The nation’s best friends
Punxsutawney Phil and other timeless animal celebrities
Image: Maja7777 / Olga Nayda
Who hasn’t heard of Balto the dog or the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil? Some animals that lived in the U.S. truly ascended to celebrity status after their remarkable feats. Some were commemorated in monuments, paintings, or movies—but others live on only in our stories. Let’s talk about famous animals in American history !
1
Punxsutawney Phil
Image: Steve Wrzeszczynski
Every February 2nd, the eyes of the nation turn to a small town in western Pennsylvania. That’s where Punxsutawney Phil, a weather-predicting groundhog , is roused from his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob to look for his shadow.
According to tradition, if he sees it, we get six more weeks of winter; if not, spring is just around the corner. The quirky ritual began in 1887 and has since grown into a full-blown celebration.
2
Balto
Image: Meg von Haartman
In the winter of 1925, a deadly diphtheria outbreak threatened the remote town of Nome, Alaska. It was the sturdy Siberian Husky Balto who helped deliver the lifesaving antitoxin across snow and blizzard conditions to Nome.
Although dozens of dogs and mushers contributed to what became known as the Great Race of Mercy , Balto was hailed as a national hero. He even received his own statue in New York’s Central Park just a year later—a monument that still stands today, inscribed with the words: "Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence."
3
Seaman (a.k.a. "Scannon")
Image: The New York Public Library
In 1803, explorer Meriwether Lewis purchased a Newfoundland dog for $20 and named him Seaman. The dog became a four-legged member of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition .
He accompanied the Corps of Discovery as they crossed the North American continent, helping with hunting, standing guard, and even surviving a wound from a beaver attack.
The funny bit is that for a long time it was believed that William Clark’s journals referred to the dog as "Scannon," but it might have been a dizzy transcription of his handwriting.
4
Smoky the War Dog
Image: Simona Jašauskytė
Found in a foxhole in New Guinea during World War II, Smoky was a Yorkshire Terrier weighing just four pounds—but her size turned out to be her superpower .
She was trained by her rescuer, Corporal William Wynne, and famously ran communication wires through a narrow pipe beneath an airstrip in Luzon, Philippines.
After the war, Smoky became one of the first recorded therapy dogs, visiting wounded soldiers and performing tricks to lift their spirits. Today, she is honored with memorials in both the U.S. and Australia.
5
Sergeant Reckless
Image: Irina Nakonechnaya
During the Korean War, a small Mongolian mare purchased by U.S. Marines for $250 and nicknamed Reckless made multiple trips through enemy fire to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers, sometimes entirely on her own.
For her bravery, she was promoted to Staff Sergeant , awarded two Purple Hearts, and allowed to eat scrambled eggs, Coca-Cola, and beer with the troops. Today, statues in Virginia and California honor her legacy.
6
Cher Ami
Image: William Chen
In the chaos of World War I, a pigeon named Cher Ami saved nearly 200 men from the "Lost Battalion" by flying a crucial message across enemy lines —despite being shot, blinded in one eye, and wounded in her leg during the flight.
Her message arrived, artillery fire was redirected, and the soldiers were rescued. For her bravery, Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and was later taxidermied after her death. You can still visit her at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
7
Old Bob
Image: Philippe Oursel
Abraham Lincoln’s beloved driving horse , Old Bob, was a familiar sight in Springfield, Illinois, often seen trotting through town pulling the future president’s buggy.
But his most memorable appearance came in 1865, when he walked riderless and draped in a mourning blanket during Lincoln’s funeral procession. The image of the grieving horse moved the nation and was widely reproduced in illustrations and prints.
8
Pauline Wayne
Image: Susan van Bragt
Pauline Wayne, a Holstein cow, was the last cow to reside at the White House. Gifted to President William Howard Taft by a Wisconsin senator, Pauline grazed on the White House lawn and provided fresh milk for the First Family.
She even survived a brief brush with danger when she was mistakenly sent to a slaughterhouse during a train trip—but was rescued just in time.
9
Macaroni
Image: Sergej Karpow
When Lyndon B. Johnson gifted a pony to young Caroline Kennedy in the early 1960s, he probably didn’t expect Macaroni to become a national sensation—but that’s exactly what happened.
The little white Shetland pony often grazed on the White House lawn, delighting photographers and stealing the spotlight during Camelot-era press coverage. Macaroni received fan mail, appeared in Life magazine, and even inspired a song by folk legend Pete Seeger.
10
Old Abe
Image: Arnaud Padallé
Old Abe was a bald eagle who became the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Perched on a shield-topped staff, he accompanied troops into battle, reportedly screaming whenever gunfire broke out.
He survived multiple campaigns and quickly gained legendary status, later appearing on military insignia and even on U.S. war bond posters in both World Wars.
11
Fala
Image: D_Theodora
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, traveled with him on countless trips, had a press secretary, and even appeared in cartoons and newsreels.
One of the most famous White House pets in history , Fala was awarded a unique honor: he is the only presidential pet with a statue near his owner’s memorial in Washington, D.C.
12
Checkers
Image: SlimMars 13
In 1952, then–vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon gave a nationally broadcast speech defending himself against accusations of financial impropriety. His emotional turning point was declaring that he would keep one gift no matter what: a black-and-white cocker spaniel named Checkers, beloved by his daughters.
Some believe the heartfelt mention of the pet was inspired by the earlier success of Fala. The speech struck such a chord that it is still known today as "the Checkers speech."
