Sure, friendships between human characters are awesome. They are the heart of tv shows, and are largely the thing that keeps viewers coming back for more every season. Relationships play a significant role in tv series, and when done right, will always evoke strong emotional responses from fans.
But let's not forget that iconic relationships aren't exclusive to humans. Sometimes, the most moving, compelling bonds are created between human characters and animal characters. The old saying, "a dog is a man's best friend" still holds water today, and rings true for both real life and fiction. Let's take a look at some of the most memorable and touching human-animal friendships on tv shows.
10. DOG & DARYL - THE WALKING DEAD
Many fans have caught on to the infamous Walking Dead trend in which animals on the show have a very limited lifespan. Horses are constantly getting brutally disemboweled by walkers, other animals only serve as a food source for the survivors, and dogs have always been few and far between.
Season 9 presented a very significant time-jump of six years, following the departure of Rick Grimes. During this off-screen time, characters moved on with their lives; started new relationships, had children. And Daryl got a dog. The friendship between Daryl and his furry four-legged pal - simply named "Dog" - is a new one in the Walking Dead universe, but it's one that fans undoubtedly want to see more of,
9. VINCENT & WALT - LOST
Vincent the sweet, somewhat flighty yellow lab was the only animal who would survive the crash of Oceanic Flight 815. Making somewhat sporadic appearances throughout the series, it seemed that Vincent knew what he was doing, and had more impressive survival skills than any of the humans.
Vincent was original Walt's dog, and their friendship was adorable. But it's worth noting that, by the end of the series, Vincent seemed to become everyone's dog.
8. SPRINKLES & ANGELA - THE OFFICE
One of Angela's most infamous traits was her undying love for cats. This character had many memorable quirks, and the fact that she valued her cats above pretty much anyone or anything else, was definitely one of them. The Office never delved too far into Angela's cat collection, touching on it just enough to make it funny and not overdo it.
Sprinkles was probably Angela's most well-known cat, as she was the one Angela cherished and talked about the most. Tragically - and unforgettably - Dwight ended up "took care of the cat" the best way he knew how, but Sprinkles memory lived on with Angela throughout the series.
7. FRED & TONY - BARETTA
In 1975, a series that followed an undercover detective and his misadventures with criminals, aired on ABC. The series is not often talked about today, but one of its most distinguishing features is the fact that it featured a rather touching friendship between a man and his pet Cockatoo.
Not much about this show is very memorable, but the friendship between Tony and his bird, Fred, was definitely unforgettable.
6. SALEM & SABRINA - SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH
Netflix's revamped, modern series, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, may be a hit, but its inspiration will always be iconic. Sabrina The Teenage Witch aired from 1996 to 2003 on ABC. The original series maintained a light, comedic tone - which starkly contrasts Netflix's take.
A storyline featured heavily in Sabrina The Teenage Witch, was the friendship between Sabrina and her cat, Salem. Unlike the Netflix series, Salem was a smooth-talking, witty character, and he often served as a friend - and even a mentor - to Sabrina.
5. MARCEL & ROSS - FRIENDS
The early seasons of Friends were quite a bit different from the later ones, in terms of tone and storylines. The first few seasons featured wackier humor and quirkier characters, and a notable example of this is the entire Marcel storyline.
Marcel the monkey only appeared in about seven episodes overall, but he is undoubtedly a forgettable character. No matter how odd this whole arc was, Ross' heartwarming bond with Marcel is too significant to overlook.
4. CHICK/DUCK & JOEY/CHANDLER - FRIENDS
As aforementioned, the early seasons of Friends presented some...questionable material, before the series really took off and the characters became more fleshed-out versions of themselves. In an early episode, a heartsick Joey impulsively decides to adopt a chick, and he and Chandler become bird parents.
They realize they may be in over their heads, but ultimately, Chandler winds up adopting a duck instead of giving up the chick. Unlike Marcel, the chick and the duck were recurring characters for quite some time. Joey and Chandler's bonds with these two birds were undeniably adorable.
3. EDDIE & MARTIN - FRASIER
Frasier certainly had a humble beginning, merely starting out as a spinoff from the hit series, Cheers, and growing into a beloved series that consisted of an impressive eleven seasons. One of the most memorable aspects of Frasier was definitely Eddie, the lovable Jack Russel.
Eddie belonged to Martin, and the two had a friendship that lasted the entire series. Frasier may have been a sitcom, but the relationship between Martin and Eddie never failed to touch fans' hearts.
2. STELLA & JAY - MODERN FAMILY
As far as many fans are concerned, Stella the lovable French Bulldog is the best character on Modern Family. She has been appearing on the show for quite some time, and her bond with Jay has been one for the ages.
Pretty much everyone loves Stella, but Jay always showed her special favoritism. Since his character is known for being a bit gruff and tough, the fact that Stella holds a key to his heart, never fails to bring a smile to fans' faces.
1. CHEDDAR & HOLT/KEVIN - BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
Cheddar the utterly adorable Corgi has been making appearances on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. As far as fans and pretty much everyone is concerned, she's basically Holt and Kevin's child. It's always a treat when Cheddar makes an appearance on the show, and storylines involving her never fail to be memorable.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a sitcom that always values its touching, emotional moments, as much as it does its comedic aspects. This is why the bond between Cheddar and her two dads is so special.