Whoever said a dog is (wo)man’s best friend couldn’t have been more right. They provide comfort, unconditional love, and joy. Just ask Kaydee Zenner, the proud owner of Macy the Pomeranian, who will turn 20 years old on April 16.

Zenner, who lives near Prescott, is celebrating her fur baby’s birthday in style, complete with a decked-out family birthday party, birthday cake, decorations, party dress and lots of attention. Hopefully Macy doesn’t mind sharing her celebration with Zenner’s dad, who also has a birthday a few days prior.

“I spoil her rotten every year for her birthday and I go all out,” Zenner said. “I decorate, I buy her a party dress, I just find it so much fun.”

According to Pomeranian.org, Pomeranians’ average life spans are 12-16 years, though with good genetics and care, they can live into their 20s.

Zenner received Macy as a first wedding anniversary gift from her mother-in-law in 2005. While she and her husband were out of town on a trip, she sneaked into the house and left Macy as a surprise for her to find when they returned home shortly thereafter. They lived in Zimmerman, Minn., at the time.

“I cried for like two hours. She was a little fluff ball,” Zenner said. “My husband is the one that told her what I wanted, that I wanted a Pomeranian. I thought they were always so adorable. It was a huge surprise.”

She immediately fell in love with the cream and white puppy with the little black eyes.

“She’s my baby,” Zenner said. “We don’t have children, so she is my fur baby.”

Macy, for the most part now that she’s a little older, keeps to herself a bit more these days, Zenner said. However, she still has plenty of spunk.

“If I grab a treat, she chases me around the house,” Zenner said. “She’s very gentle, very sweet and very quiet. She reminds me of a little baby Polar bear.”

The Zenners’ other dog, a 60-pound German Shorthair named Zoey, treats 10-pound Macy like a best friend. She will be 8 in June.

“I noticed with Zoey, she’ll sit and watch Macy,” Zenner said. “They’ve really grown to know each other a lot. They’ll sit with each other and sometimes, Macy runs under her like a car under a semi. It’s so funny.”

Zenner credits Macy’s health to a high protein-based diet, with some senior dog kibble mixed in. Her favorite treats are Dog Joy, made by Fresh Pet. The Zenners freeze boxes of treats so they always have some on hand. Her veterinarian at Croix Valley Vet helps keep her in good health as well.

“I’ve always treated my dogs like that,” Zenner said. “There’s just unconditional love and that’s the beauty of having a fur-baby.”

While Macy’s days of long walks on a leash are over, Zenner doesn’t leave her behind. She gets to tag along in a doggie backpack, content to go on hikes with Zenner or shopping, while watching the world go by.

“When I tell people how old she’s going to be, they think I’m talking about a 20-year-old daughter,” Zenner laughs. “She’s here and she’s kicking. She’s a tough little girl. Macy has been through so much with me over the last two decades. I’m so grateful.”

To celebrate the two-decade milestone, Macy and Zenner dressed to the nines for a professional photo shoot, a surprise for the family.

“They turned out so perfect. It is just darling. I wanted to do something extra special for the 20^th. Both of us dressed up and it was just a lot of fun,” Zenner said.

Best friends forever, indeed.