Happy Birthday to Pluto!

When one hears the word "Disney", it's fair to say that famous characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or Winnie the Pooh spring to mind. Although I can't deny my deep connection to these characters from my childhood, it's Pluto, Mickey Mouse's pet dog, that holds a special place in my heart. Besides Pluto's inherent likability and charm, Pluto was the first Disney character that I ever learned about. Watching the show House of Mouse for the first time at the ripe young age of six, I still remember my immediate captivation with Pluto's yellow fur and floppy black ears. I've always been a big dog person myself and whether it's just nostalgia or an internal sense of allegiance to my first Disney character, Pluto encapsulates everything that I love about dogs.

While today is a special day for many guys my age with college football officially in full swing with a slew of big games going on all day, for Disney fans today is truly sacred because it's Pluto's 85th birthday! It's hard to believe that Pluto's character existed for 66 years before I was even born. In many ways, I think that Pluto is a testament to the strength and success of Disney as a corporation inasmuch as his birthday is still relevant and talked about 85 years later. One of Pluto's qualities that makes him one of my favorite character's is that unlike most characters in the Disney universe he can't talk, and instead lets his actions and facial expressions speak for him. In spite of the frequent criticism that Disney receives for some of its more controversial characters, I would go so far as to support the idea that Pluto is the strongest role model of all Disney characters and deserves far more praise than he receives. Happy 85th Birthday Pluto! Here's to another 85, keep on doin' you, bud.