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The best pets in pop culture
Walt Disney Pictures

The best pets in pop culture

It would be hard to find someone who’d argue that pets are more than animals that live in one’s home; they are integral parts of the family. This is why most people would rather not watch a TV show or movie where the animals, well, don’t make it. That’s not what this list is about. It’s not about any sort of heartbreak but rather a celebration of the best pets in pop culture. From the pups fans have wanted to call their own to the creatures that could only be pets in worlds of make-believe, one thing’s for sure: They all deserve all the cuddles and kisses.

 
1 of 24

Wishbone, ‘Wishbone’

Wishbone, ‘Wishbone’
Big Feats! Entertainment

Wishbone was a literary fanatic who would use his daydreams to break down classic tales while instilling himself into them. Who wouldn’t want a pet that could potentially help them earn an English degree?

 
2 of 24

Chloe, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’

Chloe, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’
Illumination

There was an abundance of pets in The Secret Life of Pets, but something about Chloe’s nonchalant way of life made her a standout among all the dogs, rabbits, and other critters that inhabited her apartment building.

 
3 of 24

Pikachu, ‘Pokémon’

Pikachu, ‘Pokémon’
OLM, Inc.

What child (and adult) would say no to having a pet like Pikachu? Honestly, everyone has a favorite pocket monster, but everyone knows that if they had to choose only one, they’d go for the little mouse creature that is totally electric.

 
4 of 24

Snoopy, ‘Peanuts’

Snoopy, ‘Peanuts’
Schulz Studio

Snoopy and the rest of the gang from Peanuts have been going strong since 1950 when they first appeared together in the newspaper (also known as that thing that is still read in grandparents' homes). So if there is one pet on this list that has been the dream-come-true pet to many, it’s that black and white Beagle.

 
5 of 24

Chestnut, ‘2 Broke Girls’

Chestnut, ‘2 Broke Girls’
Warner Bros. Television/CBS

2 Broke Girls lasted a half dozen seasons and, in that time, delivered some pretty out-there plots about a former heiress turned broke waitress with an even broker roommate. The one thing she kept from her days with no financial stress? A horse named Chestnut because, of course, every apartment in New York City has enough room for a horse.

 
6 of 24

Perry, ‘Phineas and Ferb’

Perry, ‘Phineas and Ferb’
Disney Television Animation

In reality, a male platypus can do more harm than good, but in the world of Phineas and Ferb, Perry made any risk seem worth it because when he wasn’t a secret agent, he was helping cover up all their shenanigans.

 
7 of 24

Abu, ‘Aladdin’

Abu, ‘Aladdin’
Walt Disney Pictures

When life gets rough, it doesn’t hurt to have a ride or die like Abu by one’s side.

 
8 of 24

Eddie, ‘Frasier’

Eddie, ‘Frasier’
Paramount Network Television

A foe to Frasier but a best friend to everyone else, Eddie was a sweetheart on the long-running sitcom that made everyone want to rush out and get their own Jack Russell Terrier.

 
9 of 24

Tweety, ‘Looney Tunes’

Tweety, ‘Looney Tunes’
Warner Bros. Feature Animation

One thing about Tweety: try and avoid having a cat at the same time. While it always works out for the yellow canary, that’s not a chance worth taking.

 
10 of 24

Toothless, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’

Toothless, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
DreamWorks Animation

Dragons have been a pet many have wanted since the days of Pete’s Dragon. Since then, books and shows like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have made them inch closer to the top of “dream pet scenario” lists out there, but there’s one fire-breathing cutie that people always want above that rest, and that’s Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.

 
11 of 24

Keanu, ‘Keanu’

Keanu, ‘Keanu’
New Line Cinema

A year before Jordan Peele set himself up as the new king of horror in the 21st century, he co-wrote one of the most ridiculous movies about drug cartels featuring a cat named Keanu.

