Get to know Iowa’s viral animal stars
Iowa animals have been going viral for over a decade. Here are some of the state’s biggest animal stars.
Going viral is a relatively new phenomenon, at least where the internet is concerned. People, and animals, have been making splashy headlines since the dawn of the printing press, but the unexpected nature of what grabs people’s attention has transformed alongside the ever-changing world of social media. Four Iowa animals have been caught up in this storm between 2013 and today, including two cows and two dogs, who captured the hearts of viewers from around the world.
Whether they’re starring in movies or they’ve gone viral for a fantastic hair day, these animals all have one thing in common: They’ve brought people joy and laughter. And, if you’re anything like me, they’ve also made you shed a few tears over how heartwarming the content is. It’s an experience that feels needed now more than ever, as we all seek out new sources of light amid an increasingly dim landscape. Thankfully for those in Iowa, you don’t have to look that hard to find the light—it’s all around you every single day.
1. Bing the Great Dane
Since “The Friend” came to theaters in March of 2025, Iowa’s Bing the Great Dane has garnered much-deserved media attention. The 145-pound pooch stars alongside Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in the movie, and his famous co-stars toted him along for the ride during a string of press in 2025. Watts brought Bing with her during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” in which the two “sang” together in stilted harmony. He also appeared with Watts when she was a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” during which the actress said that Bing “melts your heart” and spoke highly of her experience working with the Great Dane on the set of “The Friend.”
But how exactly did this lovable animal get his big break in Hollywood? His owner, Bev Klingensmith, told the story in full to Iowa Public Radio in March 2025. She said she was originally contacted by a movie producer in January 2020 who was looking to cast a Harlequin Great Dane in an adaptation of a popular novel. He wanted to stick as closely to the source material as possible, which meant that the dog had to be “intact” to earn the role. She knew that her dog, Bing, fit the bill, but she had hesitations about signing him up for the project. “When I initially received it, I actually deleted it because it just didn’t sound feasible for me and my dog in my life,” she told IPR. “You know, we’re talking about filming in New York and all of these things, and so I was a little hesitant to even picture myself doing anything like that.”
Klingensmith initially decided to work with the Great Dane Club of America instead to try to find a suitable replacement, but after she spoke to the film’s production team more, she thought that this could be a good opportunity for Bing and brought him in to meet everyone. As she recalled later, “I didn’t know it right away, but they told me later that they walked out of meeting us knowing that they found the right dog, which was really cool.” However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted production, which then encountered further delays due to both the actors’ strike and the writers’ strike that followed.
It wasn’t until 2024 that Bing and Klingensmith would finally head to New York City to film “The Friend.” The movie (and Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 book) follows a writer, played by Naomi Watts, who is unexpectedly tasked with taking care of her mentor’s (played by Murray) Great Dane after the friend dies and leaves the dog to her. Heartwarming antics ensue. Due to the fact that Bing’s owner dies in the movie, the Great Dane is meant to appear sad on screen, but Klingensmith assured viewers that, “I know he looks sad in the movie, but he’s not really sad. He’s just doing what he’s asked to.”
2. Eleanor the rescue dog
Bing isn’t the only beloved Iowa dog who has gained virality in recent years. Eleanor, a golden retriever who was rescued from a puppy mill in the state, took TikTok by storm in 2021. After facing a truly heartbreaking situation in her early years, Eleanor was saved by the HavaHeart Rescue in Springfield, Missouri. From there, she was placed with a foster family who posted videos of the sweet dog amid her recovery on the social media platform. The videos gained millions of views over time and helped showcase what happens to dogs when they’re improperly cared for in puppy mills.
Eleanor was eventually adopted by the founder of Bailing Out Benji, Mindi Callison, after being rehabilitated by her foster family. Callison’s organization similarly helps raise awareness about pet stores and puppy mills, and about how both can negatively impact dogs’ health and well-being.
3. Shampooed cows from Lautner Farms
hard to believe it was over 10 years ago that the “fluffy cows” of Lautner Farms went viral for their shampooed hairdos. They first gained media attention in 2013 when a photo of one of the cows after it had undergone a full spa treatment was posted online. The treatment included a shampoo, rinse, deep condition, brushing, and blow-drying from groomer Kirk Stierwalt, which created the adorable fluffy effect.
Speaking with WHO 13 in 2014, Matt Lautner said, “Someone on the internet called them ‘Fluffy Cows’ and it took off!” Another member of the family, Dax Lautner, told the publication that the cows “get better treatment than most people!”
4. Gucci the Cow
Dogs and cows seem to be the two most viral animals in Iowa, and for good reason. Gucci the Cow became a TikTok sensation when his handler, Mason Corkery, posted a video of himself bringing the cow along with him for a trip to Dairy Queen. In the hilarious video, Corkery requests a “pup cup” for Gucci, and the rest, as they say, is history. It racked up over three million views and turned Gucci into a viral star. When asked what prompted him to make the video to begin with, Corkery said, “I don’t know why I do what I do, but it seemed like a good idea.”
That good idea has paid off in spades, as the official Gucci the Cow TikTok account has over 360,000 followers with around 13.8 million likes. You can follow along with Corkery and Gucci’s experiences here.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
