History Main / MoralityPet

* Kimimaro for Juugo.

*** Speaking of C. C., one might say that Lelouch becomes a Morality Pet to her, in that she begins to feel human emotions once again while in his presence, even [[{{Kuudere}} against her own admission sometimes]].

* Tsugumi of ''{{Ever17}}'' was probably coming off a little too strong on the {{jerkass}} and a little weak on the BrokenBird. Plus they needed a way to suddenly make her get along better with Takeshi, so they introduced Chami the Djungarian Hamster. He's named Chami because he's charming.

* When the CreepyTwins [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Hsien-ko and Mei-Ling]] became [[ChineseVampire Jiangshi]], Hsien-ko was transformed into the body while Mei-Ling turned into the soul placed inside the warding talisman on her NiceHat. If the hat ever was taken away and thus the twins were separated, a Hsien-ko without Mei-Ling's calming influence [[FaceHeelTurn would turn straight-up evil.]]

[[folder: Visual Novels]]

* Hibari, Mr. "Don't crowd or [[CatchPhrase I'll bite you to death]]" from ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' has two literal [[Morality Pet Morality Pets]] in the form of his pet bird [[HeadPet Hibird]] and his hedgehog [[CoolPet Roll]], the ''only'' two beings in the entire series he is not violent towards.

** Recent seasons have suggested that the Doctor needs his companions to be this for him. After he loses Rose and Donna initially decides not to go with him, she tells him to find someone because sometimes he "needs someone to stop [him]" from [[KnightTemplar going too far]].
** This doesn't really seem like an issue, given how heroic the Doctor acts, until you see how "[[AGodAmI The Time Lord Victorious]]" [[AntiHero behaves]] [[CharacterDevelopment without them]]

** Its also worth noting that ''The Deadly Assassin'' veered into darker territory with the Fourth Doctor, which took place immediately after the departure of Sarah-Jane Smith and wherein the Doctor had no companion for the duration of the episode.

* Subverted in ''Children of the Night'', a supplement for ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. In it is a character profile of Velya the Vivisectionist, who [[MayflyDecemberRomance fell in love]] with a [[{{Squick}} 10-year old girl]] and made her into a vampire. The source of his infatuation with her was her blatant sociopathy, and willingness to manipulate her family into insanity and murder. [[FromBadToWorse But that's not the worst part]]. Even though she was as evil as they came, Elaine Cassidy wasn't mentally equipped to handle vampiric life beside one of the most cold and calculating inhumans in the world, and quickly went batshit insane. Velya's response to his "wife's" degeneration was to [[BodyHorror graft her body]] [[BodyHorror into his torso]] in order to keep her out of trouble until such time as he could find a cure.

* Arguably, in P.G. Wodehouse's stories, Bertie Wooster plays this role with Jeeves (even though Bertie is nominally the boss). In the one Jeeves novel where Wooster does not appear, Jeeves shows no compunction about taking part in crime, and in the one story Jeeves narrates, he hints that he has had no reservations about serving criminal masters in the past. But while he's with Bertie, his awesome problem-solving abilities are used for good alone.

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** [[spoiler:Lana]] is this for SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor in season four, when he is pretty much already evil... [[VillainWithGoodPublicity not that anyone knows that.]] [[spoiler:But judging by how he is imprisoning meteor freaks in ''Subterranean'', capturing and experimenting on Chloe as no more than a test subject, insisting he has nothing to due with [[TeenTitans Victor's]] mistreatment then immediately going to discuss having Victor's girlfriend kidnapped in order to force him to cooperate, [[MoralEventHorizon he's gone too far.]]]]
** Of course, this lasts until season six where, in order to make her marry him, [[spoiler:[[BabyTrap he drugs her with hormones to make her believe she's pregnant,]] [[KickTheMoralityPet then stops once its done in order to make her think she had a miscarriage.]]]] For a while, Grant Gabriel[[spoiler:/Julian Luthor 3.0]], who Lex personally arranged to become editor of the Daily Planet and regularly invited to his mansion so they could have a brotherly relationship. [[spoiler:Then, when Grant learns that he's really a clone of Lex's dead brother and tries to live his own life and going against Lex's plans, [[KickTheMoralityPet he has him killed in a supposed failed mugging.]]]] Then, prior to both, [[TheHero Clark]] served as one, and we all know how well that goes.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': Gibbs is all about business and tough love with almost everyone, except with Abby, whom he kisses on the cheek and gives hugs, massages and occasional roses, among other things. No, they're not screwing. It's a [[PapaWolf father]][=/=][[DaddysGirl daughter]] relationship. He also acts significantly warmer towards children (stated to be because "when they lie, they don't have the guile to get away with it") and his father.

