The hot, humid weather of July and August are often referred to as the dog days of summer, and this month there are plenty of dog-themed holidays to celebrate.
Dogust, or August 1st, is considered the universal birthday for shelter dogs who may not have accurate birth records.The Clear the Shelters organization advocates for donations and adoptions throughout the month of August to help shelter pets find their forever homes. You can also check out the Yonkers Animal Shelter or the Humane Society of Westchester to learn more.
August 4 is Assistance Dog Day, which celebrates the many assistive service dogs who are trained to help those with disabilities or medical conditions. Assistive service dogs provide companionship and improve the quality of life for the humans they assist.
August 26 is National Dog Day, founded in 2004 to celebrate all dogs and raise awareness for dogs in shelters, rescues, and breeding farms that are looking to be adopted. National Dog Day also honors service dogs and dogs trained for tasks like rescue operations.
We love celebrating our furry friends at Yonkers Public Library. You can read with Cooper the Therapy Dog at Crestwood on Mondays, August 11 and 18 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, or on Tuesdays at Will on Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19 and 26. You can check out all of the upcoming Cooper the Therapy Dog on our event calendar. Registration is required for Read with Cooper programs at the Will Library.
If you’re taking your furry friends for a walk in the Crestwood neighborhood, check out our stick library. Outside in our garden, we have a collection of sticks that are great for playing fetch. Pets are patrons too, and we encourage you to borrow and return sticks to the stick library!
Dog’gone Good Reads!
Check out some of these books about some pretty amazing pups! You can also ask a librarian for a more specific recommendation.
Arthur: The Dog Who Cross a Jungle to Find a Home: The epic true story of an extreme athlete, a stray dog, and how they found each other--now a major motion picture from Lionsgate starring Mark Walhberg and Simu Liu.
Hachiko Waits: Hachiko Waits is a novel inspired by a true story. For ten years Hachi waits for his master to return on the train. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post.
The Art of Racing in the Rain: Nearing the end of his life, Enzo, a dog with a philosopher's soul, tries to bring together the family, pulled apart by a three year custody battle between daughter Zoe's maternal grandparents and her father Denny, a race car driver.
Don't forget there's still time to sign up for summer reading! Sign up on Beanstack, log your books, and get the chance to win some great prizes!
Alison Robles, a Yonkers native, received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She works at the Crestwood Library and is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction, and fantasy.