LIFE

Women’s Equality Day, National Dog Day are both today - why?

Before you get upset, read this.

Kerry Lengel
The Republic | azcentral.com
Aug. 26: National Dog Day

Why is today Women’s Equality Day and National Dog Day?

And isn’t that just a little bit insulting to women? No b-word jokes, people. Please.

While the juxtaposition may sound odd, let’s not jump to conclusions. First of all, there are many days (and weeks and months) that have multiple observances. For example, according to Wikipedia, August is National Immunization Awareness Month, National Black Business Month and National Goat Cheese Month.

Aug. 26: National Women's Equality Day. The 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was ratified on Aug. 26, 1920.

Women’s Equality Day, established by presidential proclamation to be every Aug. 26, marks the anniversary of women’s right to vote in America — it was the day the 19th Amendment was certified in 1920.

National Dog Day, on the other hand, is not an official observance with the government’s stamp of approval (nor, for that matter, is National Goat Cheese Month).

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Instead, National Dog Day was proclaimed (unilaterally) by “animal advocate” Colleen Paige, who, according to her website, is also the founder of National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day and National Cat Day, among others. They are intended “to bring attention to the plight of animals and encourage adoption.”

Why Aug. 26? That’s the date Paige’s family adopted her first dog when she was just 10 years old.

So, feel free to celebrate women’s suffrage and the love of pets today.

And tomorrow? It’s National Banana Lovers Day. So, let your slippery yellow flag fly.

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