Beloved Pets in Literature and Cinema

Hiccup, a young Viking who is expected to follow in his warrior father’s footsteps, lacks confidence and is quite the scaredy cat. However, when he adopts Toothless, an injured dragon whom he befriends and trains, he not only overcomes his fear of flying but discovers a sense of confidence that he lacked. Not to mention forming a beautiful and strong friendship that also withstands a trial by fire.

This oddball pairing showcases Turner, an officer who will go to extreme lengths to solve cases and catch criminals, and his extremely loyal, beer-loving canine partner Hooch. No other buddy cop pairing can compare to Turner and Hooch. Together these two tackle foes, foil evil plots, and have a habit of attracting danger and making enemies. Hooch will even put his life on the line to protect his human pal!

The movie ‘Okja’ delves into the greed and cruelty of human nature and at its center is the titular character, a genetically modified pig, who despite its odd and comical appearance is quite lovable. He is also inseparable from the only person protecting him from becoming a target for many evil and interested parties- a young Korean girl with a big and kind heart who adopts the creature as a pet and helps Okja survive against all odds in the cruel world.

This lesser known work features a twelve year old boy who runs away from home and is lost in the woods. While it takes some time for him to adapt to his new surroundings, he is kept company by a peregrine falcon named Frightful who is nothing like its name implies. In fact, Frightful is nothing but lovable and faithful to the boy who raised it since birth, and Frightful is also this boy’s only companion throughout.

To some people, Wilbur is a sloppy pig who is best served on the dinner table in roast pig form, but to Charlotte, Wilbur is a sweet best friend. These two were inseparable from the start. Wilbur was saved from the dinner table by a kind soul, and he and Charlotte share many touching moments throughout the book. In short, these two are the ultimate gold standard for interspecies friendship!

Harry and Hedwig are a duo beloved by Potterheads. Inseparable ever since Harry received this often temperamental but lovable snowy owl as a gift, Hedwig proves his loyalty to his master by travelling long distances to deliver mail successfully and even attacks his foes if they’re mean towards him. His death at the hands of the Dark Lord (sorry, spoilers) did come as quite the shocker to most fans of the franchise, including yours truly here.

Jon Snow’s companion is an aloof and strange dire wolf named Ghost who is considered an outcast himself among his own kind. They form a strong bond over the course of this series and while the white furry creature is often prone to disappearing for long periods of time, he always makes his way back to his master, sticking it out side by side, come bloody wars or cold winters.

When Dorothy is literally thrown into a whirlwind of crazy escapades, her pet dog Toto is her only link to the real world. He follows her down the Yellow Brick Road loyally, protecting her at all times and sharing in the insane adventures that follow, to the point that he’s even risking being carried off by the Wicked Witch’s own pets- The Flying Monkeys!