Celebrity kids and their pets

As a pet owner myself, I can tell you having a pet is one of the best things ever for a parent. When you find yourself not feeling the love at home, you can always check in with your "fur baby" for immediate gratification.

In this gallery, you'll get to know some of your favourite celebrity families and their fur babies. Cutest gallery ever!

OK, so maybe this photo isn't the best illustration of my parent-pet philosophy..., but it's awesome. Click on and enjoy!

Let's start with Hugh Jackman and his gorgeous family. They've got a French bulldog named Dali. Look how cute!   Here's what Hugh's wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, told People Magazine about Dali's name:

My son, [Oscar], is an artist, and his favorite artist is Salvador Dalí.... Because of the way [the] mouth curls, he looks like Salvador Dalí with a mustache.... He's got a face only a mother could love.

Awww, we love him!

I just love this photo of Violet Affleck taking the family's Labrador Retriever, Martha Stewart, for a walk (with the nanny) last summer. 

The Garner-Afflecks recently adopted another big pooch — a feisty, adorable German Shepherd.

We don't have the dog's name yet, but we do know he's strong enough to take big Ben Affleck for a walk! Check out all the great pics, HERE (dog lovers and Ben Affleck lovers, you won't regret it).

Charlize Theron has two dogs — a Terrier mutt, Berkley, and a Pit bull, Blue. She recently talked to Ellen Degeneres about how awesome her dogs are with her now-one-year-old baby boy, Jackson (pictured here with Berkley):

People keep saying, "Oh you’re a single mom," and I’m like, "actually I’m not." I got two boys helping me out. It’s incredible. From the moment this baby came into our home, those two dogs have never been more in love. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.

Aww, melt! Check out the Ellen video (with more sweet pics) HERE!

Here's dad of three Matthew McConaughey and his son, Levi, 4.5, walking their adorable new puppy. They reportedly adopted him last August. Isn't he cute?

I can't tell you the name of this dog just yet, but the family has two other dogs, as well: Foxy and BJ.

Last summer, Matthew tweeted a photo of himself posing topless (shocker!) with Foxy. Check it out HERE!

Actress and mom of two, Katherine Heigl, has seven dogs and three cats! From what we can tell, most of the dogs are Schnauzers, and their names are Romeo, Piper, Oscar, Stella, Wheezer, Flora May, and Tambour.

In an interview with Modern Dog Magazine, Katherine shared how having pets prepared her for being a parent. "They taught me about unconditional love," she said, "and helped me learn responsibility and how to care for the ones we love."

Check it out: A huge advocate for neutering, Katherine made this hilarious viral video, "I Hate Balls"; and earlier this month, she wrote this piece for the Huffington Post about her Jason Debus Heigl Foundation and dog adoption.

Here's Orlando Bloom on his way to LA's famous Runyon Canyon for a hike with his son, Flynn Bloom (now two years old), and their beautiful dog, Sidi, last March.

Orlando adopted Sidi while filming the The Kingdom of Heaven (2005), in Africa, as he explained in a video for Men's Health Magazine: "Sadiq" means "friend" in Arabic, and "Sidi" means "lord" in Moroccan.... I rescued this man in Morocco about seven years ago now, and he has been everywhere with me. See Orlando and Sidi in their Men's Health video HERE (so sweet)!

Brace yourselves for something a little sad: Jessica Simpson lost her famous Maltipoo, Daisy, to a coyote, in 2009! Horrible.

But, ready for something happy? Jessica adopted her fiancé Eric Johnson's gorgeous Airedale Terrier, Bentley, in 2011.

She looks totally happy here — walking with her two boys at a park in the Hollywood Hills.

And it looks like Jessica and Eric will be adding another boy to their brood.... Check out their latest baby news HERE!

Here are Maddox, 11, Shiloh, 6.5, and Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 8, in deep conversation while walking their bulldog, Jacques, to the store to pick up snacks (accompanied by a nanny and bodyguard), last March. As they walked and talked, the kids took turns holding the leash. Sweet!

Ever see The Tourist? According to Us Magazine, Angelina Jolie used to bring Jacques along when she was filming the movie in Europe, and her costar Johnny Depp would dog sit! LUCKY DOG. And lucky Johnny — that dog is amazing.

Aww, check out Adam Sandler having lunch with his daughter Sadie, 6, and their bulldog, Babu. The man does love his dogs!

Unfortunately, Adam's famous bulldogs, Matzoball and Meatball, passed away.

Meatball was actually the ring bearer at Adam and Jackie's wedding. He even wore a custom tux and kippah — here's a sweet photo.

