History Main / PetFadStarter

* ''Film/BlackPanther:'' While panthers aren't exactly pet material, the movie did cause an increased demand for black ''cats'', especially so they could be named after characters from the movie. Since some people [[CatStereotype still remain suspicious about black cats being bad luck,]] this ended up being a positive trend for a number of shelters, as it helped them adopt out cats who otherwise might be slower to be adopted.

* PetFadStarter: 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.

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[[folder: Film -- Animation]]

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[[folder: Western Animation]]

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* The original ''Film/OurGang'' shorts helped popularize the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (also called the American Staffordshire Terrier, according to some sources) in the early 1900s. Pete was smart, loyal, and good with kids, which made the breed become popular with families (to the point where it had a nickname of "Nanny Dog").

* Many people want a Great Dane due to ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo''. This is despite Scooby intentionally being the antithesis of what a Great Dane "should" be like. The creators researched Great Danes and made Scooby the opposite of breed standards.

* ''WesternAnimation/Bluey'' has, albeit in a minor way, sparked interest in the Blue Heeler dog breed outside of its native Australia.

* Parodied by WebOriginal/TheDailyMash, which wrote a joke article called [[https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/women-under-increasing-pressure-to-have-dragons-20151015102932 “Women Under Increasing Pressure To Have Dragons”]], about women feeling that they need to have baby dragons as pets because of the popularity of Daenerys Targaryen and her pet dragons from ''Series/GameOfThrones''.

* Parodied by WebOriginal/TheDailyMash, which wrote a joke article called [[https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/women-under-increasing-pressure-to-have-dragons-20151015102932 “Women Under Increasing Pressure To Have Dragons”]], about women feeling that they need to have baby dragons as pets because of the popularity of Daenerys Targaryen and her [[CoolPet pet dragons]] from ''Series/GameOfThrones''.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' caused a demand for pet rats. Not the worst case, as rats are relatively easy to care for even for a child, but it did lead to some abandoned rats.

* The popularity of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' led to a big demand for snowy owls, to the point that [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/6082344/Sanctuary-opens-for-owls-dumped-by-Harry-Potter-fans.html an owl sanctuary had to be opened to accommodate all the owls that were bought as pets but then abandoned]]. This is not surprising, since owning a "pet" bird of prey is essentially letting a small carnivorous dinosaur into your house. On top of that, they are neither affectionate nor particularly intelligent, stretching the meaning of "pet". Experienced hawkers/falconers will be the first to tell you that while birds of prey ''can'' be domesticated to an extent, they are not 'pets'.

* ''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.]] 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 the 1977 anime ''Anime/RascalTheRaccoon'' was single-handedly responsible for the introduction of feral raccoons in Japan. Up to 1500 raccoons were imported as pets, but now the descendants of abandoned or escaped raccoons live wild in 42 of Japan's 47 prefectures.

* Queen Elizabeth II's adoration of Pembroke Welsh Corgis helped transform the breed from an odd-looking herding dog into one of the most popular breeds out there.
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* 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 vicim to illegal pet trade its unclear if the movie contribued to their decline in any capacity.

* The documentary ''Pedigree Dogs Exposed'' created an inversed reaction to this. It brought to the mainstream the health issues of various breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Boxer, Pug, and German Shepherd. This in turn caused many people to get into mutts instead of purebreds and start protesting dog breeders. The documentary caused a lot of controversy around dog breeding in general.

* The popularity of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' led to a big demand for snowy owls, to the point that [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/6082344/Sanctuary-opens-for-owls-dumped-by-Harry-Potter-fans.html an owl sanctuary had to be opened to accommodate all the owls that were bought as pets but then abandoned]]. This is not surprising, since owning a "pet" bird of prey is essentially letting a small carnivorous dinosaur into your house. On top of that, they are neither affectionate nor particularly intelligent, stretching the meaning of "pet". Experienced hawkers/falconers will be the first to tell you that while they ''can'' be domesticated to an extent, they are not 'pets'.

* The popularity of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' led to a big demand for snowy owls, to the point that [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/6082344/Sanctuary-opens-for-owls-dumped-by-Harry-Potter-fans.html an owl sanctuary had to be opened to accommodate all the owls that were bought as pets but then abandoned]]. This is not surprising, since owning a "pet" bird of prey is essentially letting a small carnivorous dinosaur into your house. On top of that, they are neither affectionate nor particularly intelligent, stretching the meaning of "pet".

* In the UK, the toilet tissue brand "Andrex" has been advertised by a Labrador Retriever puppy for decades. It is the UK's most popular dog breed. It doesn't hurt that Retrievers are a relatively docile and beginner-friendly dog breed.

* When the film ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}'' came out, [[http://www.newmoviesgossip.com/rio-and-10-reasons-to-never-own-a-parrot/ some people]] feared that the film would lead to an increased demand for parrots, which would've been particularly bad since parrots are ''extremely'' high-maintenance animals that need constant attention and lots of patience, not to mention they often live for several decades. Thankfully, that never came to pass, though likely for cost reasons; parrots (except for budgies) are expensive and run from several hundred to a few ''thousand'' dollars. Not exactly an impulse buy, especially for a first-time bird owner.

* ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' increased demand for German Shepherds. Of course, German Shepherds have always been highly popular, and are an easy-going and ''relatively'' low maintenance breed.

* Averted with ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}''. There were worries that Dante would cause a surge in Xoloitzcuintli's, however that didn't happen. It caused many people to learn about the breed, though.

