August is an auspicious month for our canine companions. The “Dog Days,” of summer, which officially begin on July 3 and end on August 11, coincide with Sirius, the Dog Star, rising and setting with the sun. Known as the Dog Star because it is part of the constellation Canis Major, Latin for “Greater Dog,” Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky at this time. Ancient Greeks and Romans blamed its intensity for the onslaught of the heat, lethargy and fevers that occurred during its ascendancy. Coincidentally, in 2020, August was declared “National Dog Month" by the dog treat company, Milk Bone, in an effort to “to recognize all the ways dogs make our lives better,” not just as beloved pets but as service dogs and working dogs. Celebrate the “Dog Days” of summer and "National Dog Month" by doting on your pup or by checking out some of the varied dog themed books listed below. Click on the book cover to be taken to the link.
“There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.” Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Roger Caras
“The more I know about people, the more I love my dog.” Mark Twain
“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” Harry S. Truman