Apart from the completely heartless, most people enjoy a good movie about pets. And no, I don’t mean “Pet Cemetery” or “Cujo”, but rather those movies we all grew up watching that simultaneously entertained us and taught us lessons about life and love.

I’ve compiled a list of the Top Ten Pet Movies of All Time. See if your favourite made the list and if not, let us know which film you think should have taken out the top spot!

10. Turner and Hooch (1989): Released around the same time as K9, Turner and Hooch came out on top as the audience favourite. Pairing Tom Hank’s uptight Turner with the slobbery Hooch, this movie saw the two working together to solve a murder; a murder to which Hooch is the only witness placing the dog in mortal danger.

Hooch is an unruly and destructive accomplice, however he is instrumental in teaching Turner to relax and also manages to find him a love interest! It’s a classic odd couple pairing with hilarious and heartwarming results.

9. Stuart Little(1999): Based on E. B. White’s classic childhood tale, Stuart Little came into a life of his own in movie form. A New York mouse adopted by human parents, Stuart is an endearing young man who faces a number of challenges adjusting to his new life – not least of which living with the family cat, Snowball.  With a tense boat race, kidnapping and threats of murder, this lovely film contains both excitement and heart and speaks of the true meaning of family.

8. Free Willy (1993): Who could forget this touching tale of Jesse, a young delinquent who has been abandoned by his mother and has been running with the wrong crowd? After being caught vandalising the local theme and water park, Jesse avoids severe punishment by fixing the damage he’s caused. It is here that he meets Willy, an Orca Whale.

They form a close bond and are soon recognised by the park owner for the special connection they have. When Jesse uncovers a plot by the park owner to kill off the whale to claim on his insurance, a plan is hatched to Free Willy. Most iconic from this film is the final uplifting (if entirely improbable) scene where Willy leaps to freedom and rejoins his family.

7. Lady and the Tramp (1955): Originally released over 50 years ago, Lady and the Tramp is still a family favourite. An animal based rom-com, this follows the middle class ‘Lady’ and homeless Tramp (he’d prefer to call himself “footloose and collar-free”) as they forge a friendship.

Containing one of the most memorable movie scenes of all times – the spaghetti scene – this is a classic that has stood the test of time. As with all Walt Disney films of this era, Lady and the Tramp has a happy ending with good winning over evil and Tramp finding love and a permanent home with Lady and her family.

6. Charlotte’s Web (2006): Another E.B. White Classic, Charlotte’s Web follows the adventures of Wilbur the pig and Charlotte, a small grey spider. Charlotte befriends Wilbur and makes it her goal to save him from the slaughter house by making him stand out from all the other pigs on the farm. She uses her web to spins words such as “terrific” and “radiant” above Wilbur’s pen, drawing the attention of the farmer and eventually the County Fair.

Unbeknownst to Wilbur, Charlotte was drawing to the end of her own life whilst endeavouring to save his and she passes shortly after securing Wilbur’s future. Wilbur is devastated but left with Charlotte’s ‘magnum opus’ – her sack of eggs. Wilbur ensures the safety of Charlotte’s babies and whilst most drift away when they hatch, three stay behind and continue Charlotte’s legacy.

5.  Best in Show (2000): A fantastic mockumentary about the unique characters involved in a dog show. It follows five dog owners as they battle to make their pet the winner of a prestigious competition. Dry and satirical, this film explores human relationships through the vehicle of a competition and highlights how people can use their pets to externalise their inner struggles. Best in Show is an hilarious and accurate portrayal of people and their pets.

4. Babe (1995): In the similar vain of Charlotte’s Web, Babe follows the story of Babe the pig and his journey for acceptance amongst the other farm animals, and his avoidance of the slaughter house. In this case Babe has set his heart on becoming a “Sheep Pig”.

With the help of the other Sheep Dogs, Babe succeeds and is even taken to the local fair by the Farmer, much to the dismay of the Farmer’s wife. With many obstacles to overcome including disagreeable sheep and rabid dogs, Babe eventually wins the sheep trial where Farmer Hogget utters the now famous words “That’s do, Pig. That’ll do”.

3. Beethoven (1992): Who could forget Beethoven? The lovable St Bernard is adopted by the Newton family and hilarious mayhem ensues. The father wants to get rid of him due to the mess and disruption he causes; most memorable is the scene where Beethoven accidentally wraps his lead around the deck chairs of some guests and runs off, dragging them behind him.

The family almost loses Beethoven to a dodgy vet who claims that the slobbery giant had attacked him, when in actual fact the vet wanted to use Beethoven for medical experimentation. The vet’s evil plot is uncovered and Beethoven is reunited with the family.

2. Marley and Me (2008): This recent tear jerker follows the story of a couple and their relationship with their dog, Marley. Marley is rambunctious and uncontrollable and repeatedly destroys the family’s house and belongings. Yet even though Marley is resistant to any form of training or discipline the family still love and accept him. This is a story of standing by those you love even when every sign tells you that you should give up. It is a comedy with a heart.

1. Milo and Otis (1989): Milo (an orange Tabby cat) and Otis (a Pug) begin their adventure floating down a river in a cardboard box. This story follows the escapades of a curious cat and her canine sidekick as they venture across the land. They encounter bears, pigs, deer, owls, raccoons and a number of other animals on their adventures escaping near death many times. This isn’t just a tale about pets, but of friendship and sticking with someone through thick and thin regardless of your differences.