Photos: Aug. 26 is National Dog Day

@WTOP this is Winnie, a #Coonhound/Pointer mix adopted from @AlexAnimals around 3 years ago. #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/yYzsdCsFFN
— blah blah blah ™ (@296Winnie) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @296Winnie)

@WTOP this is Vivian. A rescue from @lostdogrescue pic.twitter.com/1jYpDf2RAI
— Stephanie (@StephPopoki) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @StephPopoki)

@WTOP
Happy National Dog Day to this Pup!
Bobby from Emmitsburg, MD pic.twitter.com/ctJhMXg6p4
— MaryAnne (@MaryAnneRuffner) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @MaryAnneRuffner)

@wtop #NationalDogDay #wtop our Chessie ... Coco pic.twitter.com/uBwwPQ6PN7
— Chris Bache (@GolfinNutInVA) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @GolfinNutInVA)

@WTOP Meet Bailey. pic.twitter.com/WaGDpQp6uf
— MP (@TheKlarsh) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @TheKlarsh)

@wtop Happy #NationalDogDay love, Truman pic.twitter.com/WwCEvsbj50
— Howard (@HowardRP) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @HowardRP)

WTOP/Valerie Bonk — (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Happy #NationalDogDay from Sophie, Therapy Dog Extraordinaire! @WTOP @amelia_draper pic.twitter.com/EnkC3TPHIe
— Kay (@KayNineKay) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @KayNineKay) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Happy National Dog Day pic.twitter.com/VJUyigugHG
--Nikki Koontz (@koontz3691) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @koontz3691) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Happy National Dog Day. This boy was by my side and chief snuggler for 14 years. Miss him everyday. XO Red pic.twitter.com/ao2qiHmfA8
-- Patty M (@pmacewan) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @pmacewan) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Happy National Dog Day. This boy was by my side and chief snuggler for 14 years. Miss him everyday. XO Red pic.twitter.com/ao2qiHmfA8
— Patty M (@pmacewan) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @KrisHarvey66) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

#national dog day. My grandson Tyson the dog I love him so much pic.twitter.com/d1vMSCo7ss
— Joann Alexander (@tyrinjo) August 26, 2016

(Photo provided by Twitter user @tyrinjo) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

(Photo provided by the American Ballet Theatre on Facebook) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Winding down the dog-days of summer with my best friend #NationalDogDay @WTOP @foxandfriends #airedalesrule pic.twitter.com/7LJbdidudA
-- T. Anthony Quinn (@MonumentalVoice) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @MonumentalVoice) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Every day is #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/nwdd2LMIDj
-- Kay (@KayNineKay) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @KayNineKay) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Love my chi chis @WTOP #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/Z0r9vFIlVm
-- Char Char (@charj99) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @charj99) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Charlie Brown the amazing cocker spaniel rescued by @OBGCockerRescue in VA. Love him so much! #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/SiBhC7lVfZ
-- Marie DarcheVentrone (@quebecoiseusa) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @quebecoiseusa) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/9xgOxj7C39
— Peter Doyle (@peter_doyle11) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @peter_doyle11) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Shadow the Standard poodle rescued by MAS rescue in Baltimore! My heart dog! #NationalDogDay #Adoptdontbuy pic.twitter.com/970bb9sSeg
— Marie DarcheVentrone (@quebecoiseusa) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @quebecoiseusa) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Meet Gizmo! pic.twitter.com/NH5gMAGMch
— Kelly Carson (@KellyCarson1) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @KellyCarson1) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP my main man Mikey #wtop #nationaldogday #bethesda pic.twitter.com/bKNPcpcvnL
— Dy-Lon Dy-Lon Dy-Lon (@Dillfunk) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @Dillfunk) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Izzy❤️ pic.twitter.com/cVS7A7mw9S
— Benay Hoffman (@benay2_benay) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @benay2_benay) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP Say hello to Issy! pic.twitter.com/Yr8KHTL555
— Mark Stover (@MackVa) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @MackVa) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP #NationalDogDay is PAWESOME #WTOP pic.twitter.com/hkuRvgMNiO
— Ivette Sherman (@DontCallMeIvy) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @DontCallMeIvy) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Happy National Dog Day from Royal the Vizsla! #NationalDogDay #WTOP pic.twitter.com/ZpqXPatCUv
— rbgooner (@rwb23) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @rwb23) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP my main man Mikey #wtop #nationaldogday #bethesda pic.twitter.com/bKNPcpcvnL
— Dy-Lon Dy-Lon Dy-Lon (@Dillfunk) August 26, 2015

