When looking at all of the Disney dads, there are plenty who get tons of love and are praised for being a dad. However, there is one category people tend to overlook and that's all the different dog dads from Disney.
In honor of Father's Day, I'm showing love to one of my favorites which is Pongo from 101 Dalmatians who is such an amazing father. Of course, there are plenty of different shows and movies you could have seen him in but we're focusing on the classic 1961 film.
Before getting into his role as a dad, let's just appreciate a dog who knows what he wants. He sees Perdita and immediately knows that he wants to be with her. He doesn't waste any time, alerting Roger and letting him know that it's time to go. Thankfully, Pongo was a little matchmaker and got himself and Roger a girl.
From there, things are blissful and in the honeymoon phase for a while but then the two end up having puppies. Things were already stressful for Perdita but Pongo makes sure to go comfort her and check on her when he can. Additionally, he's there when one of the pups doesn't seem like it's going to make it, with some assistance from Roger.
Pongo is such an underrated Disney dad.
When thinking of Pongo, though, the main things that come to mind are just how much he's willing to do to get his puppies back. It's clear he loves them and wants them to be safe, including heading to Cruella De Vil's house, making sure they all get out and that all of the rest of the dalmatian puppies are taken care of too. It's not an easy task especially with the Twilight Bark and all the different animals they have to coordinate with.
The scene that stands out most to me is when the family is walking in the snow and cold together with Pongo having to carry them and making sure their tracks are covered up. Once again, that's not an easy task for him or Perdita. Even so, he does what he can to help his puppies and ensure all of the puppies are safe. Additionally, having them roll around in the soot to make sure they're not seen is a great idea.
While he might not be the first Disney dad to come to mind, Pongo clearly loves his puppies and his wife very much. Plus, I don't know anyone who would go to the lengths he did to get his puppies back. It also helps that Roger is such a great pet parent to him, so it feels only natural. Pongo is truly one of the best Disney dads out there, dog or otherwise.