Which TV animals have become more than just background props for their human counterparts?
On this week's 2 Broke Girls, Max and Caroline bid farewell to one of the the show's most improbable characters: a horse called Chestnut. It never made much sense how the two waitresses-turned-cupcake-shop-owners managed to afford feeding a horse on their measly salaries, so it's a triumph of realism that the show finally sent the creature away.
2 Broke Girls isn't the only sitcom to feature a pet prominently in its plot. Animals are a staple of almost every television household, making for trusty sidekicks, dependable comic relief, and comforting ears that (usually) don't talk back. But some on-screen animal stars are more than just housemates, with affable personalities of their own.
These inspiring owner-pet relationships establish a real equity and rapport between cross-species co-stars and make us reevaluate a pet's role in the home. Which of your favorite actors come from the animal kingdom?
This post also appears on Flavorpill, an Atlantic partner site.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.