Pug's Bark Mitzvah Celebration Goes Viral, Bringing Joy to Thousands

On September 1, 2025, pet owners Nicolette Mason and Nina Kossoff hosted a "Bark Mitzvah" celebration for their 13-year-old pug, Frankie, in their Brooklyn, New York backyard. The couple had joked about the idea for years, and when Frankie's milestone birthday approached, they decided to make it a reality.

The event featured a brief ceremony led by their friend Joanna, which included a dog-friendly interpretation of a Torah reading. Frankie was then lifted in a chair during the traditional hora dance, much to the delight of the couple's friends who were "laughing, crying and chanting 'mazel tov' louder than expected."

The celebration was themed around Frankie's New York roots, with a "Frankie's Delicatessen & Appetizing" motif that paid homage to the city's iconic Jewish culinary institutions. The couple created custom designs, party favors, and decorations to bring the theme to life, and served up fresh bagels, schmear, pastries, and fruit for their guests.

Unbeknownst to Mason and Kossoff, a neighbor named Claire captured a sweet video of Frankie being celebrated, which she posted on TikTok. The clip went viral, amassing over 1.6 million views and sparking an overwhelmingly positive response from people around the world who were touched by the joyful celebration. The couple even made Frankie-themed merchandise available, with proceeds benefiting local animal rescue organizations.

This wasn't the first time Mason and Kossoff celebrated their dogs' milestones, and they hope it won't be the last. They plan to throw an equally lavish party for their 5-year-old rescue pug, Dorothy, when she reaches her own "Bark Mitzvah" age.