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MonDec 2

National Mutt Day – December 2, 2024

Let’s throw this day to the dogs! Not just any dog, though. Today, we toast to the mixed breeds of the world, so raise your water bowls high … because this one’s for the mutts! There’s no ifs, ands, or mutts about it — December 2 is National Mutt Day, and we’re here to celebrate. In fact, we love this day so much, we celebrate it twice year. The next National Mutt Day is July 31!

National Mutt Day timeline

1866
ASPC is established

Non-profit organization 'The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' is founded to prevent cruelty to animals.

1968
The Snickering Hound

Hanna-Barbera Productions create fictional dog Muttley, who is a sidekick to cartoon villain Dick Dastardly.

2005
National Mutt Day is born.

Animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige started this holiday to shine a light on the problem of abandoning mixed breed dogs.

July 31, 2005
The More the Mutt-rier

National Mutt Day is also celebrated on July 31 annually.

National Mutt Day Social Media Buzz

National Mutt Day Activities

  1. Volunteer at your local shelter

    Animal shelters are always looking for volunteers, and you'd make a great one! Check in with your local rescue to see how you can get involved.

  2. Offer to dog-sit for a friend

    Chances are, you've got plenty of mutts in your life. While every dog owner loves their pet, they'd probably still appreciate a day off.

  3. Adopt a mutt

    The ultimate way to celebrate this holiday! If you've been thinking about getting a dog, open up your heart to a mutt and you won't regret it.

Why We Love National Mutt Day

  1. It encourages adoption of mixed-breed dogs

    This is what National Mutt Day's all about! While all dogs at shelters need adopting, purebred dogs tend to have much better luck, so mutts often end up being left out to dry.

  2. They've got the best temperaments

    Most purebreds were bred for specific traits, so they're likely to have a more extreme personality. Mutts, on the other hand, have a blend of traits from different sources, which often leads to a more mellow mood. In fact, purebred dogs are more likely than mutts to have genetic disorders, including cataracts and hypothyroidism.

  3. They're all so different

    With all the dog breed combinations out there, there are a nearly an infinite amount of possibilities. Just think about it this way: 4-digit combination locks have ten thousand combinations, and there are over 300 breeds of dogs. You can [try to] do the math.

National Mutt Day dates

Year Date Day
2024 December 2 Monday
2025 December 2 Tuesday
2026 December 2 Wednesday
2027 December 2 Thursday
2028 December 2 Saturday