A New York City couple hosted a viral bark-mitzvah for their 13-year-old pug, Frankie, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, drawing a large crowd and thousands of online views.
Nicolette Mason, 39, and her partner, Nina Kossoff, planned the milestone celebration. "Frankie is very sweet, emotionally intelligent, and gentle," Mason told The Post. "She makes everyone who she interacts with feel like they are her new favorite person." Neighbors filmed the moment when more than a dozen clapping guests encircled Frankie as she was hoisted into the air during the Hora, a Jewish celebratory dance tradition. Mason has been hearing from all sorts of fans ever since — including folks "I haven’t seen or talked to since my own bat mitzvah." Video of the celebration went viral online.
Mason said thousands of people reached out to share joy, adding that "seeing something purely joyful was really needed for a lot of people right now." She noted there are no plans to launch a pug party-planning business at the moment, "but who knows." "We feel so lucky to get to celebrate a milestone birthday with her," Mason said. "If we’ve inspired anyone to do something joyful and bring their loved ones and community together — I love that."
The hope is that this marks the first of many milestones the couple will celebrate with Frankie, including a Sweet Sixteen in a few years.
Frankie, now 13, was adopted by Mason in 2012 and has become a beloved fixture in the couple’s life. Described as friendly and gentle, she has inspired the couple to celebrate milestones with whimsy and a sense of shared joy. The event also underscored a broader, continuing public interest in pet celebrations that blend personal milestones with cultural rituals.
Mason reiterates that there are no immediate plans to launch a pug party-planning business, even as the online response has encouraged others to mark their own moments with their pets. "We feel so lucky to get to celebrate a milestone birthday with her," she said, "and if we've inspired anyone to do something joyful and bring their loved ones and community together — I love that." The couple hopes Frankie’s next milestone could be a Sweet Sixteen, a playful nod to the longevity of the celebration and their pet’s long life.
This article is a cultural moment, showcasing how a private family celebration in a New York City neighborhood can ripple into a wider online audience. For the couple, the aim was simple: to honor a beloved pet and share a moment of pure joy with the community.