A birthday is the perfect time to celebrate, no matter who’s turning a year older. It’s a wonderful excuse to bring friends and family together or to do something special, which is why dog owners are taking advantage of their fur baby’s big days. After all, pets deserve to be pampered and celebrated, too!

The residents and workers at one assisted living facility had a blast throwing an 18th birthday party for Arthur, one of the residents’ beloved senior dogs. Judging by the looks of a November 14 TikTok video from @squibbzz AKA Gabrielle (love your name), almost everyone at the home turned up for the party! The priceless moment is touching hearts across the Internet, but I’m sure it meant the most to Arthur’s adoring owner.

@squibbzz The most wholesome celebration for one of the residents’ dogs 18th birthday!!! #wholesome #goodnews #dog #dogbirthday #dogbirthdayparty #celebrating #dogsoftiktok #doglover ♬ original sound – Gabrielle

Happy Birthday, Arthur! This little dog looks so adorable in his blue harness (or is it a dog bandana?), and he seems completely content on his mama’s lap. Whether or not he knew that this party was all for him has yet to be determined!

“May the belly rubs be plentiful, your food be given a little earlier than usual, and your walks be full of joy with lots of grass,” wrote commenter @fiesty.devil. What a precious birthday wish! This sounds like every dog’s dream come true, though being surrounded by loved ones and yummy dog treats can’t be too far behind.

I was happy to see just how many commenters loved this pet-friendly assisted living home. It can be difficult to find these types of accommodations for older dog owners, but not everyone realizes what a massive impact a dog can have when someone lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The love of a pet can combat loneliness, promote exercise and movement, and even help seniors make new friends! There’s no doubt how much Arthur is adored by his mom and her neighbors, but it seems like he’s made some four-legged friends as well!

Celebrating Dog Birthdays

Arthur’s friends proved that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to celebrate a dog’s birthday. As long as they feel special and are having a good time–you’ve done your job! Some folks may take their dogs for a hike or buy them a Pup Cup at Starbucks, but a surprise party can be a great way for social butterflies to have fun, too. There’s no wrong way to celebrate a dog’s birthday!

If you adopted your dog from an animal rescue or shelter, you can celebrate their birthday on their ‘gotcha’ day,’ or the day they come home for the very first time. There really are no rules, so feel free to celebrate when it feels like the right time!