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
** Dr. Cox and Jordan seem to have a morality pet in their son, Jack and their daughter, Jennifer Dylan. The main character, J.D. might also count as one.
** In a strange way, Dr. Cox is something of a Morality Pet for J.D. Rather than in the traditional sense, J.D.'s interactions with his mentor sometimes force him to really think about whether he's more interested in playing by the rules or saving lives, and which is the "right" choice when the two diverge.
** The Janitor has one in Elliot (or "Blonde Doctor" as he would call her) in the more traditional sense.
* ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'': Takeshi saves a little girl and protects her from monsters in an apparent PetTheDog moment. [[spoiler:It turns into a KickTheDog when Asakura reveals that he cares nothing for her and was just using her as monster bait. Then ''back'' to a PetTheDog when he ends up waiting outside her hospital bedroom to see if she gets better, even after she has no more use to him]].

* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Recent seasons have suggested that the Doctor needs his companions to be this for him. After he loses Rose and Donna initially decides not to go with him, she tells him to find someone because sometimes he "needs someone to stop [him]" from [[KnightTemplar going too far]].
** This doesn't really seem like an issue, given how heroic the Doctor acts, until you see how "[[AGodAmI The Time Lord Victorious]]" [[AntiHero behaves]] [[CharacterDevelopment without them]]
** As SFDebris noted, this was possibly apparent from his earliest appearance in the Classic Series, when the First Doctor was ready to bash an injured man's head in to save his own hide and only stopped by the intervention by the human he'd previously disparaged for being a ''primitive'' in comparison to himself.
** Its also worth noting that ''The Deadly Assassin'' veered into darker territory with the Fourth Doctor, which took place immediately after the departure of Sarah-Jane Smith and wherein the Doctor had no companion for the duration of the episode.
* ''Series/TwentyFour'':
** Renee Walker starts out as this for Jack Bauer...then [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope she cut a guy's thumb off with a jamb saw]].
** Some other characters such as Kim or Chloe can be this on occasion to Jack as well, with Chloe ''especially'' serving as this in the series finale.
** After [[CharacterDevelopment transitioning]] from complete JerkAss to one that still had [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold a good side to him]], Tom Lennox actually managed to be this to Vice President Noah Daniels.
* ''Series/{{MASH}}'':
** Charles' little sister Honoria appears to be one to him. He is a complete pompous {{jerkass}} to everybody else but his love for her inspires him to [[spoiler: stick up for a soldier who stutters. Later, it is revealed Honoria stutters.]] The few times we see him addressing her via tape recording, he speaks in a much gentler, softer voice than to anybody else.
** BJ is frequently this to [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Hawkeye]] as well, in contrast to Trapper who was purely The Foil. This is subverted in a few episodes in that 1) Hawkeye doesn't always listen to him and 2) BJ can be in need of a restraint sometimes himself (such as when Hawkeye has to stop him from punching out a patient in "Rally 'Round the Flagg, Boys" or when BJ has an emotional breakdown in "Period of Adjustment.")
** Also subverted with Margaret and Frank in that, though Margaret is the only person (besides Frank's mother) he is shown to care about, he is just as terrible and nasty with her as he without, though possibly a little saner.
* ''Series/BurnNotice'':
** Michael's mother and to a lesser extent his brother are his morality pets. His mother is a straight example. Nate is more complicated as he is useless and morally dubious but harmless and he frustrates Michael a lot. However the fact that he awakens Michael's BigBrotherInstinct makes him this.
** Michael's more pitiful clients tend to be this for Michael as well.
** Michael is arguably ''Fiona's'' Morality Pet. She would be a lot nastier without him.
* ''Series/{{Glee}}'':
** Sue's [[spoiler:sister]], and Becky Jackson. It's kind played with with Becky, as Sue is about as abusive to Becky as she is to other students, which is kind of the point, a she has Down's Syndrome, and Sue treats her like any other girl her age, likely because of [[spoiler:her sister]]
** Beth, daughter of Quinn and Puck, though she's more Puck's morality pet.
** Brittany, for Santana, showing that the latter is actually capable of a deep interpersonal relationship.
** Rachel for Jesse. He's a dick to pretty much everyone except Rachel.
** A meta example - Ryan Murphy's other shows (''Nip/Tuck'', ''American Horror Story'') are intensely dark and disturbing. If you buy ''Glee'''s hopeful and optimistic message of inclusiveness as sincere, the show itself becomes this.
* ''PowerRangers'': Several villains in have morality pets that show them capable of love and kindness and may even try (intentionally or not) to cause a HeelFaceTurn, but the only one who actually ''succeeded'' was Nadira from Series/PowerRangersTimeForce, daughter of the BigBad, Ransik. He showed during the series that he was willing to put his hatred aside for her happiness, and pulled a HeelFaceTurn entirely when she jumped into the line of fire after twigging onto the CycleOfRevenge.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'':
