Happy National Pet Day!  Two-thirds of us have at least one pet at home, according to the most recent stats.  Dogs and cats are the most common, followed by fish, birds, rodents, reptiles, and horses.

97% of us think of our fur-babies as “part of the family.”  But we definitely get a little more creative NAMING them than we do with our actual kids.

Nationwide Pet Insurance has an annual contest to find the WACKIEST pet names in America.  Last year’s winners included a dog named “Doc PAWlliday” and a cat named “Spicy Beef PURRito”.

They just announced the finalists for 2024, and voting closes tomorrow.  Here are the top names in the running this year . . .

In the dog category:  Boots with the Fur . . . ChugChug Pickles . . . Lil’ Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies  (???) . . . Lord Waddles . . . Lulu the Conqueror . . . Mr. Pizza Puff . . . Molly from Corporate . . .

. . . Team “The Bandit” Player  (???) . . . a dog they just call “The News” . . . and this is all one name:  One Love Tiny Dancer Princess Margaret Rose Windsor.

The cat nominees are:  Balsamic Vin . . . Car Alarm . . . Itty Bitty Kitty Committee . . . Meownnaise . . . Minerva Meowgonagall . . . Necronomicat . . .

. . . Skullcrusher . . . Steph Purrrry . . . Tony “Scarface” Baloney . . . and Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator.  (???)

They also have a catch-all division for other animals.  Nominees include a tortoise named Midsize Sedan . . . a lizard named Frosted Mini Wheats . . . a guinea pig named Cowpig . . . and an actual pig named Snoop Hoggy Hogg.

You can vote for your favorite at PetInsurance.com/WackyPetNames.  Winners will be announced next Wednesday.

(Nationwide)