True or False?

Dogs can tell the difference between a sad face and a scared face.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

The Animal Farm Foundation is a national nonprofit doing quiet, important work: keeping pets and their families together. They invest in shelter prevention programs, pet pantries, and resources that help people in tough situations hold onto the dogs they love. Because one of the biggest reasons dogs end up in shelters isn't that people stop caring. It's that they run out of options.

Little Words Project, a bracelet brand known for its handcrafted beaded pieces with trackable ID tags, recently partnered with the foundation to create the "Rescue Babe" bracelet. Made from blue, gold, and white marbled beads, it's the kind of thing you put on and don't really want to take off. Five dollars from every $35 purchase goes directly to the Animal Farm Foundation, and the trackable tag means you can someday pass it along to a new wearer and pay the meaning forward.

It's a small thing that points to something bigger. If you're the kind of person who gets a little emotional every time a shelter dog finds their family, this one's for you. National Dog Day is August 26, if you needed an excuse. Not that you do.

Meet Lucky, a one-year-old Beagle and Jack Russell mix sent in by Daily Dig reader Heather. Lucky has a big personality, tons of energy, and a very particular way of communicating: he growls to play. Not because he's grumpy. Because he has opinions and he wants you to know it.

One year old and already fully himself. We love a dog who knows exactly who they are, and Lucky clearly does. We hope his Tuesday involves lots of play and at least one very enthusiastic growl.

Thank you to Daily Dig reader Heather for sharing Lucky with us. Want to see your dog featured next? Reply to this email with their photo and a little about them for a chance to be our next Dog of the Day!

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We're back with another roundup of the best dog news from around the world this week. There was a lot to celebrate.

• 🏠 Every single dog at a Ross County shelter was adopted. A special adoption event in Ohio ended with a completely empty kennel. Every dog found a home. We don't need to say anything else about this one because it already said everything.

• 💛 Lolly is starting over. A rescue dog named Lolly came into foster care with a crooked jaw, joint problems, and a history of bad breeding. Her foster parent's caption said it all: her body was a mess, but she's got someone in her corner now. The video went viral, and Lolly is already learning to play fetch. She's going to be just fine.

• 🏆 The World's Cutest Rescue Dog contest just got a celebrity judge. Real Housewives star Dolores Catania, a longtime animal advocate, has joined the 2026 contest panel. If you have a rescue with a face that stops strangers in their tracks, this is your sign to enter.

• 🧠 Science just confirmed what we already knew: your dog reads your face. A brand new MRI study published in the journal iScience found that dogs process human emotional expressions in different parts of their brains and can actually distinguish between fear and sadness on a person's face. It's the first evidence of this kind. Your dog isn't just sensing your mood. They're paying close, detailed attention.

That's your Small Dog Wins for this week. Have your own small win to share? Send it our way! Reply to this email and tell us about something good happening in your corner of the dog world.

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• ‼️ 22 ways to save money for retirement

• 🐕 Woman finds a lost dachshund on her porch

• 🙌 Dogs make us genuinely happier

• 🏠 Stray dogs crash an Airbnb, get adopted

• 💜 The rescue dog bracelet that gives back

🐶 Join us on Instagram for more cute dog content

Daily Dig is inspired and brought to you by our wonderful dogs. Our dogs, and all the other pups out there, make the world a happier, brighter place.

With lots of love,

Ivy, Callie, Finnegan, Stitcher, and Huey 🐾

🦴 A Little Treat

🤔 True or False: True! A brand new MRI study published in iScience found that dogs process fearful faces in a completely different brain region than sad or angry ones. It's the first scientific evidence that dogs distinguish between two similar negative human emotions by looking at our faces alone.

🐶 DOTD: Give your pup the spotlight by submitting them for the dog of the day! Reply to this email with the best pictures of your dog. Be sure to include their name and a short description so they can be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

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