History Main / PetFadStarter

Sub-trope to TheRedStapler.

* For the Jack Russell Terrier segment of the Creator/AnimalPlanet series ''Dogs 101'', a dog trainer gave a report that Moose, the Jack Russel Terrier who played Eddie the dog on ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', was so well-trained that he made the breed especially popular. Many people thought all Jack Russells were as intelligent as Moose/Eddie and would be just as manageable right from the point of sale. The broadcast of the Creator/{{PBS}} series Series/{{Wishbone}} during its run probably gave the breed's popularity a boost, too.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' caused a huge leap in the popularity of Siberian Huskies, and other wolf-looking breeds, due to their resemblance to the direwolves from the series. Unfortunately, not soon afterwards shelters began reporting an increase in Huskies due to people abandoning their dogs. Huskies are a large, high-energy breed that aren't recommended for beginners.

* ''Anime/{{Hamtaro}}'' made many people want hamsters, and in some lands it was a true boom. It faded some years after, however.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' did [[https://www.twincities.com/2014/06/14/sonic-the-hedgehog-blamed-for-emerging-pet-trend-in-us/ raise interest in pet hedgehogs.]] While owning a hedgehog is illegal or requires a permit in some places, they are rather docile and easy to raise, though they are also notoriously shy. In one case, an 11-year-old ''Sonic'' fan [[https://www.engadget.com/2009-01-05-sonic-fan-gets-towns-pet-hedgehog-ban-overturned.html successfully petitioned to have his hometown lift a ban on pet hedgehogs.]] Adding to this, one of the most popular pet hedgehog names is "Sonic". One hedgehog adoption website [[https://hedgiemama.com/pb/wp_3cfa6e0d/wp_3cfa6e0d.html humorously lambasts the idea.]]

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' did [[https://www.twincities.com/2014/06/14/sonic-the-hedgehog-blamed-for-emerging-pet-trend-in-us/ raise interest in pet hedgehogs.]] While owning a hedgehog is illegal or requires a permit in some places, they are rather docile and easy to raise, though they are also notoriously shy. In one case, an 11-year-old ''Sonic'' fan [[https://www.engadget.com/2009-01-05-sonic-fan-gets-towns-pet-hedgehog-ban-overturned.html successfully petitioned to have his hometown lift a ban on pet hedgehogs.]]] Adding to this, one of the most popular pet hedgehog names is "Sonic". One hedgehog adoption website [[https://hedgiemama.com/pb/wp_3cfa6e0d/wp_3cfa6e0d.html humorously lambasts the idea.]]

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' did [[https://www.twincities.com/2014/06/14/sonic-the-hedgehog-blamed-for-emerging-pet-trend-in-us/ raise interest in pet hedgehogs.]] While owning a hedgehog is illegal or requires a permit in some places, they are rather docile and easy to raise, though they are also notoriously shy. Adding to this, one of the most popular pet hedgehog names is "Sonic". One hedgehog adoption website [[https://hedgiemama.com/pb/wp_3cfa6e0d/wp_3cfa6e0d.html humorously lambasts the idea.]]

* The popularity of ''Literature/PippiLongstocking'' would briefly start a ''[[https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/a2wp6E/skansen-chef-om-hur-astrid-lindgren-stallde-till-med-kaos pet monkey]]'' fad in Sweden in the early 1960s, with people often importing and/or selling monkeys from other countries. Unsurprisingly, given that monkeys are well, wild animals (and aggressive wild animals at that), this led to a wave of monkey attacks across the country, resulting in many getting injured and hospitalized (one such story is recalled in humorous fashion [[https://youtu.be/cKOtPR0DZdU here]]). It didn't help that the cold Swedish climate was not suitable for monkeys, causing hundreds of them to die, nor did it help that their presence brought with them dangerous diseases that were not native to Sweden. In response to the fad, the Riksdag passed a law that forbade the ownership of most exotic animals, including monkeys, stopping the fad and ensuring that similar fads won't happen again. Reportedly, Lindgren admitted that she would’ve never given Pippi a pet monkey had she known the fad would occur.

* ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' naturally spawned an increased demand for German Shepards. Thankfully this breed is relatively easy to care for and a good choice for first time pet owners.

* Cast members of ''WesternAnimation/{{Vivo}}'' and ''Creator/{{Netflix}}'' made preemptive statements on kinkajou poaching to disassociate the movie from any potential fallout. Given that kinkajous are already victim to illegal pet trade its unclear if the movie contribued to their decline in any capacity.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' did [[https://www.twincities.com/2014/06/14/sonic-the-hedgehog-blamed-for-emerging-pet-trend-in-us/ raise interest in pet hedgehogs.]] While owning a hedgehog is illegal or requires a permit in some places, they are rather docile and easy to raise, though they are also notoriously shy. Adding to this, one of the most popular pet hedgehog names is "Sonic". One hedgehog adoption website [[https://hedgiemama.com/pb/wp_3cfa6e0d/wp_3cfa6e0d.html humorously lambasts the idea.]]

* The popularity of pet axolotls [[https://www.npr.org/2022/10/20/1130079687/axolotl-pet-salamander-minecraft has]] [[https://www.rspca.org.uk/-/news-minecraft-triggers-axolotl-craze increased]] since ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' added them as an aquatic mob. While lovely animals, they have unique needs such as preferring cool water temperatures and low lighting, as well as making sure they have the correct substrate[[note]]Most enthusiasts advise against giving axolotls rock or gravel since they can accidentally eat it, which causes digestive issues[[/note]]. Additionally, they often do not do well in community tanks due to both their aggression and other inhabitants nipping their gills. They are also not as active as the game portrays them, as they are nocturnal animals. Some areas, such as California, New Jersey, New Mexico, Maine, and Virginia, also have laws banning them.