 
12 of 24

Hercules, ‘The Sandlot’

Hercules, ‘The Sandlot’
20th Century Fox

The Sandlot would have just been about a group of kids playing baseball with absolutely no drama had a Babe Ruth-autographed ball not gone into the yard of the Beast, a.k.a. Hercules. Of course, by the end, audiences go from fearing Hercules to wanting a big ol’ pup just like him.

 
13 of 24

Gary, ‘Spongebob Squarepants’

Gary, ‘Spongebob Squarepants’
Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies

A snail that meows? Say no more.

 
14 of 24

Darwin, ‘The Wild Thornberrys’

Darwin, ‘The Wild Thornberrys’
Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies

A good majority of people wished they could talk to animals, and on The Wild Thornberrys, that was Eliza's reality, and her best bud was a monkey named Darwin. Even without understanding him, he was pretty legit. He wore clothes. That’s classy.

 
15 of 24

Pascal, ‘Tangled’

Pascal, ‘Tangled’
Walt Disney Pictures

Disney sidekicks are all legendary in their own right, but there was something about Pascal’s attitude that made him an iguana everyone wanted.

 
16 of 24

Buddy, ‘Air Bud’

Buddy, ‘Air Bud’
Walt Disney Pictures

Golden Retrievers are one of the most loyal breeds of dogs, but regardless, a lot of money could be made by having a dog that could play ball.

 
17 of 24

Gizmo, ‘Gremlins’

Gizmo, ‘Gremlins’
Warner Bros.

Gremlins came out in June 1984, and since June 1984, anyone who has seen that movie has wondered what it would be like to have a mogwai as sweet as Gizmo. However, those that failed to follow the rules of having a mogwai would be in for a not-so-sweet surprise.

 
18 of 24

Toto, ‘The Wizard of Oz’

Toto, ‘The Wizard of Oz’
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Toto is the pet everyone wants on their own yellow brick road adventure.

 
19 of 24

Heihei, ‘Moana’

Heihei, ‘Moana’
Walt Disney PictureS

If there is one thing Heihei is going to do, it’s keeping their owner safe from harm's way. Them? Well, they’ll give their owner many panic attacks by getting into trouble, but that’s okay.

 
20 of 24

Monchi, ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’

Monchi, ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’
Columbia Pictures/Netflix

The Mitchells vs. the Machines was a huge hit for Netflix and even scored an Oscar nomination for Best Animation. While it didn’t take home the win, it introduced audiences to a great family movie and a wild-eyed pug named Monchi.

 
21 of 24

Garfield, ‘Garfield’

Garfield, ‘Garfield’
20th Century Fox

Garfield taught the world the power of lasagna, that Mondays are the worst, and proved that no matter how he's animated, he’s the coolest cat on the block.

 
22 of 24

Wilbur, ‘Charlotte’s Web’

Wilbur, ‘Charlotte’s Web’
Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies

Thanks to a little pig named Wilbur, Charlotte’s Web continues to teach children about loss and the importance of friendship and love. Really, how many kids put “pig” on their holiday wish list after reading or watching that?  

 
23 of 24

Dino, ‘The Flintstones’

Dino, ‘The Flintstones’
Hanna-Barbera Productions

A pet one could only have in prehistoric times makes Dino that much cooler than the rest.

 
24 of 24

‘Homeward Bound’

‘Homeward Bound’
Walt Disney Pictures

This is a three-for-one deal because splitting up the trio that makes up Homeward Bound would be criminal, and no one wants those kinds of charges. So they had to come as a unit because, with these dogs and cat, one gets the full package: pets that are faithful, playful, and a little sassy.

Kendra Beltran went to college with no game plan and found herself falling back on her love of writing soon after graduating all the way back in 2009. Since then, she's written for MTV Geek, Cosplay Central, Collider, Apartment Therapy, and many other sites that allowed her to showcase her love of all things pop culture. When she isn't writing, Kendra is either hosting her show, Crushgasm, baking all the cookies, or spoiling her fur baby, Mason.

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