TVSquad

Welcome to TV Squad Lists, a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.

Ever since the early days, pets have been a staple of many TV shows. Whether they are the star of the show like Cleo from The Peoples Choice or unforgettable supporting pets like Eddie from Frasier, these pets are often the best remembered part of any TV show.

Here is my own personal list of favorite pets. Before you start, I excluded Arnold Ziffel because the Ziffel family insisted he was their son not a pet. Feel free to add your own favorites.

1.Rowdy the stuffed dog (Scrubs)
I admit that having a stuffed dog for a pet is a bit unusual but when you think about it, it's a brilliant idea. He never has to be walked, fed or taken to the vet and he'll never run away. Seeing the hours of fun JD and Turk have with Rowdy makes me want to run to my nearest taxidermist and order myself a mounted hound.

2. Fred the cockatoo (Baretta)
There has never been a cooler bird on TV since Fred. Come to think of it, there has never been a cool bird on TV besides Fred. I mean, show me another bird who can answer the phone and wake up his owner.

3. Bruce the ocelot (Honey West)
I'm sure that keeping an ocelot as a pet isn't really practical but it sure is sexy. As a woman in the male-dominated field of private detectives, Honey really used Bruce to help her look tough.

4. Orange cat (Early Edition)
I don't think Gary ever gave the cat a name but he did house and feed it. Although, now that I think of it, since Gary's life was pretty much dictated by the paper the cat delivered, it would appear that Gary was the pet. In any event, I'd love to have a cat that delivers tomorrows newspaper.

5. Elvis the alligator (Miami Vice)
Another impractical pet. Even more so than the ocelot. It seems that the only reason to have a pet alligator is to impress ladies. In that respect, Elvis was probably the best pet ever. Sonny Crockett picks up a girl in his awesome car, takes her back to his cool boat and the pet alligator seals the deal. Well played, Detective.

6. Bear the chimp (BJ & the Bear)
I don't know how BJ McKay kept a chimp in the cab of his truck and didn't manage to offend the many ladies he met with his smell. On the other hand, a cute chimp in a hat and denim overalls is a surefire babe magnet.

7. Ben the bear (Gentle Ben)
I think if you're going to have a full grown bear for a pet, you, pretty much, have to be a park ranger. Also, if you're going to be a kid with a full grown bear for a pet, you, pretty much, have to be Clint Howard.

8. Flash the dog (Dukes of Hazzard)
This choice is really a personal one. Roscoe P. Coltrane was stupid, corrupt, spineless and an embarrassment to the force, but his love for what is possibly the laziest dog ever showed that even he had a soft spot.

9. Murray the dog (Mad About You)
If Flash was the laziest dog on TV, Murray was definitely the stupidest. I loved watching Murray because he was a real dog, not a nosy know-it-all like Lassie.

10. Igor the bat (The Munsters)
Igor was more than just a pet, he was also a lab assistant. He was always there to lend a wing to whatever scheme Grandpa was cooking up. By the way, how great would it be to be able to turn into the same species of your pet?