According to January Jones, her Yorkiepoo, Max, needs to get a clue when it comes to the paparazzi. Here's what she told W Magazine:

The paparazzi are lining my street, waiting for me to come out of the house. And I’m always doing the same thing: walking the dog. My poor dog is getting to know all the photographers. I say to him, “Why aren’t you barking?! These aren’t your friends."

Somehow, I don't see that fluffly little guy intimidating anybody, anyway. So it's probably for the best.

January's photo'd here walking Max while carrying baby Xander (now 17 months old) in the baby carrier.

Aww, look at the McDermott-Spelling family's pygmy goat! His name is Totes McGoat. Isn't he cute?

In addition to Totes McGoat, they have a pig, Hank, a Silkie bantam chicken, Coco (Chanel), a dog, Mitzi and, reportedly, a corn snake, a bearded dragon and guinea pigs!

Check out this adorable pic of Hank the pig sleeping with Stella and Liam!

Just the other day (January 15), Channing Tatum and his pregnant wife, actress Jenna Dewan, were spotted hiking through Runyon Canyon with their two dogs.

It's no surprise Channing's dogs are beautiful, too.... The big one, Lulu, is a pit bull-Catahoula Cur mix, whom Channing rescued; and the little one is a miniature Japanese Spitz, named Meeka.  Find out who else is among Hollywood's newest dads and dads-to be!

Dad of two Neil Patrick Harris has two dogs. One of them, a rescue dog named Watson, actually met Oprah — look how cute!

Glee's Jane Lynch a has total of three dogs and one cat: Olivia (Lhasa Apso), Georgie (Wheaten Terrier) and Francis Willoughby (an Australian shepherd mix whom they recently adopted) — and Riley, the poor tabby cat!

Jane's photo'd here walking Olivia with her partner, Lara Embry, and their daughter, Hayden.

For mom of two Nicole Richie, staying in shape is a priority. And her beautiful new German Shepherd, Ero, clearly helps her with that. Here they are going for their morning walk, in Hollywood Hills, California.

Nicole recently opened up to Ellen Degeneres about adopting Ero — their "first family pet" — with husband Joel Madden last October:

I actually told Joel I don't want to pick up after anything ever again. I've got my kids, so I'm going to let you do that. It's his dog, but I like to, you know, snuggle. I like to hug him and kiss him.

Mom of three Denise Richards is passionate about dogs and animal rescue. Here she is posing with all her dogs (funny!).

Last November, Denise rescued a black Labrador-mix puppy who was displaced during Hurricane Sandy, and named her "Lily." Here's an irresistible photo of the puppy (oy!).

Sadly, Denise's 13-year-old French bulldog, Hank, died last week. She took to Twitter to announce the news. "Last night we lost our beloved Hank," she tweeted (along with a sad photo). "I will miss him dearly, 13 yrs old ..been there for me thru it all Best [sic]."

Kate Beckinsale, her husband Len Wiseman and their daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, 14, are photo'd here walking their adorable dogs in Will Rogers Park before grocery shopping in Brentwood, California.

The dog Kate's walking is a Maltese-Chihuahua crossbreed named Ingrid. Apparently, Ingrid has quite a fan base....

And here's Britney Spears out on a Starbucks run with her sons, Sean, 7, and Jaden, 6, and their teeny new puppy — a Yorkshire Terrier named Hannah Spears.

Hannah incidentally has her own Twitter account. If you're so inclined (*cough*), you can follow her @hannahspears and see what she's up to.... Here they are again shopping with the at Petco with Hannah (cute puppy!).

This isn't the greatest photo of Halle Berry, I know, but it's all about that adorable long-haired ginger-and-white kitty peeking through his cage door (oy!).

If you look closely (and as other photos reveal), you can see Halle's stifling a smile under that hat — which suggests this follow-up visit to the vet is a positive one. Hope her kitty is OK now that he got some meds. Isn't he handsome?

Gosh, that's a lot of dogs. Awesome!

Here's Alanis Morissette, her husband, Mario Treadway, and their son, Ever (who's now two years old), out walking with their gorgeous dogs, in Brentwood, California.

Desperate Housewives actress and mom of one, Teri Hatcher, has three dogs — two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pip and Klaus (left), and an American Bulldog named Jack.

Last year, Teri threw Us Weekly Magazine a bone about Jack: ''I have been known to refer to my American bulldog, Jack, as my boyfriend.'' Hee! Cute.

Ooops! How'd THAT get there.

Oh, I couldn't resist.... That's my dog, Betty White.

She's a three-year-old Maltese Terrier, and I LOVE HER. I also love my quirky black-and-white tuxedo cat, Minden.

Minden and Betty White don't get along so well. But they're both obsessed with their mama — which is the best.

They don't have their own Twitter accounts. Yet.