(Photo provided by Twitter user @Dillfunk) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

#wtop pic.twitter.com/GAQD6tb8Qk
— John Contestabile (@jconte66) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @jconte66) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

My unquestioning and tolerant Golden Retriever Mo let me get a closeup #wtop #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/bfCoT7IMae
— Laurie Moy (@LCMoy) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @LCMoy) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP do I HAVE to take the day off?! #NationalDogDay #wtop #dutchshepherd pic.twitter.com/PnbhF0gDrv
— The TALA Group (@TheTALAGroupLLC) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @TheTALAGroupLLC) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

My Isabella Claire then and now for #NationalDogDay #WTOP She may be an old cranky pants now but I love my Izzer! pic.twitter.com/5dQ0lltPY2
— Reada Kessler (@WTOPReada) August 26, 2015

(WTOP/ Reada Kessler via Twitter) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

.@Nate_Mauer so cute!
— Francisco Penya (@PenyaMenya) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @PenyaMenya) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

@WTOP #nationaldogday #WTOP #mydogDoobie pic.twitter.com/6nDufkutXy
— palmdogg (@JuggalofamMatt) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @JuggalofamMatt) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Brandy enjoying some mud for #nationaldogday. #WTOP pic.twitter.com/TonIFCZoV8
— Jenny Bragiel (@JennyBragiel) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @JennyBragiel) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

My two four-legged babies! #NationalDogDay #WTOP pic.twitter.com/LGxhEuXRjH
— Janine Rauscher (@wtpooh123) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @wtpooh123) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

#WTOP "Bo" 3 months pic.twitter.com/PBVEqWpXtT
— geau_blue (@hail_thevictors) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @hail_thevictor) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Sasha is always camera ready!#NationalDogDay #WTOP pic.twitter.com/j5onDI8DJa
— Lydia Lee (@lydianaturally) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @lydianaturally) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

Say what!? Did you say its #NationalDogDay? #WTOP pic.twitter.com/h3rKOICifm
— Nicholette (@Nicholette911) August 26, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Twitter user @Nicholette911) (Courtesy Michelle Bonk)

K-9 Beacon says, "National Dog Day." (Courtesy Maryland Natural Resource Police) — K-9 Beacon says, “National Dog Day.” (Courtesy Maryland Natural Resources Police)

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WASHINGTON – It’s official: Today is a day for the dogs.

Founded 12 years ago by animal behaviorist Colleen Paige, National Dog Day — which falls on Aug. 26 — is meant to raise awareness about pets in need of rescue and to celebrate how much they help out humans. So, dog lovers, it means that you’ll be getting one more reason to dote over your canine companion today.

Since today is a day all about furry friends, let’s explore some facts and numbers about affording man’s best friend:

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that the first year of dog ownership will cost anywhere from $1,314 for smaller dogs up to $1,843 for the largest breeds. That includes one-time expenses such as spaying, neutering, training, initial medical fees and a crate.
The ASPCA says that after that, a dog’s annual cost could be anywhere from $580 for smaller dogs to $875 for big breeds.
Seattle-based pet-sitting website Rover.com figures the yearly average at $2,858 factoring in pet sitting ($25 per night), dog training ($40 per hour), teeth cleaning (at least $400) and emergency vet bills (from zero to more than $3,000).

In the spirit of National Dog Day, we’re asking people to share their favorite moments with their canine friends. Tweet your photos to @WTOP with the hashtag #WTOP and we may include you in our photo gallery.