Our dog is our child – we threw him a lavish $200 first birthday party, complete with a ‘pupcake’ and a tennis ball piñata
A childless couple who adore their dog like a ‘baby’ have revealed how they threw him a lavish first birthday party.
Sandra Macedo and Jessie Magana, both 27, decided to go all out for their beloved long-haired Dalmatian named Ryder with a $200 party on May 21.
The Georgia-based dog lovers dressed their pooch in a party hat and tie, invited five human guests and decorated their home for the big day.
Ryder also had a personalized “pupcake,” a tennis ball piñata, and even received plenty of rubber chew toys and dog treats from the guests.
A childless couple who adore their dog like a ‘baby’ have revealed how they threw him a lavish first birthday party
Sandra Macedo and Jessie Magana, both 27, decided to go all out for their beloved long-haired Dalmatian named Ryder with a $200 party on May 21.
Sandra and Jessie got Ryder from a local breeder in July 2022 and after bringing him home at 13 weeks, she quickly started treating the puppy to luxuries like cuddles and a comfy bed.
Freelance marketer Sandra and partner Jessie, who work in the financial world, decided to make Ryder’s birthday extra special and filmed the festivities in a heartwarming TikTok video.
She said: ‘We filled the house with balloons and treats, and spent 30 minutes putting up decorations and dressing him in his best hat and tie.
“It was definitely a treat for Ryder, but considering how happy he was, it made it all worth it and I don’t care if anyone says it’s an exaggeration.
“Ryder is the light of our lives and I wanted to organize an event to celebrate him.
“Ryder is the best puppy in the world and I wanted to celebrate his first year in the best way.
‘He knew the party was for him and was so excited when he got his presents.
“One of the highlights of the evening was his cake, which cost $20 and was personalized with the words ‘Yappy Barkday.’
“He devoured the cake because he doesn’t get many treats every day to maintain the high-reward training method we follow.”
The Georgia-based dog lovers dressed their pooch in a party hat and tie, invited five human guests and decorated their home for the big day
The couple filled the Tyrannosaurus rex piñata with tennis balls and Ryder playfully pulled the strings until it burst open and tennis balls bounced around the room
“One of the highlights of the evening was his cake, which cost $20 and was personalized with the words ‘Yappy Barkday,’” Sandra said
The dog’s owner continued: ‘It was wonderful to see our friends gather at our home to celebrate the special pup that is Ryder.
‘Ryder isn’t neutered yet so we couldn’t invite any other dogs, but five of our friends came to the party and even brought Ryder toys that he loved.
“To some it may be overkill to throw a lavish party for Ryder, but I loved it and so did he.
‘The sad reality is that the average dog owner only gets to spend ten summers with their dog and I want to get the best out of my beautiful boy.
“The bash was a huge success and I can’t wait to go bigger next year,” Sandra said.
Even if it’s not Ryder’s birthday, Sandra explained how the couple spends about $250 a month on their pet.
Despite friends and family finding her antics ‘bizarre’, Sandra insists that ‘he is worth every penny’ and is like a child to her.
Sandra said: “Dogs are the new kids on the block for millennials and Ryder is my baby.
‘I’m not even going to think about having children until I’m in my 30s. Some of my friends who have kids tell me how hard it really is.”
Sandra is Ryder’s biggest fan and in August 2022 she set up a TikTok account for her dog to document his adventures – and he already has more than 125,000 followers online
“Of course having a pet is a commitment, but it just fits where I am in my life at the moment,” Sandra explains.
Sandra and Jessie got Ryder from a local breeder in July 2022.
After bringing him home at 13 weeks, Sandra quickly began treating the puppy to luxuries like stuffed animals and a comfortable bed.
But it wasn’t until his first birthday this year that she decided to ‘pull out all the stops’ with a big party.
Sandra is Ryder’s biggest fan and in August 2022 she set up a TikTok account for her dog to document his adventures – and he already has more than 125,000 followers online.
“His social media is more for me than Ryder, but we have a lot of fun uploading content and if it can make someone laugh, it’s worth it.
Sandra enjoys playing dress-up with Ryder. Pictured are the two who got together for Halloween when they went out as Cruella de Vil and one of the 101 Dalmatians from the classic film
Sandra enjoys celebrating the holidays with Ryder. The photo shows her giving him a big kiss for Valentine’s Day
The photo shows Ryder enjoying the holidays with the Grinch during the family trip to a tree farm
“He has the best community following us and since then we’ve had great brand deals with PetSmart, Bounce and even a brand relationship with Wag Wellies.
‘Any money generated will help with Ryder’s vet bills and we plan to take him on a dog-friendly beach trip that he will love, and of course with lots of new chew toys.
“Jessie is as into it as I and all his colleagues know about Ryder’s social media platforms, a few even follow him.
“Managing Ryder is not much different from what I do as a freelancer and I would love it if it became a full-time job, but who knows,” Sandra said.
But Sandra and Jessie aren’t the only fans who love to throw a birthday party for their dog.
Research shows that 75 percent of dog owners celebrate their dog’s birthday, with 58 percent even singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to their beloved dogs.