International Dog Day Unites Greg Abbott, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Others

International Dog Day, also called National Dog Day, is recognized on Friday, and the unofficial holiday has brought together a diverse group of well-known people who are posting photos of their favorite canines.

Among those who shared pics on Twitter were astrophysicist/TV host Neil deGrasse Tyson, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas.

Abbott shared a few pics of his dogs, Peaches and Pancakes.

Animal rescue advocate/author Colleen Paige is widely credited for creating National Dog Day in 2004.

She established the holiday to bring attention to animal welfare and encourage adoption. According to NationalDogDay.com, Paige also founded National Puppy Day, National Cat Day and other similar holidays.

The Twitter account for Lloyd Webber, who composed the famous musical Cats, posted, "Happy #InternationalDogDay! Andrew may not have written a musical about them (yet), but Mojito alone is proof of how wonderful these creatures are. We hope to see you all celebrating with your pooches today!"

Tyson, meanwhile, plugged his new book while celebrating the day.

He wrote on Twitter, "Reading his pre-release copy of Starry Messenger, Leo from Virginia was especially interested in the paragraph on Dog life-expectancy, in the final chapter titled "Life & Death. #InternationalDogDay"

Janice Dean, co-host and weather anchor on Fox & Friends, also got in on the trend.

Actor/comedian Russell Brand shared an early photo of his dog as well as a more recent snap.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted a photo of his dog, Toto.

Animal Planet used the occasion to bring attention to dogs with disabilities.

"A day to celebrate ALL dogs, like Wally, who was born with deformed front arms," the Twitter account for the cable channel wrote. "This doesn't stop him from enjoying his doggie life!"

Twitter accounts for various sports teams shared photographs of furry friends owned by members of their organizations. Below are posts from the NBA's Indiana Pacers and the NHL's Detroit Red Wings.

Actress Gillian Anderson, known for her roles on X-Files and Sex Education, tweeted a pic of a shaggy dog.

Pee-wee Herman shared a video of a dog making smart use of their tail in a swimming pool.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) imparted some information to its Twitter followers.

"Happy #InternationalDogDay! Did you know African wild dogs can run faster than 44 miles per hour? Wild dogs are social and gather in packs of around ten individuals, but some packs number more than 40," WWF tweeted.

The American Museum of Natural History also posted some dog facts. The museum wrote in a Twitter thread that dogs "evolved from a shared ancestor with wolves more than 10,000 years ago," and "[s]ome research also suggests that dogs may read human gestures more readily than one of our closest relatives, chimpanzees, can."