Animals, particularly pets, consistently capture attention across social media platforms.
The rise of the “petfluencer,” an animal with significant online popularity, has led brands to collaborate with these creatures to promote products.
George Cowboy, a A small breed of dog that originally came from China. It was once known as the Lhasa Lion dog., has gained prominence due to his striking resemblance to Chewbacca from the Star Wars film series. His verified Instagram account, @georgiecowboy, boasts over 200,000 followers, and his TikTok videos have garnered more than 40 million likes. Many users have commented on the uncanny similarity between George and “Chewie.”
George is not alone in capturing attention for his resemblance to a celebrity figure. In 2023, a kitten in Ohio, USA, went viral for its likeness to singer Ed Sheeran, accumulating nearly 33 million views on TikTok.
George’s case exemplifies how resembling a popular character can attract attention, leading to features on official Instagram accounts and subsequent shares by Star Wars enthusiasts, shih-tzu owners, and others. These shares contribute to a post’s virality.
Regardless of whether it’s a dog, cat, budgie, or tarantula, pet owners often enjoy viewing content featuring similar animals online.
Nala, a cat based in New York with over 4 million Instagram followers on the @nala_cat account, stands as a prime example. Nala has reportedly earned over £80 million from advertising various products, demonstrating the power of animal-related content to influence consumer behavior.
A 2025 study led by Professor Ghalia Shamayleh from Essec Business School in France, suggests that sharing images of cute animals is a form of “pebbling,” akin to penguins offering pebbles to potential mates as a sign of affection. Prof Shamayleh explained to BBC Science Focus magazine, “Our research observes a similar behaviour in humans interacting on social media.”
She further elaborated, “We share them with our loved ones as a token of affection, to reinforce our relationships.” Researchers consider animal posts to be a prime example of “pebbles.”
Additional research indicates that videos eliciting strong emotions, such as joy, are twice as likely to be shared on social media. The sight of George Cowboy as Chewbacca could readily evoke feelings of joy in dog lovers and Star Wars fans, prompting them to share the content.
The broad appeal of the Star Wars franchise and the universal fondness for dogs create a sense of connection, making such content highly shareable. Moreover, the ease of sharing content on social media platforms, coupled with popular or trending hashtags, can rapidly expand its reach, contributing to the millions of likes garnered by George and his fellow “petfluencers.”
With the increasing sophistication of AI, there are concerns about the emergence of AI-generated animal videos that appear authentic. Wildlife TV presenter Steve Backshall has cautioned against these videos, as they may depict animals engaging in atypical behaviors, potentially impacting conservation efforts.
Steve offered guidance on how to identify AI-generated animal videos and voiced his concerns in a video for Other Side of the Story.
While images and videos of animals like George can be delightful, it’s important to be aware that viral posts can also spread misinformation. Such posts are often created by individuals seeking to disseminate false information, which can be unwittingly shared by those who believe it to be true.
This article was published in April 2026
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