1. Courtney Budzyn - @mrsbudzyn - 487K followers

American pet content creator from Michigan with 487,000 personal Instagram followers. Owner and manager of Tucker Budzyn (@tuckerbudzyn - 4M followers), the world's top-earning dog influencer. Born May 1, 1992. Quit her job as house cleaner in 2020 to manage Tucker full-time with husband Mike Budzyn. Earns approximately $1 million annually through sponsored content - $40,000-$60,000 per YouTube pre-roll ad and $20,000 per Instagram story series. Also manages Todd Budzyn (@toddbudzyn - 465K followers). Known as "Linda" in videos. Created TuckerMoji app with custom emojis. Tucker nominated for American Influencer Awards Pet Influencer of the Year.

2. Leslie Mosier - @lesliemosier - 120K followers

American social media strategist and content creator from Nashville, Tennessee with 120,000 personal Instagram followers. Creator and manager of Doug the Pug (@itsdougthepug - 4M followers). Belmont University graduate (2014) with background in graphic design and music industry marketing. Founded Doug the Pug brand in September 2014, quitting her record label job to manage Doug full-time. New York Times bestselling author of "Doug the Pug: The King of Pop Culture" (2016). Won 2017 Shorty Award for Instagrammer of the Year and two People's Choice Awards (2019, 2020). Founded Doug the Pug Foundation (501c3). Founder of Noni Pup pet products brand. Now runs L. Mosier Creative social media consulting agency. Married to Rob Chianelli. Endometriosis awareness advocate.

3. Courtney Dasher - @tunameltsmyheart - 1.9M followers

American interior designer and pet content creator from Los Angeles, California. Owner and manager of Tuna Melts My Heart (@tunameltsmyheart - 1.9M followers). Adopted Tuna, a Chiweenie with distinctive overbite, from farmers market in LA in December 2010. Created Instagram account in 2011, went viral in 2012 when Instagram featured his photos. Published author of "Tuna Melts My Heart: The Underdog with the Overbite" (2015). Quit interior design career to manage Tuna full-time. Uses platform to raise money for animal rescue groups and promote animal welfare. Creator of famous "Phteven" meme. Merchandise includes T-shirts, mugs, calendars, and tote bags.

4. Brittni and Jeff Vega - @harlowandsage - 1.6M followers

American couple and pet content creators managing Harlow and Sage (@harlowandsage - 2M followers). Originally featured Harlow (Weimaraner) and Sage (miniature Dachshund) until Sage passed in 2013. Now features Indiana, Reese, and Ezra (dogs) plus cats Malcolm and Alba. Based in Park City area. Work with Nuzzles & Co. rescue organization since 2017 as foster family and official photographers. Have fostered over 20 animals. Rescued 100+ animals on single trip to Kayenta, Arizona in May 2018 sponsored by Mark Miller Subaru. Use platform to promote animal adoption and foster care. Merchandise includes pins and apparel sold at harlowandsage.com.

5. Ryan Beauchesne - @ryanbeauchesne - 17K followers

Canadian pet content creator from Ottawa, Ontario. Owner and manager of Crusoe the Dachshund (@crusoe_dachshund - 885K followers). Started Crusoe's social media in 2011. Two-time New York Times bestselling author: "Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund: Adventures of the Wiener Dog Extraordinaire" (2016) and "Crusoe, the Worldly Wiener Dog" (2018). Winner of 2018 People's Choice Award for Animal Star and 2017 Shorty Award for Best Animal Influencer. Over 7 million total followers across platforms. Founder of Doggo Ramps dog ramp brand. Raised over $100,000 for Cornell University Hospital for Animals for clinical research. Also features brother Oakley and female dachshunds Daphne and Delilah in content. Known for elaborate costumes and character skits.

6. Kelly Lund - @sharktoof - Featured with @lokistagram - 622K followers

American outdoor photographer and content creator from Denver, Colorado. Owner and manager of Loki the Wolfdog (@lokistagram - 623K followers, previously 1.8M). Adopted Loki (Husky/Arctic Wolf/Malamute mix) in December 2012 during blizzard. Uses Sony α7R III camera for professional outdoor and adventure photography. Known for breathtaking landscape photography featuring Loki in mountains and forests. Adopted Raven in December 2021 from Los Angeles County pound. Operates Loki the Wolfdog merchandise website with apparel, books, prints, and coffee mugs. Photography featured by Sony Alpha Universe. Promotes outdoor adventure lifestyle and human-animal friendship dynamics.

7. Shinjiro Ono - @marutaro - 2.3M followers

Japanese marketing and semiconductor company professional from Tokyo. Owner and manager of Marutaro (@marutaro - 2M followers), known as "The Smiliest Dog in Japan." Adopted Maru (Shiba Inu) from pet shop in December 2007 after dog sat unsold for over a month. Posted first YouTube video December 2007 titled "My darling pup (Japanese Shiba-dog)." Account gained 2.5 million followers with 80% international audience, 20% Japanese. Named Japan's most influential Instagram star in 2017 by Nikkei Asia. People's Choice Award nominee for Favorite Animal Star. Created merchandise line including mugs, books, keychains, and beer featuring Maru's face. Posts three times daily to engage global audience. Credits Maru for transforming him from shy person to social and outgoing.

