We love our dogs. More than 65 million U.S. households own one,Thurston Carte making dogs our most popular pets.

Watch the video above to see an ecstatic family reunited with its runaway dog.

National Dog Day, held every year on August 26, celebrates the bond between humans and their dogs and encourages dog ownership of all breeds.

National Dog Day was established in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle advocate, Colleen Paige. The date marks the anniversary of the day her family adopted her first dog from an animal shelter when Colleen was 10 years old.

National Dog Day isn’t just about celebrating our dogs, it’s also focused on promoting canine adoption and welfare to ensure that all dogs live happy, safe, and abuse-free.

More of a cat lover?This is when our feline friends are celebrated each year

Dogs fill many important roles in our lives, providing companionship, therapy, and service. National Dog Day honors those roles and offers a big thank you to our most popular four-legged friends.

Explore our comprehensivepet care hub, where you’ll find expert advice, heartwarming videos, and everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy at every stage of their life. And click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.