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2012 was a year full of animal magic and mayhem, but somehow a few critters stood out above the rest. Amongst all the fleeting furry moments, these Paw Stars left a mark that will carry on into the new year. Keep clicking to reminisce on all the hijinks, hilarity and hairballs these celebrity animals brought into our lives.
20. Darwin the IKEA Monkey
Breed: Rhesus Macaque Monkey
Claim To Fame: Darwin managed to make the headlines just before 2013. The monkey became international news after he appeared at a Canadian Ikea wearing a shearling coat. Quickly dubbed the "Ikea monkey," this little guy is now in the middle of a custody battle, as his owner and a primate sanctuary fight to keep him.
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19. Bonny
Breed: Shih-Tzu
Claim To Fame: Bonny the Shih-Tzu rescue dog quickly became an adorable headliner thanks to "Seven Psychopaths." The docile dog managed to steal scenes in the comedy, even though she was working alongside Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell and more big names. Walken was so impressed with Bonny's acting chops that he dubbed her the best dog to work with in Hollywood.
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18. Shishi-Maru
Breed: Scottish Fold
Claim To Fame: Sometimes it is all about knowing your best angles. Shishi-Maru soared to fame on Instagram thanks to knowing the secrets behind a heart-melting photo. Her likeness is now all over the web, thanks to countless shares and likes.
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17. Maddie
Breed: Coonhound
Claim To Fame: If life is truly a balancing act, than Maddie the Coonhound has it down. The graceful pooch is known on the Internet for her ability to stand on just about anything. Maddie and her owner created a Tumblr of the dog's standing feats, including snaps of Maddie on trees, mailboxes and bikes.
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16. Obie
Breed: Dachshund
Claim to Fame: In 2012, it became apparent that America's issue with obesity is affecting pets as well. Fighting back against the health problem, Obie the overweight Dachshund started a Facebook campaign to drop some of his 70+ pounds. Thanks to diet and exercise, Obie has already shed 20 pounds of extra weight and inspired others.
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15. Snoopy
Breed: Exotic Shorthair
Claim to Fame: Another adorable cat of Instagram, Snoopy stood out thanks to his stunning features and props. Pictures of the cat's big eyes, raccoon tail and sweet face enchanted thousands of animal lovers, who then passed the photos on to their friends.
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14. Mini
Breed: Yorkie-Chihuahua Mix
Claim to Fame: Mini the dog made the record books for doing something small. In 2012, the pup became Britain's smallest dog, only weighing 1.3 ounces at birth. Thanks to her owner's care, Mini grew into a healthy, but still very tiny, canine.
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13. Spangles
Breed: Mixed
Claim to Fame: Spangles didn't let his look get in the way of fame. The cross-eyed kitty embraced his differences and earned an impressive Facebook following in the process. While the eyes are what hook you, it is Spangle's pawesome costumes and precious personality that keep you coming back.
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12. Giant George
Breed: Great Dane
Claim to Fame: 2012 was a BIG year for Giant George. Known for being the world's tallest and biggest dog at 43 inches, this year we learned more about George through his first book. While a new Tallest Dog was crowned this year, George proved he has the power to stay paw-pular without the title.
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11. Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay
Breed: Rhesus Macaque Monkey
Claim to Fame: The Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay's charade of confusion, cuteness and chaos came to an end in 2012. After three years of running around Florida and taking hand-outs from residents, the elusive animal was finally captured. Mr. Mystery Monkey is now living with other macaques at a sanctuary in Florida.
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10. Teddy
Breed: Porcupine
Claim to Fame: Teddy showed the web it's not only kittens and puppies that can bring the cute. Teddy's talkative ways and selfish love for corn earned him oodles of views on YouTube. Now Teddy can be found celebrating every holiday with a snack and making Super Bowl picks. Also, if you listen very carefully, you can hear his voice in "The Hobbit."
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9. Colonel Meow
Breed: Himalayan-Persian Mix
Claim to Fame: Before Grumpy Cat, there was Colonel Meow. This feisty ball of fluff rang up Facebook fans at super speed with his musings on scotch, other Internet cats and his general dislike for the world. Colonel Meow's special brand of cynicism has inspired many memes and other agitated kitties.
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8. Choupette
Breed: Siamese
Claim to Fame: Most cats have it easy, but Choupette's life is a special case. The feline of designer Karl Lagerfeld, Choupette catwalked to fame with help from her famous dad. The kitty was featured in a fashion editorial, a fake Twitter account and countless news stories. The fact that she has a personal maid and scribe got some attention, too.
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7. Pudsey
Breed: Mixed
Claim to Fame: Pudsey doesn't just have fame, he has a major title. This dancing dog scored the top spot on "Britain's Got Talent" this year, trotting his way to the win with help from his owner and partner Ashleigh.
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6. Venus
Breed: Chimera Calico
Claim to Fame: When the web first saw Venus the two-faced cat, they thought she was a product of Photoshop. It turns out Venus is all real. She is a Chimera cat, which means a genetic mutation caused her signature split look. Her unique face has created quite a following, especially among Batman fans.
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5. Bo
Breed: Portuguese Water Dog
Claim To Fame: Most Americans know this Paw Star as he is arguably the cutest resident of the White House. As First Dog, Bo injects an extra dose of adorable into all presidential events, whether it is supervising Christmas decorations or hanging with dad.
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4. Boo
Breed: Pomeranian
Claim to Fame: When you are the "World's Cutest Dog" it is hard not to have a big year. Boo continued his rampage of sweetness, showering the world with more photos, books and fuzzy love. The pup also added another job to his resume. Boo is now the official pet travel liaison for Virgin America.
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3. Lil Bub
Breed: Dwarf Cat
Claim To Fame: That face! Those eyes! That tongue! There is plenty to love about Lil Bub. Luckily, the strangely adorable dwarf cat was rescued by a web-savvy man. Once photos and videos of Bub showed up online, her fame was almost instantaneous. Now the celebri-cat is making cat film festival appearances and showing up in videos with Andrew W.K.
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2. Uggie
Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Claim To Fame: Uggie truly lives up to the term Paw Star. This talented dog out-acted almost everyone in "The Artist," and has a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not only is Uggie one of just a few dogs with this honor, people also campaigned to get the pooch nominated for an Oscar. While it didn't happen, Uggie did leave the Academy Awards with a Best Picture win.
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Next: Best Animal Pics of 2012
1. Grumpy Cat aka Tardar Sauce
Breed: Ragdoll
Claim to Fame: Showing up on the web in September, Tardar Sauce easily swept this year. This feline is responsible for the amazingly pessimistic Grumpy Cat meme. While the Internet is already saturated with this frowny face, we have a feeling that Tardar Sauce is just getting started.
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Add a Comment
7 Comments
I love Teddy because he is so uninique! Truly a real one of a kind.
December 30 2012 at 5:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTeddy is so unique! Just beautiful!
December 30 2012 at 5:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyColonel Meow is the cat's flaps!
December 29 2012 at 11:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI love Teddy too. He's so cute!!!
December 29 2012 at 11:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySpangles, You're Awesome!
December 20 2012 at 4:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI also LOVE Grumpy Cat! I love the faces & captions, but do realize he/she is not grumpy, but sweet!
December 19 2012 at 4:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI just LOVE Teddy! He's so funny!
December 19 2012 at 4:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply