All - Leep Calendar

Distracted Driving Awareness Month occurs in April each year and is sponsored by the National Safety Council. Cellular phones and smart phones used whilst driving kill thousands needlessly each year whether handheld or hands-free. During Distracted Driving Awareness Month the public is asked to: - Take a pledge to stop using your smart phone while driving; - Recognize that hands-free devices offer no safety benefit; - Understand the dangers of the cognitive distraction to the brain; - Tell others about the dangers of cell phone distracted driving.

Africa

Apr

DNA Day, Ntl. (1953): April 25

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National DNA Day marks the anniversary of the description of the double-helix structure of DNA by James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick on this day in 1953. The discovery of DNA is considered by many as one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the 20th century. National DNA Day was designated in 2003 by a Senate Congressional Resolution, together with April as Human Genome Month.

Africa

Apr

Dog Bite Prevention Week, Ntl.: April 10-16

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Africa

Apr

Dog Therapy Appreciation Day: April 11

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Therapy dogs are different than service dogs. Service dogs perform specific tasks their owners can't do due to disability such as seeing-eye dogs. Therapy dogs fulfill a psychological function, providing comfort and companionship. Whereas a service dog is 'on the job' wherever its owner goes, a therapy dog seeks out affection, cuddles and to be touched. National Therapy Dog Day serves to educate the public on the differences and share the important benefits these animals bring to all they meet.

Africa

Apr

Dog, Little Pampered Dog Day, Ntl.: April 27

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National Little Pampered Dog Day was created in order to (1) to celebrate those owners who truly care for and love their dogs and (2) bring attention to the fact that not all dogs are so lucky in order to (3) communicate that dogs are living beings that deserve to happy and healthy.

Africa

Apr

Dog, Lost Dog Awareness Day: April 23

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July 5th is the single day that more dogs go missing than any other each year according to PawBoost, most likely due to the fireworks and festivities the night before. Because of this Paw Boost has established National Lost Dog Awareness Day to highlight pet safety and help owners reunited with lost pets. Personal note from Laura for anyone whose pet goes on walk-about: On December 6, 2017, my cat Miss Zoe got out of our new home in South Philadelphia as I was bringing in the garbage cans. We had just moved in two weeks prior and she had endured a traumatic two months moving to the United States from the Middle East and living in AirBnB's until I could secure us a new home. A desert stray when I rescued her, she found herself lost and caught in the snow in a major US city 8,000 miles away from anything she knew. Every night and early morning I went out looking for her, calling her name, shaking treats, papering the neighborhood in posters, working NextDoor and Paw Boost, visiting shelters and vets. It was excruciating. Miss Zoe is chipped and was wearing a collar with a tag. In the Middle East she also had a GPCats collar (GPS), but it wasn't working in the US. Seventeen days later, I received a call from a neighbor three blocks down and two over. My neighbor recognized her from the posters I put up around the neighborhood and the forwarded PawBoost Alerts that people featured on their social media pages. Services like PawBoost notify the local vets and shelters, create posters for you and post your notice on Facebook to their network of rescuers. Still, as a pet parent, you have to put in the work, walk the blocks and talk to people. Most lost pets stay within a half mile to mile of your home. It can take months, and you can't give up. Miss Zoe is a shy cat. Even with cat treats, it took time to coax her out; then she thanked me by shredding my hands and arms with her teeth and claws as I wrestled to get her into the carrier. That earned me a blood soaked trip to the Urgent Care. In retrospect, I recommend thick gloves, like those for dishwashing. All Zoe needed to go spazz-cat was see the carrier she'd occupied for an 18-hour flight! At least a dog will walk on a leash. The other tool I used was Nextdoor.com. This was critical in keeping my spirits up and getting everyone in the vicinity looking for Miss Zoe. She became infamous in our Point Breeze neighborhood. For several weeks after I found her, people would stop me to ask if she'd been found, or wave at us when they saw her sitting in the front window. Today Miss Zoe (and her brother Sinatra) is happy and home (in fact, she's sleeping on my desk next to me right now...snoring). Use this day, Lost Dog Awareness Day, to familiarize yourself with the tools available should your pet, (dog, cat, bird or ferret), go on walk-about. If you know what to expect and what to do, you'll greatly increase the chances of a happy ending.

