National Zipper Day
April 29
The YKK company has the industry all zipped up: The company accounts for 46 percent of the global zipper market. Every year, it produces enough zippers to wrap around the world 50 times. That’s 1.2 million miles of zippers! The national Manufacturing Center of YKK in Macon, Georgia produces around 65,000 miles of those zippers annually.
Guide Dog Day
April 29
A first-century mural dating from the Roman ruins of Herculaneum and a 13th century Chinese scroll are believed to be among the earliest depictions of dogs leading people who are blind. Labradors, golden retrievers, and German shepherds are common guide dog breeds, chosen for traits including size, intelligence and temperament. Guide dogs are trained to lead around obstacles, including hazards like low branches that may be above the height of the dog but not of its owner. The dogs learn to be responsible for a space two times as wide and up to three times as tall as themselves to keep their owners safe. When guide dogs are “off-harness,” or not working, they can play, romp or sniff like any other dog. And just like humans, guide dogs eventually retire — usually after roughly eight to 10 years of service.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Willie Nelson – Singer – born in Abbot, Texas
Dale Earnhardt – Race Car Driver – born in Kannapolis, North Carolina
