The recent movie DC League of Super-Pets is another timely reminder of how important pets are to American culture. Though there are, of course, many great movies with animal companions as their central characters, it’s on TV that the family pet has come to play a particularly great role.
In fact, TV is filled with various types of pets–but especially cats and dogs–who have become nearly as popular with audiences as their human counterparts. Thus, it’s worth taking a look at which of these the users of Reddit have decided should be seen as the best.
Comet (Full House)
Full House was, at the time of its release, one of the most beloved sitcoms on TV. Focusing on the Tanner family, it was everything one would expect of a series of this time, full of laughter, joy, and lessons learned about the various difficulties of life. And, like many sitcoms of the period, it also featured a family pet, the golden retriever, Comet.
This lovable dog has been particularly beloved of users of Reddit, such as big_gulpshuh, who writes: “Comet was a perfect Full House cast member.” Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the Tanner family without their beloved dog by their side.
Eddie (Frasier)
Frasier is widely seen as one of the best sitcoms of the 1990s, with its smart sense of humor, its lovable (if sometimes annoying) characters, and its ability to expand on Frasier’s character from Cheers. However, it’s also worth noting for its canine cast member, Eddie, who seemed to take a special delight in tormenting Frasier (no doubt because he knew it would please his owner, Frasier’s father Marty).
The dog has proven to be a favorite among Reddit users such as INMATEofARKHAM, who writes: “Moose, Eddie's real name, should have had his name in the opening credits.”
Salem (Sabrina The Teenage Witch)
During its run, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a beloved part of the TGIF block of programming on ABC. Though obviously the witches were a main part of the series’ appeal, it would be impossible to imagine the show without the sharp-tongued cat, Salem, whose ironic commentary was always an essential part of any particular episode.
Garlicbreadmemesplz is particularly effusive in their enjoyment of the character: “Salem is up there because it’s when voice acting started to be decent. He didn’t phone it in. Sometimes he was over the top, but sometimes the joke was the best part of the episode.”
Vincent (Lost)
Though Lost could, at times, be a very confusing and divisive show, there was one thing about which fans could always agree: Vincent. As a Labrador retriever, Vincent had a built-in appeal, of course, and he solidified this by being one of the few characters to have lasted throughout the series’ run. Small wonder, then, that he has become particularly beloved among the users of Reddit.
Sonicfan42069666 writes: “One of the first characters we see on LOST, and one of the last. Vincent was a good boy.” It's telling that the canine has remained so popular ina show with so many good human characters.
Stella (Modern Family)
There are many things that help contribute to the universal appeal of Modern Family, which established itself as one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s. One of these was the dog, Stella, destructive though she is, is definitely one of the most adorable dogs to have ever graced the small screen. What’s more, there’s no denying the strong bond that exists between her and Jay, and she is one of the few who can bring out his softer side.
It’s no wonder, then, that Big_Supermarket4537 identifies her as one of the best pets to have appeared on television, though they don't elaborate on their specific reasoning.
Gary The Snail (SpongeBob SquarePants)
SpongeBob SquarePants has come to be regarded as one of the most beloved characters on animated television. There is, to be sure, a surreal pleasure to be had in the series and its various spinoffs. There are also a number of very important relationships, one of which is that between SpongeBob and Gary the Snail.
Like the best of the series’ characters, he is a useful counterpoint to his owner, with a level-headed approach to life that the latter often lacks. It’s thus not surprising that SanityQuestioned sees him as one of the best pets to have appeared in television.
Cheddar (Brooklyn 99)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is often regarded as one of the best series to have been created by Michael Schur. It has a happy and optimistic sensibility, filled with characters the audience can genuinely love and appreciate. Of these, Captain Holt and Kevin are two of the most beloved, and their dog, a corgi named Cheddar, is a source of both humor and consternation for the characters.
There’s no doubt that Holt and Kevin both lavish attention on their canine companion, sometimes to their own detriment. TheCounsler identifies this particular dog as one of their favorite pet characters.
Buck Bundy (Married...With Children)
Married…With Children is one of those series that takes a sardonic look at the established conventions of the family sitcom. This is evident in the way that it focuses on Al Bundy’s world-weary and cynical view of the world.
While the humans occupy the center of the narrative, their dog, Buck Bundy, also has moments where he shares his own thoughts on his owners. In that regard, he is something of a Greek chorus in the show as a whole. Bucket_O_Beef sees him as a great animal character.
Scooby-Doo (Scooby Doo, Where Are You!)
Scooby-Doo is, of course, one of the most recognizable dogs in the history of television, thanks to his appearance in a wide variety of movies, TV shows, and other media. There’s no question that is a great TV pet, though it has to be said that he often shows just as much intelligence as his human companions (even if he is something of a coward).
Tocilog humorously remarks: “Scooby Doo's been consistently employed since the 70s” which is, in itself, a testament to just how enduringly popular the character has been and remains.
Lassie (Lassie)
Few dogs have been quite as famous as Lassie. Like Scooby-Doo, she has appeared in a wide variety of formats, most notably in the very long-lived series that bore her name. Though, as INMATEofARKHAM points out, “multiple animals played those roles during the show's run,” there’s still a continuity to Lassie’s portrayal that helps to explain why she remains so enduringly popular.
She is a reminder of just how much humans have come to rely on their canine companions for various purposes.