From the WOW Vault: It’s our EXCLUSIVE daily peek into the extensive library of WOW shows, interviews, and pop culture ephemera we’ve collected over the last three decades. Today, of course, is World Animal Day – celebrated annually on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. In honor of that, we’re dusting off one of our favorite World of Wonder shows: Dancing with Dogs.

Here’s the poop:

Dancing with Dogs was… well… exactly what it sounds like. Think: Dancing with the Stars, but instead of stars, pet owners danced with their dogs. This barking mad one-off aired as a two-hour Animal Planet special in December of 2008, with wowlebrity hosts Alec Mapa and Kate Massey. And all sorts of nuttiness ensued, as you can see in the clip below.

Join host Alec Mapa and the World Canine Freestyle Organization for the first ever “Dancing With Dogs”, a one of a kind dance-off featuring teams of dogs and their owners all competing for the coveted Animal Planet Cup.

In this dancing doggie event special, we’ll join canine choreographers and their prancing pooches as they come together to compete in an international title event for the Animal Planet Cup! Live human/dog teams will cut a rug in original routines!

“I’ve been dancing with my dogs for years,” says Mapa. “At last, it’s so exciting to know that I’m not alone.”

HOW was this not a series?