve humanity as companions, watchdogs, herders, and Seeing Eye dogs. They also aid in search and rescue, and in sniffing out explosives and drugs. The second goal is to rescue dogs from neglect and abuse. In the U.S., there are well over 14,000 nonveterinary pet care businesses, offering such things as pet toys and supplies, and grooming services. At such establishments, we spend about $3.5 billion a year on our animals. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.