World Dog Day, that's why it's August 26th

On August 26th, four-legged friends are celebrated around the world, considered family members by millions of Italians

BOLOGNA – Today, August 26, World Dog Day is celebrated around the world.Four-legged friends are the pet par excellence, companions in adventure and life, pets for children, faithful and affectionate friends and, for those who own one, true family members to all intents and purposes.So much so that a study by Coldiretti Ixè has made it known that Italians who own a dog increasingly take their pet with them on holiday.

But how did Dog Day come about?And why was August 26th chosen?The idea started in the United States in 2004, on the initiative of journalist Colleen Paige, dog expert and founder of numerous animal welfare organizations.August 26th was chosen by her, because that was the day she adopted his first dog, Buddy, at the age of 10.From the United States, the celebration ofInternational Dog day it then spread to other countries and now 26 August is a recognized date.After all, before World Dog Day arrived, there was already Cat Day (8 August) and Puppy Day (March 823).World Animal Day, however, is October 4th.

In Italy, according to data from the Pet Animal Registry updated at the beginning of 2023, there are almost 13.8 million dogs with microchips:the average of one dog for every 4 people.Over the last year, the number of dogs has grown by more than 10%.The region with the most microchipped and registered dogs in Italy is Lombardy with 1,973,642 animals.Veneto follows (with 1,461,582 registered dogs) and then Emilia Romagna (1,334,192).

In addition to family dogs, today we also celebrate the many dogs that in Italy help in some human activities:just think about dog units who work alongside the police, fundamental at an investigative level from the discovery of drugs to missing persons.Then there are the dogs used in rescue teams and those that are used in pet therapy, with children and adults.

The symbolic date of August 26th is also important to remember the scourge of stray animals and abandonment and to raise awareness on the issue of adoption.