Forget Normalcy, Wacky Pet Names Are Here to Stay!

By VLADIMIR NEGRON

June 17, 2009

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the largest provider of pet health insurance in the U.S., recently analyzed its database of more than 470,000 insured pets in search of the most unusual and unconventional names of 2009. This is the second year VPI has set out for the wackiest names in the United States, an homage to those who take pride in their pets' unconventional names.

Here are their (unscientific) results:

Dogs

1. Doogie Schnauzer
2. Sargent Sausage
3. I am Spaticus
4. Lunchbox
5. Angus Sir Loin
6. Bam-Bam Noodle Butt
7. Mouse Meat
8. Fluffernutter
9. Kanye East
10. Inspector Foo Foo

Cats

1. Snag L. Tooth
2. Clawed
3. Monet
4. Velvet Elvis
5. Eartha Kitty
6. Catzilla
7. Thurston Picklesworth III
8. Yardsale
9. Dishwasher
10. Polly Prisspants

"Nearly every pet owner whose pet made the top 10 reasoned that a distinct name was only appropriate for their distinct pet," Curtis Steinhoff, VPI spokesman, said in a released statement. "Snag L. Tooth, for example, has a noticeable 'snaggle tooth' that juts out even when his mouth is closed, and Lunchbox the English bulldog has the stature of, well, a lunchbox. Whether a name reflected the appearance or quirky personality trait of the pet, each 'Wacky Pet Name' winner certainly earned or lived up to its clever name."

For the full lists of 50 unusual dog and cat names, pictures of pets who made the top 10, and stories on the origin of each unusual name, visit www.wackypetnames.com.