02.07.2026 Every year on July 2 , many countries celebrate International Dog Day . Although it has no official status, this does not prevent all dog breeders, cynologists and lovers of these four-legged pets from celebrating it, starting in 2012. In addition to honoring the “heroes of the occasion”, the holiday also has the goal of once again drawing the attention of society to the problem of homeless animals. (Image: Bruce Warrington)
A dog running to join the family photo. pic.twitter.com/wWJIrFdDN9
— The Best (@TheBestqueenx) June 30, 2026
The famous American writer Josh Billings said: “A dog is the only creature in the world that loves you more than itself” , and the Soviet writer Ilya Ilf was sure that “A dog is so devoted that you don’t even believe that a person deserves such love!” And it’s hard to disagree with this.
The Oldest Images of dogs were found in Saudi Arabia. The absolute earliest potential depictions of domestic dogs are carved into sandstone cliff faces in northwestern Saudi Arabia at sites like Shuwaymis and Jubbah. Dating back 8,000 to 9,000 years, these carvings show hunters using packs of dogs to corner prey. Incredibly, some lines connect the hunters to the dogs, which scientists believe are the world’s first depictions of leashes.
Since prehistoric times a dog is one of the closest and most important companions for humans – both from an emotional and practical point of view. According to scientists, the “domestication” of dogs by humans occurred several tens of thousands of years ago. Most likely, dogs were attracted by food left at human sites, and then the gradual “domestication” of these animals began, thanks to their trainability, hunting skills, and ability to get along with humans.
It was 8:14 p.m. when the shelter’s “most dangerous dog” finally touched another human being.
The man sitting on the kennel floor didn’t say a word.
He simply lowered his head and quietly wiped tears into the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
Because everyone watching understood what had… pic.twitter.com/vumqlka2mO— Gabriele Corno (@Gabriele_Corno) July 1, 2026
Initially assistants in guarding and hunting, dogs later became a loyal support for man in other areas. Having switched to a sedentary lifestyle, man began to breed cattle, and the dog turned out to be a skilled assistant to the shepherd, helping to graze and drive the cattle, protecting it from predators. And constant migrations of camps were no longer possible without sled and draft dogs , which were used for transportation. In subsequent years, these animals were also used to set in motion the mechanisms of butter churns, threshers, pumps and sewing machines.
Dogs played no less a role during wars and military operations. For example, during the Caucasian War (1817-1864), during the defense of Gagra, Russian soldiers, having made friends with local dogs, noticed that the animals became their loyal assistants – they took an active part in hand-to-hand combat and even died defending Russian soldiers, scoured the bushes and exposed the ambushes of the highlanders. For this, the soldiers loved them: a wounded animal was often brought on a greatcoat to the fortification and treated in the hospital on an equal basis with people. In combat conditions, dogs were also used during both world wars. Animals guarded territories, went on reconnaissance, defused mines, blew up tanks, pulled the wounded from the battlefield, delivered mail, carried cargo … And often – at the cost of their lives. More than 60 thousand dogs of different breeds served in the Red Army units on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War alone. They not only carried out orders, but also starved, froze and got wet in the trenches together with the soldiers, were loyal companions of people, and demonstrated courage and bravery. They were signalmen and orderlies, saboteurs and scouts, sappers and guards, escorts and sled dogs…