For hundreds of years, we have been blaming rats for the Bubonic Plague, the disease that nearly eradicated the human race during the Middle Ages.

Three years ago, Tasuku and his pet French Bulldog, Muu, stole our hearts when images of their love went viral:

As March Madness has shown us, college sports are dominated by animal mascots. Only a few colleges, though, have actual REAL LIVE ANIMALS to drum up school spirit.

Check out these 7 adorable mascots that are excellent at cheering for their favorite teams:

Dennis, a dieting dachshund, recently made headlines after he lost 44 pounds.

Everyone needs a little pick me up now and again, and when a cuddly creature delivers that little push, it feels that much better. Here are our 9 favorite animal affirmations that'll make you feel all warm 'n fuzzy: