6 of the Best Animal Movies to Watch With Your Furry Friend

[Emma Sturgis]

Bring out your hankies for the best animal movies of all time, because you're going to need them. Few films tug at your heart as much as movies with animals.

Lassie Come Home

Lassie Come Home, set in England, is about Joe Carraclough, whose parents are destitute and sell their collie, Lassie, to the Duke of Rudling. Joe is devastated. Lassie doesn't like the Duke and escapes. The Duke gets her back, but his granddaughter, who senses the dog's sadness, helps her escape again. During Lassie's trek back to Joe, she meets kind folks as well as dog catchers. Joe is about to give up ever seeing Lassie again when she arrives back in Yorkshire.

Old Yeller

Struggling financially, father Jim Coates leaves behind wife Katie and sons Travis and Arliss, to go earn money. Travis tries his best to be man of the house. While working the fields in post-Civil-War Texas, he meets "Yeller," a mutt that's been stealing food. Travis hates Yeller, but Arliss and Katie like him. As time passes, Yeller becomes useful by calming the cows and saving the family from a mother bear and feral hogs. When Yeller gets bitten by a rabid wolf and Travis has to put him down, they're heartbroken. Luckily, Yeller sired pups before his demise.

Red Dog Red Dog

A stray, attaches himself to bus driver John Grant. The night after John's engagement party to his love Nancy, he is riding into town on his motorcycle and collides with a kangaroo, killing them both. The town of Dampier prepares for John's funeral, forgetting Red Dog, until days later when they find him still sitting in front of John's house--where John told him to stay. Red Dog traverses Australia looking for his master until he realizes he's gone. Red Dog returns to Nancy. Years later, after Red Dog gets into a lethal fight with a red cat, the townspeople find him lying dead in front of John's grave. They erect a statue to Red Dog in Dampier.

My Dog Skip

Nine-year-old Willie Morris from Yazoo City, Mississippi, gets bullied every single day. His father is a veteran of the Spanish Civil War, and his mother is a housewife. Against her husband's wishes, Willie's mother buys her son a dog named Skip that becomes more than his best friend. Skip changes Willie's life forever, teaching him that the strongest friendships are as precious as life itself.

Beethoven

Beethoven George is a workaholic who doesn't want the mess and hassle of a dog, but gives in to his family. They bring a St. Bernard puppy into their home that barks along to Beethoven's Fifth symphony--so they name him Beethoven. He drools, ruins family BBQs, and is unknowingly victim to an evil veterinarian's plot to perform unethical experiments on animals. Beethoven also helps the kids fight bullies, foils the evil vet's plans, and wins George's love.

Air Bud

High Schooler Josh Framm, depressed after his father's death, moves to Washington State to live with his mother and younger sister. He takes in a stray golden retriever that can play basketball. Josh is the high school basketball team manager. Once dog "Bud" starts to make a name for himself, Josh's life takes a turn for the better. Bud's former owner returns, however, trying to claim his dog. Josh and the citizens of his new town prevail, and Bud will stay with them where he is revered.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. These are family-friendly animal movies with heart and great story lines. You can find great movies like this and more at places like Pristine Sales Enjoy!