NEW YORK (AP) Animal memes can be adorable and funny, and they’re not cute pets.
The Internet is full of them, and now people are finding their way to the zoo, aquarium and aquarium exhibits, too.
The first images of the meme phenomenon came in January after the New York Times reported that animal lovers were trying to recreate their pets in animal memes.
People started posting their pets’ names and photos to social media, and then others started posting animal emojis and GIFs.
The animal memes trend was born out of a desire to show off a pet’s personality and make it feel more human, said Julie Siegel, a spokeswoman for the Animal Care Institute, a nonprofit organization that advocates for animal welfare.
It was an opportunity for pet owners to express their affection and bond with their pets.
People were trying their best to mimic the way their pets behave, and it felt really good, she said.
“It’s a way for pet lovers to have fun with their own animals and make a connection with their pet,” Siegel said.
“The internet was a perfect medium for it.”
The animal emo trend, which was coined by The Guardian in March, is fueled by people’s growing appreciation for animal characters.
It began with the meme “I like dogs” posted on Twitter in May by the cartoon character Tigger, a mix of dogs and puppies.
Then, a video from The Colbert Report showed a cat named Dinky with a cat head on, and more memes followed.
It’s not clear how many people are using animal emos, but it’s likely millions, said Sarah Mowbray, an animal expert at the University of California, Berkeley.
It’s possible people are simply following their own desires, she added.
A pet-friendly pet park is another popular destination for people who want to recreate pets they’ve already had.
The animals at PetSmart, for example, are real.
Some owners also have adopted a pet for themselves and have made a meme of it, Siegel added.
Pet owners are also experimenting with new ways to express affection.
The New York Post reports people are decorating their own dogs and cat houses with animal emblems.