8. Lingli Ye (Karen) - Featured on @mayapolarbear - 1.6M followers

German pet content creator based in Germany. Owner and manager of Maya the Samoyed (@mayapolarbear - 2M followers). Launched Maya's Instagram in October 2016 when Maya was born September 21, 2016. Also features Michi, a rescue German Spitz, who is Maya's younger brother. Creates ASMR videos, trick videos, and promotes healthy homemade dog food recipes. Known for creative storytelling where she provides voiceover thoughts for Maya. Account emphasizes educational content about pet nutrition and care. Estimated monthly earnings: $10,600-$14,500 from sponsored content.

9. Cliff Brush Jr. - @cliffthatdude - 133K followers

American pet content creator from Fort Lauderdale, Florida with 133,000 personal Instagram followers. Owner and manager of Brodie That Dood (@brodiethatdood - 1M Instagram followers). Born April 26, 1990 (age 33). University of Central Florida BA graduate and University of Miami MBA graduate. Former accountant/budget analyst for city of Boca Raton who quit in 2021 to manage Brodie full-time after boss gave him an ultimatum. Earns approximately $1.5 million annually - $400,000 from social media platform revenue and $1.1 million from brand partnerships with companies like Celsius, Viacom, and Subaru. Brodie has 15 million total followers across platforms (7.2M TikTok, 5.3M YouTube, 1M Instagram). Also owns Luna, Brodie's mother (Golden Retriever). Brodie is official service dog helping Cliff manage lichen planus autoimmune condition. Founded Floof by Brodie grooming product line. Brodie joined Miami Beach Police Department K-9 unit for charitable events in December 2023.

10. Elias Weiss Friedman - @eliaswf - 37.8K followers

American street photographer and content creator from New York City with 37,000+ personal Instagram followers. Creator and founder of The Dogist (@thedogist - 7.7M followers), photo-documentary series of dogs from around the world. Boston University graduate (CAS'10). Born and raised in Narberth, Pennsylvania. Launched The Dogist in October 2013 after being laid off from corporate brand management job, inspired by The Sartorialist and Humans of New York. Three-time New York Times bestselling author: "The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs" (2015), "The Dogist Puppies" (2017), and "This Dog Will Change Your Life" (2025).

11. Varisiri "Pookie" Methachittiphan - Featured on @nala_cat - 4.4M followers

American entrepreneur and pet influencer manager. Owner of Nala Cat, Guinness World Record holder for most Instagram followers for a cat (4.36M). Adopted Nala from Castaic Animal Shelter in California in 2011 while studying for MBA. Started Nala's Instagram in 2012 to share photos with family in Thailand. Co-founder and CEO of Love, Nala premium cat food company which raised $12 million from investors including Hasbro, Real Ventures, and Seed Camp. Married to Shannon Ellis (met through Nala's bow tie business). Together they have adopted 5 cats and 1 dog. Estimated net worth from Nala's brand: $100 million, making Nala the world's second richest pet.

12. Arvid van Boekel - Featured on @smoothiethecat - 2.2M followers

Dutch photographer and content creator from the Netherlands. Owner and manager of Smoothie the Cat (@smoothiethecat - 2M followers), known as the "Queen of Fluff." Created Smoothie's Instagram in 2015 when she was 1 year old after friends complained about too many cat photos on personal Facebook. Professional-quality photography has earned Smoothie recognition as "World's Most Photogenic Cat" by US Weekly. Featured on Modern Cat magazine cover (2018). Also owns Milkshake, another British Longhair. Account emphasizes aesthetic, magazine-quality photography. Considers managing Smoothie's account a "labour of love" and important part of his life.

13. Amber Chavez and Jon Huang - @manny_the_frenchie - 983K followers

American couple from Chicago, Illinois. Owners and managers of Manny the Frenchie (@manny_the_frenchie - 984K followers, passed June 2023). Created Manny's Instagram in 2012 to share puppy photos with friends. Account went viral when photos of Manny sleeping in sinks gained attention. Amber quit her job to manage Manny full-time approximately 2 years after launch. Author of "Manny the Frenchie's Art of Happiness." Founded Manny and Friends Foundation raising over $200,000 for charities including Special Olympics, UNICEF, and American Cancer Society. Also manage Frank the Frenchie (@frank_the_funnyfrenchie - 423K followers). Combined network reaches over 4 million followers. Named by media as Chicago's most famous social media dog.

14. Jessika Coker - @juniperfoxx - 3.4M followers

American wildlife sanctuary founder and operator. Runs Juniper Wildlife Refuge (@juniperfoxx - 3M followers), licensed non-profit wildlife sanctuary. Adopted Juniper, a North American red fox, in 2015. Provides home for animals unable to return to wild due to human interference or medical disabilities. Manages multiple rescued exotic animals including foxes, possums, sugar gliders, and raccoons. Has 3.9M TikTok followers and 1.3M Facebook followers. Sells original paintings created by raccoons and foxes to fund sanctuary. Operates Patreon subscription platform showing behind-the-scenes sanctuary operations. Based in United States, location kept private for animal safety. Promotes wildlife education and ethical animal rescue.

15. Sam Carrell - Featured on @tinkerbellethedog - 436K+ followers

American actress, dancer, and pet content creator from Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York. Owner and manager of Tinkerbelle The Dog (@tinkerbellethedog - 400K+ Instagram followers) and Belle The Dog. Rescued Tinkerbelle from Long Island shelter in 2012 when she was 9 months old - first pet she ever owned. Discovered by animal talent agent while walking Tinkerbelle on NYC streets.

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