Mother’s Day in the United States was first proclaimed in 1870 in Boston by Julia Ward Howe, the first official recognition of the holiday was by West Virginia in 1910, and a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day was signed by U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

Actually any day is appropriate to honor our mothers.

A mother is one who understands the things her children say and do. She overlooks the faults and sees the best in them. A mother is one whose special love inspires and encourages, never imagining that what she does may become unforgettable memories in the hearts of her children. God bless mothers!

Mother’s Day is a time to pay special tribute to mothers who understand that a kind word and a hug can heal a broken heart. Your mother, and those who have been a mother figure in your life, are your first love, and nothing on earth can separate you – not time, not space, not even death. Animal moms are special, and life sometimes becomes complicated for them too:

• They deal with poop all the time. Unlike two legged babies who outgrow their need for diapers, our dogs never become competent at cleaning up their own poo.
• Life is busy, so sometimes we have to take them to day care, and, much like mothers of human babies, we worry about what they are learning at day care. Some day-care dogs are not as well mannered as ours!
• From whimpering for attention, to legitimately needing to pee, some nights we may be up with them several times, even though all we really want to do is sleep
• From the sniffles to being bitten by another dog at the dog park (another place to pick up bad habits), dogs need medical treatment, and vets are almost as costly as pediatricians.
• Then there is the need for toys and treats. Do they really need so many? Probably not, but how can we resist buying something when we are in the pet store. After all, human kids’ toy boxes are full and overflowing…
• We probably won’t admit it, but sometimes we talk baby talk to them…and yes, they respond… with paw hugs and nose kisses.
• Much like moms with their wallets full of baby photos, our iPhones are cluttered with dog pictures. We know our friends probably don’t want to see them, but they are so special, how can we resist sharing just a few?
• Who’s the cutest baby ever? Well, it’s not up for debate who is the cutest four-legged member of the family. Every pet mom is convinced that her dog is absolutely the cutest, smartest, most well behaved in the entire universe.
• Just like soccer moms team up together in their Nike outfits to discuss sports, dog moms team up together in their dog-walking clothes with a pocketful of poo bags. It’s a shared bond.
• Conflicting parenting styles can become a source of argument. If we see someone handling a dog in a way we don’t agree with, we say something, knowing that our wisdom will be appreciated. Moms on the playground do the same thing.
• Much like all moms, we wouldn’t trade our perfect pets for anything in the world. We are moms and we love them unconditionally.

On Mother’s Day (and every day), we know that whatever else is unsure in this world, a mother’s love for her children, whether two-legged or four-legged, remains steadfast and true.

God bless ALL our mothers!