Do dogs know it's their birthday?

While dogs don't understand the concept of birthdays, they absolutely pick up on the extra excitement, attention, and treats. Dogs are highly attuned to their owner's emotions, so when you're celebrating, they feel the joy too. A birthday celebration is a wonderful way to bond with your pup and show them extra love.

How do I find out my dog's birthday?

If you adopted your dog, check adoption papers or ask the shelter for an estimated birth date. If the exact date is unknown, many pet owners celebrate their dog's 'gotcha day' (adoption anniversary) instead. You can also ask your vet for an age estimate based on teeth and physical development to pick an approximate birthday.

Dog News Roundup: What Happened This Week (May 13, 2026)

May 13, 2026

Here's what's going on in the dog world right now that I think you should know about. A massive rescue, a food recall, a new treatment option, and some science that proves what we already knew.

1,500 Beagles Just Got Rescued From a Research Facility in Wisconsin

This is a big one. Two rescue organizations, Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy, just brokered a deal to purchase 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a facility in rural Dane County, Wisconsin that has been breeding beagles specifically for sale to animal testing laboratories.

The first 300 dogs were removed on May 1st, with more coming out every day. They're being staged at a temporary facility in Wisconsin where they're getting vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and prepared for transport to rescue partners across the country. Big Dog Ranch Rescue is taking in about 1,000 of the dogs through a network of more than 50 partner rescues, and the remaining 500 are being coordinated through organizations centered in Wisconsin.

This follows years of advocacy and a March action where about 60 activists staged an open rescue at Ridglan and removed 22 beagles. Now 1,500 of them are getting out. If you're interested in adopting one of these dogs, keep an eye on Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Beagle Freedom Project for updates on availability.

Sources:

ABC7 Chicago: https://abc7chicago.com/post/1500-beagles-will-get-new-lives-warm-laps-release-research-facility/19051672/
Madison.com: https://madison.com/news/local/business/article_e40cfd63-2358-5832-83c5-d09fbf267a9e.html
Beagle Freedom Project: https://bfp.org/ridglan/

Albright's Raw Chicken Dog Food Recalled Nationwide

If you feed raw, check your freezer. Albright's Raw Pet Food just issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its Chicken Recipe for Dogs due to potential Salmonella contamination. The affected product is sold as frozen 1-lb bricks in clear vacuum packaging, usually in 30-lb cases.

It was distributed directly to consumers nationwide and to retailers in Massachusetts, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York. No illnesses have been reported in pets or humans so far, but Salmonella can affect both your dog and anyone handling the food. If you have this product, stop feeding it and contact Albright's for a refund.

Sources:

New Allergy Shot for Dogs Just Got Approved

If your dog deals with seasonal allergies and you've tried everything, there's a new option. Elanco just got FDA approval for Befrena, a monoclonal antibody injection that targets IL-31, which is one of the key signals that triggers itching in dogs with allergic and atopic dermatitis.

If you've heard of Cytopoint, this is a similar approach but a different antibody, so for dogs who haven't responded well to Apoquel or Cytopoint, it could be worth asking your vet about. Allergies are one of those things where different dogs respond to different treatments, and having another option is always good.

Source:

dvm360: https://www.dvm360.com/view/usda-approves-new-anti-il31-monoclonal-antibody-injection

Petting Your Dog Is Literally Good for Your Brain

I love when science confirms something we already knew. A 2026 study published in Scientific Reports looked at brain activity during human-dog interactions and found that petting a real dog and making eye contact with them stimulates significantly higher brain activity in the beta and gamma frequency bands compared to doing the same thing with a stuffed toy dog.

Those brain waves are associated with attention, concentration, and cognitive processing. So interacting with your dog doesn't just feel good, it actually makes your brain work better. Next time someone catches you petting your dog instead of answering emails, just tell them you're optimizing your cognitive function. You're welcome.

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