Knoxville,

TN -

At the University of Tennessee, one of the most recognizable figures on game day has four legs. Smokey XII, a 2-year-old bluetick coonhound, is preparing for his role as the school’s beloved live mascot in front of crowds that can approach 100,000 fans.

Lytle,

TX -

Canyon, a former stray from Mississippi, has been named the 2026 ASPCA Dog of the Year for his remarkable work as a search-and-rescue dog.

Cedar City,

UT -

A five-month-old Shih Tzu named Monte has been reunited with his family after surviving seven days alone in the harsh Southern Utah desert.

Cook County,

IL -

A missing-child search ended safely after a specially trained police dog helped officers locate the child in Cook County, Illinois.

Gallatin,

TN -

Grady, a specially trained facility dog in Sumner County, Tennessee, was honored by local officials on National Dog Day for supporting children involved in criminal cases.

Waterville,

ME -

Firefighters were able to free the puppy, and the department shared a photo showing the pup's very happy owner hugging her pet.

Big Sky,

MT -

A Montana woman had a frightening backyard encounter when a moose and her calf appeared while she was letting her three dogs outside. A Ring doorbell camera captured the dramatic incident in Big Sky, Montana.

Kansas City,

MO -

Ranger, a lost dog from Kansas City, has gone viral, gaining more than 1 million views in less than 24 hours as people across the U.S. work to reunite him with his family.

Alberta,

CA -

An Australian Shepherd in Canada has set a new Guinness World Record after jumping across the backs of 56 people in just one minute.

West Palm Beach,

FL -

Service Dog Awareness Month is observed throughout September to recognize dogs that help people with disabilities. These specially trained dogs perform important tasks for their handlers.

Medina County,

OH -

An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper rescued an abandoned puppy found in a crate at an I-71 rest area in Medina County last week.

Batavia,

OH -

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio has welcomed a new four-legged recruit. Annie, an eight-week-old bloodhound puppy, is being trained to become a tracking K-9.

Grand Canyon,

AZ -

Grand Canyon National Park has a new four-legged employee with an important job. Blue, a specially trained Catahoula leopard hound, is helping reduce encounters between visitors and wildlife, including elk and bighorn sheep.

Midland,

MI -

Olivia Befus, a 17-year-old dog trainer from Midland, Michigan, and her Papillon, Zeke, are heading to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent.

Clovis,

NM -

A puppy named Peanut was rescued in Clovis, New Mexico, after being found abandoned on an ant hill and left in critical condition.

Louisville,

KY -

Club K9 hosted a National Dog Day weekend celebration in Louisville, Kentucky, bringing dogs and their owners together for games, food, vendors and social activities.

North Platte,

NE -

Great Plains Health in North Platte, Nebraska, has welcomed Apollo, a 2-year-old rescue Golden Mountain Dog, as its first certified therapy dog.

Smithfield,

RI -

Rhode Island firefighters rescued Jax, a pit bull, from a house fire on Woodland Road in Smithfield after finding him unconscious beneath blankets and towels in a bedroom.

Franklin,

TN -

Two former shelter dogs, K9 Scout and K9 Chet, have joined the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office as certified narcotics detection dogs in Tennessee.

Evanston,

IL -

A dog named Flor has been reunited with her family 12 years after going missing in Illinois and being found in Indiana.

Honolulu,

HI -

A recent local news appeal for foster homes for 51 underage puppies sparked an outpouring of community support, leading to a heartwarming adoption story.

Kennebunk,

ME -

The Maine Turnpike Authority and the Animal Welfare Society marked National Dog Day with a Pup Cup Party at the Kennebunk service plaza on August 26, 2026.

Asheboro,

NC -

A dedicated member of the local law enforcement community has officially hung up her harness.

Dallas,

TX -

Bolt, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer and explosive detection canine at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), has been named the winner of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 2026 Cutest Canine Contest.

Marion,

IN -

Grant County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Ellie Mae has been found safe after going missing in late July near Swayzee, Indiana.

Largo,

FL -

Animal advocates in Florida are pushing for stricter regulations on pet groomers after a 10-year-old Great Pyrenees named Rilee died during a grooming appointment in Largo in October 2025.

