| Odds are you have heard of the term "Dog Days | | | | represent their pharaoh king, Osiris and believed |
| of Summer" but do you really know where this | | | | that the summertime flooding of the Nile |
| expression comes from and what it really means? | | | | represented the death and rebirth of their former |
| The official dog days of summer are July 3rd to | | | | king. The Romans believed that by sacrificing a |
| August 11th which is customarily the hottest days | | | | brown dog to Sirius, they would avoid his harsh |
| of the year. With it come unbearably harsh | | | | wrath. This was indeed quite a sacrifice for them |
| temperatures, extreme droughts, and limited crop | | | | as the Roman people were known to greatly |
| production. Also during this time of year, Sirius or | | | | enjoy the companionship of dogs. Even their |
| the "Dog Star" is easily seen rising and setting | | | | goddess Dianna the huntress was commonly |
| along with the sun which in ancient times made it | | | | portrayed with dogs at her side. |
| an easy scapegoat for the cause of these | | | | In modern times, the dog days of summer have |
| scalding summer months. | | | | a lighter connotation. We associate this time of |
| Sirius is the brightest star in the sky (second to | | | | the year with lazy afternoons, family vacations |
| the sun) and belongs to the constellation Canis | | | | and a variety of outdoor activities. Why not take |
| Major. The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome | | | | advantage of the heat and take your pets out |
| and Greece all had their own beliefs about the | | | | for a swim or even for a run through the |
| Sirius star and its relationship to the scorching | | | | sprinklers? Try to find unique new ways to have |
| weather. The Egyptians thought Sirius to | | | | some fun with your pets and survive the heat! |