Dallas Zoo invites nearly 200 doggos to test the waters for their very first "Dog Day", wholesomeness ensues and proud pawrents say: 'A tail-wagging success'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 4, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Bringing your house animals to see wild animals at the zoo? That sounds like a howl, hoot, and holler full of fun in the sun.

We're not ashamed to say that we're one of those dog owners who brings our doggo everywhere with us. Everywhere that's appropriate, of course. We don't take our dogs to the grocery store or to an amusement park, but we aren't afraid to bring them with us if we're going to eat outside at a restaurant. One place they've never been, though, is the zoo. For one pawsitively obvious reason - dogs aren't allowed. Except… they might be soon!

On February 27th, the Dallas Zoo tried something no one else has tried before: a "Dog Day" where pawrents and their puppers could enter the zoo and enjoy all the wild animals it has to offer. Nearly 200 doggos and their humans arrived for a fun day in the sun, filled with roars, barks, and chirps galore. All kinds of dogs arrived in their sun-protective outfits, from pawfect poodles to goofy golden retrievers.

There's only one thing we're upset about: that we weren't able to join!

The zoo said that the whole event was a "tail-wagging success", so we think that there will be more of these pawpportunities for pup parents in the future. For the next one, we'll happily be the first ones in line with our tickets ready. 

Would you bring your doggos for a day at the zoo? 

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  • 01
    FOX FOX Weather Follow 0 WEATHER @foxweather ZOO CREW: It was packed at the Dallas Zoo as nearly 200 dogs, and their humans, showed up for the zoo's first-ever Dog Day on Feb. 27. With beautiful, mild weather setting the stage, four-legged guests were spotted sniffing out new sights and soaking up the adventure in what the zoo called a "tail-wagging success."
    via @foxweather
  • 02
    FOX WEATHER Dallas Z
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather
  • 03
    Morgan @Helloimmorgan WHY DIDNT I GET THIS MEMO
    via @Helloimmorgan
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    FOX WEATHER IN TRAINING Dallas Zoo via Storyful
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather

  • What do you think a dog's favorite enclosure would be? It certainly wouldn't be anything in the cat family. Maybe the underwater exhibits where you get to see the otters or penguins swim around. They've probably never seen anything like that before in their lives. 

  • 05
    Beth Apfel @brwnidegrl They are our children. Society needs to embrace this! I would 100% do this.
    via @brwnidegrl
  • 06
    Black Beth D... @Oh_Katie_... Dogs probably having a field day with all those wild new smells, "what's this? Is that... Hippo a I smell?....hmmm don't usually find that on my daily walks."
    via @Oh_Katie_Babie

  • One thing we know about dogs is that they get exhausted from tracking and engaging with new smells, so after a day at the zoo which is literally full of new smells, we bet those were some pawsitively exhausted puppers after. On the bright side, now they'll know what a hippo smells like, and also a zebra!

  • 07
    FOX WEATHER Dallas Zoo via Storyfu
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather
  • 08
    ... @Vveevee... when I first saw this post re-posts were 69 and the likes were 999 Sure that the universe loved this and it needed re-posting
    via @Vveeveeanna
  • 09
    Mary H. @MaryHar80477037 Why?!?! That's a stressor for the animals being caged in the zoo! There's a reason why domestic dogs are not allowed in national parks! Idiotic.
    via @MaryHar80477037
  • 10
    FOX WEATHER Dallas Zoo via Storyful
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather
  • 11
    Abolish Dual ... @Edmon... Replacement of Children in families with dogs
    via @Edmond37311703

  • We're not sure if this comment was meant to be offensive or not, but we accept it with pride. Yes, we have fully replaced children in our families with dogs. You know why? Our dog is cheaper and loves us more than anything in this world. She can clean up after herself, and she's perfectly trained. Can you say the same about your kids? Yeah, we didn't think so.

  • 12
    Pop Tarts is my life @4batzzzz Finally some good fr king news man
    via @4batzzzz
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    FOX WEATHER Dallas Zoo via Storyful
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather
  • 14
    goop glob @xskvki Parody account i love white people
    via @xskvki
  • 15
    lady liberty @ElaPam3 I absolutely love this :)
    via @ElaPam3
  • 16
    FOX WEATHER Dallas Zoo via Storyful You may notice Finnick's tail looks different Scan below to red his story
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, Fox Weather
  • 17
    rbf8493 @rbf8493 Dogs are people, too.
    via @rbf8493
  • 18
    jodh @98jodh @LAZoo pleassseeee
    via @98jodh
  • 19
    via Dallas Zoo via Storyful, @foxweather

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Tags

wholesome dogs cute dogs zoo success tail wagging doggos Dallas texas animals
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