When a doggy daycare celebrated a Shih Tzu’s “birthday” with hats and a song, her owners were amused—and a little confused—because the pup’s real birthday wasn’t for months.
While owner Caitria Sands was away on a work trip, she received a message from her fiancé with an update on their Shih Tzu, Luna, at doggy daycare. The texts included photos and a video of Luna wearing a party hat as staff sang “Happy Birthday” to her. The couple quickly grew confused, as no other dogs were wearing hats, and Luna’s birthday isn’t until July.
In a February 11 TikTok video posted to the account @caitriasands, Sands shared the exchange between her and her fiancé as they laughed about the birthday mix-up. In one message, Sands joked: “Even poor Luna is confused.”
The couple didn’t know how to break the news to the daycare, especially after they put in the effort. Part of the caption reads: “I hate to tell them Luna’s Birthday is in July…”
In a follow-up post, Sands shared the full video of the staff singing. Luna had no idea how to respond, but looked at them with appreciation before slowly backing away. She was done with the attention for the day.
TikTok viewers were quick to find the mix-up hilarious, with the clip racking up more than 59,000 views, 14,400 likes and dozens of amused comments as of Tuesday.
“Omg!!!! She’s so confused & looks so sweet,” wrote one user, while another commented what was likely going through Luna’s mind: “Luna: mom get me out of here.”
Newsweek reached out to Sands via TikTok for additional information and comment.
Birthday Celebrations For Pets
While Luna’s daycare may have jumped the gun on the celebration, the gesture isn’t unusual. Pet birthdays have become increasingly popular among owners, with 81 percent celebrating the occasion or “gotcha days,” according to a PetSmart survey. Gen Z, in particular, are fans of the pet celebration, with 52 percent buying presents each year, Newsweek previously reported.
According to guidance from the American Kennel Club (AKC), birthday celebrations can be as simple or elaborate as a pet’s personality allows. Some dogs may prefer one-on-one quality time, like a long sniff walk, a hike, or a cozy movie night with their owners, while more social pups might enjoy a small dog-friendly birthday party with familiar friends and family.
For owners who want to mark the day at home, experts suggest creating a pet-safe celebration with dog-friendly treats, a homemade or store-bought dog birthday cake, and new toys or enrichment games. The AKC notes that activities like hide-and-seek, treat hunts, and interactive play can make the day feel special while keeping pets mentally stimulated.
And for those wanting to go out with festive touches, consider including themed decorations, birthday party hats and a special bandana for the guest of honor. The AKC emphasizes using pet-friendly ingredients for any food-focused celebrations.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
