Pound Puppies

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The hip red Pound Puppy with studded collar

Pound Puppies were a fad toy that rose to popularity in 1985. Produced by Tonka (subsequently Mattel), they were a spin-off concept from the popular Cabbage Patch Dolls. The puppies were a variety of plush stuffed dog dolls with floppy ears and droopy eyes. They came in a variety of colors, some with spots. Each one came in a carrying case with adoption papers. Smaller versions were also created (approximately 5 inches (13 cm) long), and a line of cats called Pound Purries was also released. Each authentic puppy had a heart shaped emblem near its tail that sported a "PP" logo with either a dog (Puppies) or cat (Purries) peeking around it. In 1987, Hardee's restaurants also offered a series of Pound Puppies with their Children's Meals.

1 Cartoon series
2 Second Season Relaunch
3 Film
4 External links

[edit] Cartoon series

In 1985, Hanna-Barbera made an animated television special based on the fad. The show that was loosely based on the special was broadcast on ABC between 1986 and 1988, and was paired with Star Fairies. Characters in the cartoon included the Fonzie-styled leader Cooler (Dan Gilvezan), the cheerleader Bright Eyes (Nancy Cartwright), the southern belle Nose Marie (Ruth Buzzi), the goofy inventor aptly named Howler (Robert Morse), and a new character named Whopper (B. J. Ward), who usually lies a lot. The new orange puppy wearing a Hawaiian shirt was created to make the line more "hip."

The puppies are cared for by Holly and have many adventures while watching out for the evil Katrina Stonehart, her daughter Brattina, her pet cat Catgut, and occasionally the ultimate doghater, the horrific Captain Slaughter (Peter Cullen), who only appeared in season one. Katrina and Brattina were constantly planning to tear down the pound where the animals lived while organizing themselves to be adopted out to loving families. Holly is a ward of Katrina Stonehart, but like the puppie's former protector Millicent Trueblood, she possesses the gift of 'puppy power' enabling her to have psychic connection with the dogs.^[1].

[edit] Second Season Relaunch

The second season of Pound Puppies, by then retitled The All New Pound Puppies, made various changes to the show:

Bright Eyes was no longer an adult dog but a young puppy. She is now cared for by Cooler and Nose Marie. Her relationship with Cooler changed from possible girlfriend to that of child/parent.

Nose Marie lost her strapless dress and flirtatious manner with Cooler for a 50's sitcom style mom dress with apron and became a surrogate mother to Whopper, Bright Eyes and the rest of the puppies.