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Pets are amazing. They not only make people happy, but they also make celebrities and sports stars more relatable. When you see a famous person enjoying time spent with their furry friends, it really brings out a human side in them that is not always seen when they are in the media spotlight.

In Australia, we are no different. We love to see our favourite celebs and sports stars hanging out with their pets, whether it’s taking them for a walk or hanging out with them at home. 

Celebrities can also inspire others to start their own pet journey. Seeing your favourite soap stars, musicians and athletes sharing their pet stories can be the spark many people need to take the first steps toward getting a pet themselves.

Australians love their pets. According to the RSPCA, there are over 29 million pets in Australia with one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world. Approximately 61% of households in Australia own pets with dogs being the most common (40%) followed by cats (27%).

There are lots of celebrities from Australia who are also pet owners and they love to share photos with their pets on their social media accounts. Some of the most famous celebrity pet owners from Australia include:

Ash Barty – Tennis Player

Until her retirement, Ash Barty was ranked as the number one women’s tennis player in the world. She announced her retirement at the age of 25 in March 2022 which was a huge surprise. The three-time Grand Slam winner seemed to be at the top of the sport at the time of her retirement, winning Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2022. 

In her announcement, Barty said, “It’s [retirement] something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

“I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments. Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and me as an athlete when you work so hard your whole life for one goal.

“To be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective. I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it.”

One of the reasons for her retirement might be to spend more time at home with her “wolfpack” – the affectionate name she gives to the five dogs that share the family home along with her partner Garry Kissick.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Barty said, “Dogs provide a beautiful sense of perspective. 

“They don’t care if I won or lost. They love me just the same.”

This is something many of us can relate to. Along with spending more time at home with her partner and their five dogs, Barty is also expecting to spend more time on the golf course, although despite the rumours, she has no intention of taking up the sport professionally. We might also see her in the stands watching her beloved Richmond Tigers AFL team.

Dylan Grimes – Richmond Tigers Footy Player

Talking of Richmond Tigers, another sports star dedicated to his pets is AFL Richmond’s, Dylan Grimes. His best friend is a golden retriever, Gus and when Grimes is not running around the oval, he can be found on his farm tending to livestock including sheep, cows and horses.

Grimes often shares photos of him and Gus working out on the farm and loves nothing better than sharing a sunset shot of him and Gus after a hard day at work.

Gus will have been a great comfort for Grimes this season, with Richmond currently languishing in 10th position in the AFL league ladder and currently ninth favourites with Betway Sports to lift the Grand Final title in September. There is still time for the Tigers to turn things around and if they can make the playoffs, anything can happen. One thing’s for sure, Gus will be there waiting for Grimes win or lose.

Caitlin Bassett – Diamonds Netball Player

Former Australian netball player Caitlin Bassett is well known for her love of pets. Bassett enjoyed a hugely successful career. After making her international debut aged just 20, Bassett cemented her place in Diamonds’ folklore at 23 when she came off the bench in the 2011 Netball World Cup final and sunk the winning goal.

She would go on to further glory with the Diamonds, winning Commonwealth gold in 2014, and another World Cup winners medal in 2015, along with runners-up medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Cups.

Following her retirement from the game in February 2022, she is now spending more time at home and her pets have always been a major part of her life. She has owned dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds, chickens, sheep and horses over the years and has a particularly soft spot for rabbits.

Today, she is the proud fur mother of three rabbits, two dogs and a cat and often shares photos of them all on her social media accounts.

Other famous Aussie pet owners

Other famous Aussie pet owners include:

• Nicole Kidman – dogs and cats
• Liam Hemsworth – dogs
• Sam and Lara Worthington – dogs
• Chris Hemsworth – dog and pig
• Shayna Jack – dogs, cats, parrots, horses and reptiles