By Sarah Folmar, Brand Communications Specialist 
Just a little under a week from now, I will be celebrating a pet holiday that is near and dear to my heart. National Mutt Day takes place on July 31st, and having the best mutt out there (in my opinion), I love to celebrate having him. Here’s a little bit about Tyson, Mr. T, or Ty$on as my pop culture loving friends like to spell it.
I was working in an animal hospital when an elderly couple brought in this stray hound mix with a potential gunshot wound. They really wanted to make sure he was stitched up and presentable before they took him to a local shelter. It was kind to take him in off the streets, and try to get him ready to go to the shelter as they were not able to take in a large dog. This sad-looking but strangely optimistic young dog broke my heart. I knew that some shelters would euthanize him right away with an injury like this, so I couldn’t just let him go.
That’s the day I decided to foster dogs. That’s also the night that I became a foster failure. 4 years later… Tyson is still ours!
If you have just adopted a mutt (or purebred pooch), or one came into your life out of the blue (like Mr. T…), PetSafe® products can help! Sometimes you won’t know a dog’s history when you take him in, and there are plenty of products that can help make the transition go well.
If you are wanting to give your new dog a great space to, well, be a dog, check out some of the in-ground and wireless fence options. This will give your dog freedom in his new yard, without you needing to install a physical fence.
You’ll want to make sure he’s happy and has something to keep himself entertained. When we first got Tyson, he managed to chew up just about everything that we had left out. We weren’t giving him great chew toys at the time, and now we make sure he’s always got something to keep himself busy. The PetSafe brand has a variety of toys for strong chewers, as well as treat-dispensing toys that reward your dog for playing! What could be better? 
And last, but certainly not least, you'll want to make sure your new dog stays properly hydrated. July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month, and this is a great time to educate yourself and create a healthier lifestyle for your pet by making sure he has the proper amount of water each day.
Tyson needs close to 65 ounces of water a day, but I don't have to constantly fill up a dirty water dish with our Drinkwell® 360 Stainless Steel Fountain. This is honestly my favorite product, and Tyson loves it too! It freshly filters your pet's water, and is veterinarian recommended.
So celebrate on July 31 with National Mutt Day by giving your dog a thank you for being awesome. Or throw in a new PetSafe product for fun!
