Casper Inspired Dog Names

Most of us know Casper the Friendly Ghost as a sprawling franchise that has been in existence about as long as anyone can remember. But unlike others of his time and kind, Casper was actually originally designed to be the basis of a children’s storybook. Although there was little interest in the creation of author Seymour Reit and cartoonist Joe Oriolo, the latter was finally able to sell the rights, not to a book publisher, but to Paramount Pictures’ Famous Studios, the film company’s animation department, in 1945. 

Although the first animated version of Casper was different than how he was originally written in the book, audiences quickly began to take notice. And despite being unconventional in ghost terms — that is, not wanting to haunt humans, but rather make friends with them — Casper’s recurring themes were also borderline morbid since most shorts and episodes largely dealt with the themes of life, death and fear, something few cartoons had previously touched on with any regularity, let alone ones geared towards kids.

But within these dark themes, Casper was able to make strong statements while also pulling at the heartstrings of the viewing audience. In the first cartoon to feature Casper, he had to battle trying to make friends while attempting not to scare them off, a narrative that later turned into a theme in no time. 

In the third cartoon to ever feature him, titled “There’s Good Boos Tonight”, Casper finally connected with a canine relative: Ferdie the Fox. Ferdie was one of the very first animals to truly befriend Casper, playing and frolicking with him instead of turning white with fright and fleeing. Unfortunately, for both Ferdie and Casper, their original friendship was short-lived, as Ferdie was quickly chased off and eventually killed by a hunter and his pack of dogs. Soon after, the teary-eyed Casper buried his friend near his own gravestone, but to his delight, found out that Ferdie had become a ghost, reconnecting them once again.

Casper is a popular moniker in the dog world; Casper the friendly dog is one example. Casper, a Great Pyrenees, has 3 legs and despite his condition and a few changes in his forever home status, remains friendly and smiling. A resident of Texas, he is presently in foster care and is recovering from injuries and pain resulting from the unfortunate loss of his leg brace, essential to his wellbeing.

New Hampshire Great Dane, Casper, gets around with the use of a wheelchair that supports his back legs. Even though he weighs 180 pounds, he is very mobile and as light as a ghost thanks to the apparatus that helps him to move.

Casper is also the name of a seeing eye guide dog in the United Kingdom, assisting owner Lorren who chose him as her guide dog upon meeting him. Friendly, intelligent and very giving, Casper is a black Labrador who also embodies the personality of everyone's favorite ghost.