History Main / AbsentAnimalCompanion

* In ''Theatre/TheOddCouple'' TV series episode "The Subway Story", Felix brings home a puppy for Oscar called Yawbus ("subway" spelled backwards). He's never mentioned again. Earlier, Felix's parrot Albert contracted ChuckCunninghamSyndrome after an episode in which he "died."

* In the original ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' OVA, Sasami has a [[https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/amosaic/imgs/4/6/4671386c.jpg cute ferret-like pet]] in her first appearance. It is neither shown nor brought up again, likely because it was functionally replaced with Ryo-Ohki.

* In the original ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' OVA, Sasami has a [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/weaselthing.png cute ferret-like pet]] in her first appearance. It is neither shown nor brought up again, likely because it was functionally replaced with Ryo-Ohki.

Asides the aforementioned syndication issue, there are other reasons why this happens. It may be an issue of [[LawOfConservationOfDetail conserving detail]], and the pet simply isn't shown again because it isn't necessary for the current story. There's also the matter that whenever an animal appears on a TV show, trainers and/or representatives of animal-welfare organizations have to be present, which costs money and resources the production company may not want to spend long-term. There's also the fact that working with various animals has its own unique challenges, such as the fact that some animals simply don't live very long. So it's not altogether surprising that many studios don't want to deal with animals more than is necessary.

* During the Sinnoh arc of the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime, Paul caught a Gliscor at the same time as Ash caught his Gligar. The implication was that Gliscor would become TheRival to Gligar, but Gliscor made only two further appearances (one of those being a cameo) before disappearing with no explanation.

* ''Series/SesameStreet'': In one segment, Ernie brings home a puppy for himself and Bert. The sketch ends with them coming up with names for the dog...maybe that's why they didn't keep it.

* {{Parodied}} in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick:'' Vaarsuvius has a raven {{Familiar}}, but like many D&D characters, kind of forgets that he exists most of the time. As a result, "Blackwing" (named by Hayley, since Vaarsuvius [[NeverGivenAName didn't bother]]) would literally pop into existence when mentioned or needed, but otherwise was nowhere to be found. Vaarsuvius eventually starts treating him better as part of [[AmbiguousGender his/her]] CharacterDevelopment, which means that he's around permanently.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': The early episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E22ABirdInTheHoof A Bird in the Hoof]]" introduces Philomena, Princess Celestia's pet [[ThePhoenix phoenix]]. Philomena plays a major role in the episode, which establishes her as Princess Celestia's longtime and immortal pet, but she is never seen nor mentioned again for the rest of the series, with no explanation given for her absence.

* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'': In "Dog Days", Rodrick and Greg get a fish each. Greg's fish dies, but Rodrick's fish survives, yet still is never seen again.

** Lisa gets a guinea pig in another ''Simpsons'' episode, which serves only as a LeadIn for the main plot, and is not mentioned again after the episode is over.

* In the ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' episode "And the Winner Is...", during a live-by-satellite interview with Earl, Earl reveals that the family now has a dog (in response to Roy's advice that for every question he's unsure of, just say something about children or puppies). It's an especially surprising case since its the one time an actual dog was used (as opposed to having cave people [[AllAnimalsAreDogs acting like dogs]]). Needless to say, this was a one-time gag and the dog never appeared again.

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* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: While Jumpa's long absences are explained by the fact that Diana keeps her on Paradise Island she owns a horse named Serge as Diana Prince who never appears again without explanation after Paula von Gunther's HeelFaceTurn. Jumpa shows up occasionally in later iterations, only to once again go missing without explanation as the comic continues.

* ''Literature/{{Musashi}}'': When we first meet Sasaki Kojirō he has a pet monkey. The monkey then disappears, never to be seen again!

* ''ComicBook/LesLegendaires: Shimy's lion Lionfeu was initially meant the be the TeamPet but the author hated drawing him so he vanished after the second book.

* Among the EarlyInstallmentWeirdness in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'''s pilot episode was the fact that Kramer (or "Kessler" as he's then known) apparently had a dog—called "Ralph" in the script—who [[DropInCharacter dropped into Jerry's apartment]] with the same abandon as his owner.

** Squidward gets a pet racing snail named Snellie in "The Great Snail Race". Once the episode is over, Snellie is never seen again.
** "Plankton's Pet" involves Plankton getting a pet amoeba, Spot, to train to be a guard dog and to steal the Krabby Patty formula. Spot isn't seen again until two seasons later, in the aptly named "Spot Returns" - which is less about him and more about Plankton training his pups to steal the formula. From then on, the trope is {{Subverted}} as Spot has made a few on-and-off appearances since then and can be assumed to still be Plankton's pet.

** [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness In three of the show's early episodes]], Spongebob had a pet scallop which acted as the equivalent to a bird. The rest of the series has Gary as Spongebob's only pet.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': While Jumpa's long absences are explained by the fact that Diana keeps her on Paradise Island she owns a horse named Serge as Diana Prince who never appears again without explanation after Paula von Gunther's HeelFaceTurn.

* In the first episode of ''Series/TheBradyBunch'', the girls have a cat, who is never seen or mentioned again after the first episode.

* In the ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' episode "And the Winner Is...", during a live-by-satellite interview with Earl, Earl reveals that the family now has a dog (in response to Roy's advice that for every question he's unsure of, just say something about children or puppies). It's an especially surprising case since its the one time an actual dog was used (as opposed to having cave people [[AllAnimalsAreDogs acting like dogs]]). Needless to say, this was a one-time gag and the dog never appeared again.

* In the original ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' OVA, Sasami has a cute ferret-like pet in her first appearance. It is neither shown nor brought up again, likely because it was functionally replaced with Ryo-Ohki.