Africa

Apr

Dogfighting Awareness Day, National: April 8

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As part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month in April, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) designates April 8 National Dogfighting Awareness Day (www.aspca.org/dogfighting) to raise awareness of the prevalence of dog fighting in the U.S., reveal little-known truths about the blood sport, and encourage animal lovers nationwide to take action against one of the most brutal forms of animal cruelty. Despite being a felony in all 50 states, dog fighting continues to be a popular underground activity. Additional criminal activities often connected with dog fighting include drug and weapons violations. “Dogfighting is the ultimate betrayal of the human-animal bond and the brutality of this crime needs to be brought to the forefront of the nation's conscience,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker. “Dogfighting is not just a crime, it's a deep stain on our national character—a cultural embarrassment we should all feel. This is about doing everything we can to bring this nightmarish practice to an end. We can't rest until it does.” Among the misconceptions about dogfighting are that it's a rare activity, that it's restricted to certain parts of the country, and that participants represent a very narrow slice of American culture. None of these assumptions are true. “National Dogfighting Awareness Day sheds a light on the prevalence of this crime in America and encourages people to take action by learning how to recognize and report suspected dog fighting activities so that authorities could step in and bring this horrific form of animal abuse to an end,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. The ASPCA is asking people nationwide to increase their awareness about dog fighting and share their stand on April 8 by visiting www.aspca.org/dogfighting.

Africa

Apr

Dolphin Day, Ntl.: April 14

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Dolphin Day is an unofficial event observed globally for over 25 years. Originally focused on raising awareness of the Southeast Asia hunting practices affecting dolphins, today it is simply a celebration of these beloved mammals of the sea. Currently there are two official events held annually focusing on raising awareness: one in February, World Love for Dolphins Day, and International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji in September.

Africa

Apr

Don't Go to Work Unless It's Fun Day: April 3

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Africa

Apr

Donate Life Month, Ntl.: April

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Africa

Apr

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day (1946): April 8

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Dab Day, or Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, is an unofficial, but well celebrated event by soldiers, medical personnel and their families. The day is based upon a real-life story from 1943. It is the story of Dorie Cooper, a 7 year old girl, living in England. One day she visited her uncle in the local hospital, who had lost his leg in the war. Dorie's uncle was distraught, but Dorie asked him to draw her a picture of a bird. The man had no desire for such things, but he indulged his niece and drew a robin on the piece of paper she had give him. When the girl saw the picture, she laughed and told him that he wasn't a very good artist, but she would hang the picture on her wall nonetheless. That little occurrence did in no way help the uncle's dire situation, but it did make him and his fellow injured soldiers in the ward laugh and brightened their day. After that event, Dorie came to visit often. Each time the men held drawing contests to see who could impress Dorie the most. Those little drawing events helped guided the soldiers through recovery. Three years later Dorie was struck by a car and killed. The men and women from the ward mourned and wept for the little girl that brought them happiness and relief. They filled her coffin with pictures of bird and Draw a Bird Day is remembered and celebrated by many veterans and soldiers on the day of her death ever since.

Africa

Apr

Drowsy Drivers Awareness Day: April 6

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Drowsy Drivers Awareness Day is an annual awareness campaign commemorating and memorializing all those whom have perished in automobile accidents attributed to drowsy driving. This event is officially recognized in the State of California and celebrated annually on the same day.

Africa

Apr

Drug Take Back Day, Ntl.: April 30

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Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. That's why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs. The DEA sponsors a Drug Take Back Day each April and October to make disposal of expired or no longer needed medications safe and easy. To find a collection site near you, use the Collection Site Locator available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov Social media and community promotion assets are available for free on the event champion's website. https://takebackday.dea.gov The actual date for this event each year is set at the beginning of the year and does not follow any specific pattern. This event was first held in 2016.

Africa

Apr

Dumb Week (C)(GR): April 10-16

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The Greek Orthodox Church follows the Julian rather than the Gregorian Calendar, which means they celebrate Christmas and Easter on different days than the Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths. Dumb Week is part of the Orthodox Lent and is the week preceding the Holy Week of Palm Sunday - Orthodox Easter. So called 'Dumb' as there is only one church service during the week, on Lazarus Friday.

Africa

Apr

Dyngus Day (C): April 18

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Dyngus Day, also called Wet Monday (Polish _migus-Dingus or Lany Poniedzia_ek) it denotes the Monday following Easter. Historically a Polish tradition, it celebrates the end of the observance of Lent and the joy of Easter. Buffalo, New York holds a festival on this day.

Africa