* The ''Film/{{Marmaduke}}'' film averted this, as the eponymous Great Dane is portrayed as being very high-maintenance to say the least. Certain animal welfare groups were concerned about this trope, but it doesn't appear that the film has done much to increase or decrease the popularity of Danes. The utter failure of the film at the box office probably didn't hurt.
* ''Film/IAmLegend'' likely boosted the popularity of German Shepherds.

* Most people who saw ''Film/TurnerAndHooch'' probably couldn't have named Hooch's breed to save their lives. Demand for the French Mastiff didn't explode by any means, but that movie and other appearances in media have definitely invoked this trope, since it's a massive, high-maintenance dog that, as the vet herself said, "not many people [have room for]." they might not have time or money to devote to it either. That's with the movie actually portraying how high-maintenance Hooch was fairly realistically.

* The popularity of ''Film/BlackPanther2018'' caused an increase in black cat adoptions. Happily, this means previously unwanted cats, who were shunned for being considered unlucky, can now go to loving homes.

* When a live-action Disney comedy about a pug called ''Patrick'' came out in the UK, Disney [[https://www.bsava.com/News/ArticleID/2462/Release-of-Disney%27s-film-Patrick collaborated with veterinary groups]] on a publicity campaign in order to avert this and avoid backlash from advocates. They pointed out that many pugs suffer from severe health problems due to their extreme craniofacial shapes, and agreed to avoid some elements in the film marketing that were considered to pose a risk of getting children to excited about pugs.
* Similarly averted when ''Max'', a 2015 family adventure movie about a heroic ex-military Malinois dog came out. Enthusiasts of the breed made a serious effort to get into the media and explain that the breed is primarily bred for guard, police and military work; they are highly energetic, strong-willed and predatory, are liable to become aggressive and destructive if they don't have frequent strenuous exercise and mental stimulation, are a ''terrible'' house pet, and should not have unsupervised contact with children.

* The children's book ''Literature/{{Stargirl}}'' provoked some readers to get interested in pet rats.

[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Nintendogs}}'' {{Defied}} this by including a message in the manual:
-->''Nintendogs'' is an interactive entertainment experience centered on puppies. In the uniquely imaginative world of ''Nintendogs'', the young dogs do not age, always remaining puppies. They boast docile habits and personalities, and are easy to handle.
-->However, since real puppies are living things, they have habits and personalities that may be different from those of the ''Nintendogs'', so when training and caring for a real puppy, please be sure to understand the real puppy's habits and personality.
-->When caring for living dog, the trainer holds ultimate responsibility for the survival and well-being of the dog, so be sure to consult with your family before raising a real dog.
* ''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.]] 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.]]
-->'''1. Do hedgehogs look like Sonic?'''\\
No.\\
'''2. Are they blue like Sonic?'''\\
No.\\
'''3. If I buy one from you, can I name it Sonic?'''\\
If I find out you have, I will come and take it back.
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* Several social media influencers, particularly on Instagram and Website/YouTube, have been [[https://youtu.be/k-rn4WMzmK0 accused of]] popularizing brachycephalic (flat-headed) dog breeds, namely Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers. Due to their smushed-in faces, these dogs have a huge menagerie of health and breathing problems, [[FromBadToWorse which are only further propagated by the aggressive backyard/puppy mill breeding that's done to meet consumer demand]]. These issues often lead to massive vet bills, causing many owners to abandon their expensive pedigree pooches. Because of this, rescues dedicated to brachycephalic dogs have cropped up.
* Many [=YouTubers=] and Instagrammers who own unusual pets like foxes and hedgehogs will try to {{Def|ied}}y by putting disclaimers in the profile or video descriptions pointing out the difficulties of owning such a pet.

* An odd example in that the ''news'' is responsible, and a rather tragic one at that: All of the news stories regarding pit bull attacks and dog fighting rings has solidified their image as [[AngryGuardDog vicious attack dogs]] (which isn't accurate), leading to a rise in their popularity amongst unscrupulous owners who just want a tough-looking dog to show off, or, worse yet, to fight against other dogs. Many of these dogs will end up being abused or left tied up in backyards, which causes them to develop behavioral issues (as any dog, not just a pit bull, would in that scenario), and eventually leads to yet another incident of a pit bull attack, and the subsequent news story, and the cycle continues. Dobermans and Rottweilers also suffer from this, to a much lesser extent, but the pit bull breeds tend to get the worst of it. Many have also blamed those who run dog-fighting rings for this problem.

* ''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]]. 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.]]

No.\|

* Shiba Inus have experienced a spike in popularity thanks to Doge the [[MemeticMutation Internet meme]], [[http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/31/5248762/doge-meme-rescue-dog-wow according to the experiences]] of Jonathan Fleming, the photograph of the picture that would become the "hipster doge." Fans of the breed advise against first time dog owners owning them. While not bad pets by any means, Shibas are quite a stubborn breed (to the point where many call them "cat-like") and could be hard to handle for inexperienced owners.

* ''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]]. Adding to this, one of the most popular pet hedgehog names is "Sonic".

Fortunately, this trope is [[TechnologyMarchesOn not as rampant as it used to be]], since social media has the power to put any species in the spotlight. Nowadays, any creature that can be kept as a pet (one way or another) will have a slew of websites and forums dedicated to its captive care, allowing would-be owners to do plenty of research ''before'' making a purchase. In the past, people had to trust the word of their local pet store, whose biggest concern was obviously making the sale, and whose clerks might not be the most knowledgeable about specific breeds/species. While the internet doesn't eliminate this trope completely, it does reduce the number of turtles ending up in sewers for real.

* The Disney film ''Film/SnowDogs'' led to a short spike in demand for Huskies, the breed featured in the film.