From dogs to dragons: the best pets in pop culture - From dogs to dragons: the best pets in pop culture

© NL Beeld

© NL Beeld

Lassie -

Lassie is a true pop culture icon. She has been around ever since 'Lassie Come Home' came out in 1943. 

© NL Beeld

Scooby-Doo -

Not many dogs come close to Scooby-Doo when it comes to popularity. His goofiness and warm-hearted personality are all we could wish for in a pet. 

© NL Beeld

Pikachu -

This yellow furry pet from 'Pokémon' is also very popular around the world, and an icon of Japanese pop culture.

© NL Beeld

Buddy -

Who wouldn't want to have a pet dog to shoot hoops with, right? Buddy from 'Air Bud' (1997) is a dream come true for everyone who loves dogs and basketball. 

© NL Beeld

Snoopy and Woodstock -

The famous anthropomorphic beagle is a pet everyone would love to have. Snoopy's best friend, Woodstock is also a pretty cool pet. Especially because only his owner can understand what he says. 

© NL Beeld

Gizmo -

When 'Gremlins' came out in June 1984, everyone wanted to have a mogway like Gizmo. Just make sure you don't get it wet...

© NL Beeld

Brian -

Brian Griffin is more than a pet dog in 'Family Guy.' He's a family member who talks and behaves like a human. Brian really is a pop culture icon.  

© NL Beeld

Salem -

Salem, the black cat from 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' (1996–2003) is no ordinary pet. Salem is in fact a 500-year-old witch who was sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat for trying to take over the world.  

© NL Beeld

Eddie -

Frasier's pooch on the sitcom of the same name is one popular TV dog we'd love to play with. 

© NL Beeld

Abu -

Sure, Abu from 'Aladdin' (1992) is a mischievous and kleptomaniacal monkey, but he's also very loyal to his owner, and that's pretty cool. 

© NL Beeld

Toothless -

Having a dragon as a pet is as cool as it gets, right? The adorable Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010) is just too cute to resist.  

© NL Beeld

Marley -

Yes, 'Marley & Me' (2008) is a tear-jerker, but one that leave us wanting to have a dog just like Marley. 

© NL Beeld

Pluto -

Mickey Mouse's dog, Pluto is one of the most famous pets in the world. The Walt Disney character has been around since 1930.

© NL Beeld

Santa's Little Helper -

The Simpsons' family dog is an iconic character, and a well-known pop culture pet. 

© NL Beeld

Hooch -

Hooch might be a bit big and make a bit of a mess, but his loyalty is what makes him such a memorable dog. He stars opposite Tom Hanks in 'Turner & Hooch' (1989).

© NL Beeld

Stuart -

Stuart is no ordinary mouse. He can talk like a human and behaves like one. In 'Stuart Little' (1999) he's adopted by a family, but a cat is not so convinced of his presence in the house...

© NL Beeld

Willy -

Willy from 'Free Willy' (1993) is the proof that killer whales can make great pets. 

© NL Beeld

Tweety -

This adorable yellow canary has been around since the late 1940s. The Looney Tunes character is also a famous pop culture pet.

© NL Beeld

Toto -

Dorothy Gale's dog, Toto gained popularity when 'The Wizard of Oz' came out in 1939, but he's been around since the book 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was published in 1900.

© NL Beeld

Dino -

Only 'The Flintstones' could have a dinosaur as a pet, right? This prehistoric animal really is adorable. 

© NL Beeld

Wilbur -

Surely, we can all imagine petting this adorable piglet. He's the star of 'Charlotte's Web' (2006).

© NL Beeld

Garfield -

Arguably the most popular lazy ginger cat in the world, Garfield is also one true pop icon, recognizable anywhere around the globe.

© NL Beeld

Beethoven -

One of cinema's most famous dogs, the adorable St. Bernard from 'Beethoven' (1992) is easy to fall in love with.

© NL Beeld

Flipper -

Who wouldn't want to be have a dolphin as a friend, as the kid in 'Flipper' (1996), right?

© NL Beeld

Benji -

Benji was originally a stray dog, who goes on to save two kidnapped children. He shows what a good boy he is in 'Benji' (1974).

© NL Beeld

Skip -

Skip is the Jack Russel from 'My Dog Skip' (2000). He's the trusted friend everyone dreams about having. 

© NL Beeld

Richard Parker -

A Bengal tiger as a pet? Why not? Especially if you're adrift in a lifeboat. Richard Parker in 'Life of Pi' (2012) is a good example.

© NL Beeld

Darwin -

Imagine having a monkey as your best bud. Eliza from 'The Wild Thornberrys' (1998–2004) had Darwin. 

© NL Beeld

Hercules -

Hercules, aka The Beast, is the gentle giant in 'The Sandlot' (1993). He starts of with a bad rep, but turns out to be a really cool dog. 

© NL Beeld

Chloe -

From all the animals in the 'The Secret Life of Pets' (2016), the sarcastic gray tabby cat Chloe is perhaps the one we'd like to own the most. 

© NL Beeld

Keanu -

If you've ever wondered how to make a good action comedy film, the answer is a cat named Keanu, the star of 'Keanu' (2016).

Sources: (Yardbarker) (Reader's Digest) (Paste Magazine)

See also: The most famous dogs in history

© NL Beeld