Got no pals? Partner left you? Family disowned you? There’s an easy solution – get yourself a pet! Animals make great, judgement-free crutches upon which to rely when loneliness and reality set in. Of course, such a gloomy assessment of pet ownership certainly takes all the fun out of befriending something which can’t argue back, so why not put some of it back in by imagining what it would be like to have a fictional pet as your companion?
These domesticated creatures vary in the extent to which they are tame, housebroken and non-violent… but all of them would make kick-ass sidekicks around the house. Which is your favourite?
Scooby Doo the Dog
They say that canines are a man’s best friend – that is, until they eat the entire contents of your kitchen cupboard right at the point when the munchies kick in. On the other hand, erratic crime-fighting skills, a cool (but undoubtedly illegal) VW van and an impeccable sense of comic timing make up for a few misplaced Scooby snacks, here and there. Plus, that jumbo sub was definitely sharing size Shaggy.
Salem the Cat
It’s the age-old skirmish: dogs vs cats. While Scooby would definitely bring a bit of pizzazz to any household, Salem the cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch is far sassier. Indeed, if Clarissa had such a feisty feline to tell her when to stop explaining it all, Melissa Joan Hart’s career might not have taken such a nose dive. With Salem around, we wouldn’t mind becoming the Crazy Cat Lady one little bit.
Hedwig the Owl
Ignore the fact that snail mail has become all but obsolete thanks to the world wide web – if we all had a Hedwig to deliver our letters, like the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, business among the Royal Mail would be booming again (privatisation or not). This snowy little friend can even track down long lost relatives who owe you money! Besides that, Hedwig’s also the only one on this list who can be visited in real life; the Harry Potter Tour at Warner Brothers Studio in London affords owl-enthusiasts and Potter-heads the chance to come face to face with the actual model used in the film, alongside some of the most iconic sets, such as Olivander’s Wand Shop.
Rajah the Tiger
Forget the ethical issues involved in taming a big cat such as Rajah – having this ferocious feline as your confidante, companion and protector would scare away all the sleazy suitors in the world. Aladdin panicked when Rajah defended Jasmine’s honour, so just imagine what he’d do to Phil down the pub (just better keep your fingers crossed that Phil doesn’t own a secret magic carpet).
Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion the Dragons
Thought it didn’t get any more badass than having your very own Bengal tiger as a bedfellow? Wrong! Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen has not one, not two, but three fire-spewing, child-munching, trouser-staining dragons. Dragons! If we’re getting into the habit of imagining fictional pets as real entities, we may as well go the whole hog and adopt a scaly behemoth. Whether it’s the Iron Throne you seek or a promotion at work, you can be sure of success with these three beasts in your corner.
