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Enter the “My Furry Valentine” Photo Contest

The ASPCA has  announce the launch of the 2011 “My Furry Valentine” Photo Contest in honor of all of your puppy (and kitty) loves.

It can be about your childhood pet or your current “objet d’affection”. Send off your story in 100 words or less  and a prize-winning pic of your four-legged amor for a chance to win. Furry, finned or feathered—all companion animals can compete.

Please submit your photo and story to PhotoContest@ASPCA.org.

The top five winners—selected by ASPCA staff members—will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack, and winning photos will be featured on the ASPCA blog, where you’ll also find the contest’s rules. The deadline for submissions is midnight EST on February 12!

By Kim Boatman for The Dog Daily

National Dog Day on August 26 offers the opportunity to celebrate not only your pooch, but also dogs everywhere.

While National Dog Day founder Colleen Paige worked as a paramedic in Los Angeles, she saw many dogs requiring better care. Paige, now an animal behaviorist and author, created National Dog Day to highlight what we can do to help support, rescue and protect dogs in need.

“It’s a day to be grateful for all the wonderful things dogs bring into our lives … the unconditional love, the companionship,” says Paige.

How You Can Celebrate National Dog Day

Paige and other experts offer these suggestions:

Plan an outing. Host a barbecue or picnic that includes other “dog friends.” Your dog will enjoy your undivided attention. Feeling ambitious? Try a getaway to a dog-friendly hotel or resort.

Shop for toys. Dogs can be rough on their toys, and tattered toys pose a risk to your dog’s health, says Paige. Make a habit of tossing the old toys and replacing with a new batch of intriguing toys each National Dog Day.

Prepare for emergencies. Show your love by taking a pet first-aid course, advises Melanie Monteiro, author of  The Safe Dog Handbook: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Pooch, Indoors and Out. Also, spend five minutes updating your cell phone contact list to include the numbers for your veterinarian, an after-hours veterinarian and poison control center. Plug your dog’s microchip number into your cell.

Volunteer. Rescue groups and shelters need your help, even if you can’t make a long-term commitment of time or money. “Think locally,” says Sherry Woodard, resident animal behavior consultant for Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. “Find a way to help your local shelter or rescue group. There are struggling individual rescue groups across the country.”

Donate. Honor National Dog Day by giving $5 to your local shelter. Many shelters and rescue groups also list needed items, such as blankets and toys, on their websites.

What You Shouldn’t Do
National Dog Day also offers an opportunity to review activities that are detrimental to the well-being of dogs, says Paige. Here’s a checklist:

Don’t support puppy mills. “We want to shut down puppy mills because they overbreed and neglect the animals,” says Paige. Instead of purchasing a dog from a pet store, which is supplied by a puppy mill, consider adopting on National Dog Day.

Don’t endorse breed-specific legislation. “It is people who make dogs go bad,” says Paige. “We say no to breed bans.” She points out that a few years ago, the National Dog Day canine recognized for heroism was a pit bull.

Don’t put off spaying or neutering your dog. “A lot of people think, ‘If my dog had one litter, it will be OK,’” says Woodard. Don’t contribute to the overpopulation problem, which leaves so many dogs in need of a home.

Don’t leave your dog in your car. Many dog owners underestimate just how quickly a car can heat up in the summer. “I passed out at the grocery store and was taken to the emergency room,” says Suzi Carragher, blogger at RedDogInn.com. “Had my dogs been in my car, they would have been in trouble.”

Don’t drive with your dog unsecured. Too many dog owners still travel with dogs roaming free in the back of pickup trucks. It’s also not a good idea to travel with a dog loose inside your car. If you stop suddenly, your dog may get hurt or interfere with your driving.