Paw, I'll be Home Soon

Colleen Page is the daughter of actor Robert Page. She's also an animal behaviorist, author, and editor. She's the brainchild of worldwide trending holidays, like National Puppy Day.

A puppy is a juvenile dog, not more than a year old. This tiny creature is cuteness overload, a fact that is hard to ignore. Everyone wants one, but taking care of one is another thing. This is where National Puppy Day sprung from, for adorable pups that need a loving home. After all, they light up a household, always playful. It's also that age when this animal must socialize with people, as lack of socialization makes him/her wary of humans during later years. There's another story behind this holiday. Puppy mills.

Puppy mill, sometimes known as puppy farm, is a commercial dog breeding facility where the owner(s) are more interested in making profits from dogs and less with their welfare. Not all puppies who are born here are lucky to find a loving home, and if they do, they have an assortment of health and/or behavioral problems that their owner(s) must deal with. There is no shortage of volunteers, of rescue centers. But what about a home? Thus National Puppy Day is one of the many ways to provide a voice for these creatures, consider as man's best friend.

If you have a puppy in your household, here are some things to celebrate this special occasion:

1. Give him/her more love. Belly rub. Cuddling. Nap time. Not that you give less during the rest of the year, but National Puppy Day is his/her day.

2. Puppy has feelings too. If you cage/crate your puppy, then now is the time not to do it. After all, he/she is part of the family. Better yet, why not make it a lifelong resolution? If for some reason(s), he/she must be crated, then make sure he/she must be comfortable with it, not letting him/her stay there for long.

3. Puppies need to get physical. We don't want them to suffer from health problems, which means more expenses. Find the time for him/her to walk outdoors, no matter how busy your schedule is.

4. Find a pet-friendly destination. If you go on a holiday, then it will be unfair for your puppy to be left with someone else. He/She is the love of your life, albeit in four legs.

5. Attend a puppy party. If you can't look for one, then organize one. This is a good opportunity to meet other people who are canine lovers too. Besides, it's nice to see puppies (or dogs, for that matter) having fun too.

6. One can be a lonely number. If it's possible to have one more pet in your household, then adopt one. Not all dogs in shelters are fortunate to find a loving home. Being a fur-rent can be challenging, but seeing your puppy having company can be a great feeling.

7. Let the world know. There are social media sites to share your fur baby's winsome pictures. It can be wonderful to read those comments, about how cute he/she is.

So mark the 21st of March, National Puppy Day.