Springfield,

IL -

Springfield Memorial Hospital in Illinois has expanded its “DOGtors on Call” animal-assisted therapy program with four newly certified therapy dogs.

Auburn,

WA -

Gustave the Girl Dog, known as “GG,” won her second consecutive Corgi World Championship at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington.

Las Vegas,

NV -

A Las Vegas dog trainer has been arrested after a 1½-year-old English Bulldog named Taco died following a training session.

Lebanon,

TN -

First responders in Wilson County, Tennessee, have a new furry friend named Mazie to turn to during tough times.

Sarasota,

FL -

Puppies training to become future service dogs recently took a special field trip to Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida, as part of a new partnership between Mote Marine and Dogs Inc.

Dover,

NH -

Police in Dover, New Hampshire, are investigating a suspected animal neglect case after two dogs were found locked in a crate in the woods off Gerrish Road on Thursday.

Huntsville,

UT -

Stretch, a nearly 12-year-old golden retriever, is a certified water recovery dog who helps search crews locate drowning victims in Utah.

Sand Springs,

OK -

An Oklahoma dog owner is celebrating after her 10-month-old Australian Shepherd, Rio, was found safe more than 1,000 miles away in North Carolina. Melissa Burris said Rio disappeared from Sand Springs on July 30, leaving her worried that he had been injured.

Buffalo ,

NY -

The Buffalo Police Department has welcomed Chance, an 11-week-old puppy, as its new therapy dog to help officers cope with the emotional demands of law enforcement.

North Manchester,

IN -

Death Cap mushrooms are raising concerns among pet owners in Indiana after a dog died from eating the toxic fungi. Experts warn that the mushrooms can be deadly to dogs.

Arlington,

VA -

The Transportation Security Administration’s 2026 Cutest Canine Contest has narrowed to four finalists, with public voting underway to determine the nation’s top working dog.

Boston,

MA -

Bailey, an English cream golden retriever known as the “Queen of the North End,” made an unexpected splash Saturday evening when she escaped her harness and swam into Boston Harbor during the Feast. The unusual adventure quickly turned into a rescue operation.

St. Louis,

MO -

A nine-year-old German shepherd named Xaro, an explosives-detection dog at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, has advanced to the final four of the TSA’s Cutest Canine Contest.

Hampton,

GA -

Atlanta Police K-9 Stano, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been found safe after slipping away from his handler’s home in Henry County, Georgia, late Monday night.

Omaha,

NE -

Police K-9 Kano is recovering at home after being found unconscious during a six-hour standoff in Omaha, Nebraska, last week.

Nashville,

TN -

An 18-month-old Belgian Malinois named Jager has gone from being surrendered to a Tennessee shelter to becoming a certified disaster search-and-rescue K-9.

Murray,

KY -

A Kentucky family is celebrating an emotional reunion after a dog named T was found eight years after he went missing.

Dickson,

TN -

A 5-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo named Carl is safe after spending roughly 17 hours stranded on a narrow ledge about 120 feet down a cliff in Dickson County, Tennessee.

Superior,

W -

The Northland K9 Foundation hosted its annual Operation K9 event in Superior, Wisconsin, bringing police K9 teams and the community together. Now in its 12th year, the event featured 17 handlers from across the Northland showcasing their dogs’ skills.

Santa Rosa,

CA -

Six-year-old pug Jinny Lu has been crowned the winner of the 2026 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, held Aug. 14 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California.

Phoenix,

AZ -

The Arizona Department of Public Safety has welcomed Daisy, a 4-month-old Australian Labradoodle and the agency’s first crisis response canine. She is training with detectives from the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team.

Littleton,

CO -

Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado, is welcoming a new four-legged member this school year—Thistle, a trained therapy dog who will work alongside School Resource Officer Mallory Atkinson.

McPherson,

KS -

Five puppies found abandoned inside a bag in a Walmart parking lot in McPherson, Kansas, have been adopted along with their mother, Shrimp.

Strongsville,

OH -

A 9-week-old Shih Tzu puppy named Zima was allegedly stolen from Petland in Strongsville, Ohio, on Monday afternoon and safely returned two days later.