** Annie for Jeff.
** This is rather ironic as in the first season finale, Jeff ultimately [[spoiler: chooses Annie as a representation of both change and being oneself in comparison to Britta and Slater.]] Quite literally, Annie was [[HannahMontana the best of both worlds]] for Jeff.
** Also Pierce; Pierce has on several occasions noted that Annie is his favourite, and if anyone is likely to provoke a glimpse into his extremely well-buried nice side, it's her. Conversely, Annie will also be the first to defend Pierce to the others.
* ''Series/{{Stargate SG-1}}'': Daniel Jackson and to some extent the whole team for Jack O'Neill. Daniel, enthusiastic, morally upright, slightly gullible civilian, seems to bring out the nobler side of the grouchy, hardened, ex-black ops O'Neill, who can be pretty ruthless when left to his own devices. Though the stances were reversed on one occasion.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': Vir is pretty much [[ByronicHero Londo's]] Morality Pet, especially in seasons 2 and 3 [[spoiler:as Londo becomes more and more tainted by the Shadows.]]
* ''Series/{{Skins}}'': Effy was this for Tony, since his relationship with her was the only sign that he had any empathy at all during the first season. Although, Effy was much more than a Morality Pet and perfectly capable of carrying her own stories, so this example isn't one-dimensional as the trope description might suggest.
* ''Series/{{Jericho}}'': In season 2, [[spoiler:Heather]] is a textbook example of that to Major Beck.
* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'':
** John Watson for Sherlock. Sherlock sees him as a friend; indeed, John is the '''only''' person Sherlock sees as a friend. John's presence humanizes Sherlock somewhat, forcing into question Sherlock's self-diagnosis of "high-functioning sociopath". [[spoiler:When John's life is threatened in 'The Great Game', solving what Moriarty is up to becomes second to making sure John is all right. Moriarty even refers to John as Sherlock's "little pet".]]
** Also, Mrs Hudson - Sherlock may not count her as a friend, per se, but he is openly affectionate with her in a way he never is with anyone who is not John.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Tora Ziyal is this to her Cardassian father, Gul Dukat during seasons 4, 5, and 6. Though since Dukat [[spoiler:goes insane after she is killed and eventually becomes the Bajoran antichrist, this could also be a MoralityChain.]]
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Dean is this for Souless Sam in Season 6.
* ''Series/TheShadowLine'': Has Joseph Bede's Alzheimer's-afflicted wife. It makes it a lot easier to root for a wholesale cocaine dealer knowing that's he's only involved in OneLastJob to pay for her treatment.
* ''Series/{{Rome}}'': Has Eirene, Titus Pullo's vulnerable, doe-eyed slave and later love interest, whom he rescued. Unfortunately, Pullo's a SociopathicHero (though played for drama more than comedy) and his idea of expressing love for her is a little...[[MurderTheHypotenuse warped]].
* ''Series/{{Charmed}}'': Chris is hinted to be this for evil Wyatt.
* ''TheVampireDiaries'':
** Gives evil vampire Klaus one in the form of Caroline.
** Elena is this for Damon. On occasions Stefan, and lately Jeremy fulfill this function but it's really all about Elena. Depending on the viewer's interpretation of Damon, Elena may in fact be his MoralityChain.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Henry is this for Regina/The Evil Queen. In season two, [[spoiler: Belle]] seems to actively be trying to become this for Gold/Rumplestiltskin.
* ''CriminalMinds'': In a very dark example, Ellie Spicer becomes this to Billy Flynn, the most prolific {{serial killer}} and rapist to appear on the show. Killing Ellie's grandparents when her father, Matt, was a child, Billy develops a "grandfather complex" towards Ellie. Killing Matt, Billy kidnaps Ellie and tries to turn her into a protege, treating her as the granddaughter he doesn't have. Sick as it may be, his treatment of Ellie is the only evidence that there might still be something human inside Billy; when the fact that what he's doing to her is bad is pointed out to him, Billy [[spoiler:lets her go, than goes to his [[SuicideByCop suicidal death]].]]
* ''{{Firefly}}'': Not a single member of the crew is too tough to be concerned about [[TheCutie Kaylee]].

* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', [[spoiler:Lana]] is this for SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor in season four, when he is pretty much already evil... [[VillainWithGoodPublicity not that anyone knows that.]] [[spoiler:But judging by how he is imprisoning meteor freaks in ''Subterranean'', capturing and experimenting on Chloe as no more than a test subject, insisting he has nothing to due with [[TeenTitans Victor's]] mistreatment then immediately going to discuss having Victor's girlfriend kidnapped in order to force him to cooperate, [[MoralEventHorizon he's gone too far.]]]]

* On ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', Gibbs is all about business and tough love with almost everyone, except with Abby, whom he kisses on the cheek and gives hugs, massages and occasional roses, among other things. No, they're not screwing. It's a [[PapaWolf father]][=/=][[DaddysGirl daughter]] relationship. He also acts significantly warmer towards children (stated to be because "when they lie, they don't have the guile to get away with it") and his father.
* Dawn and Joyce fill the role for Spike in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Spike values how they treat him. After [[spoiler:Joyce dies]], you can see that, as soulless bloodsuckers go, he's not all bad.

* Dr. Cox and Jordan from ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' seem to have a morality pet in their son, Jack and their daughter, Jennifer Dylan. The main character, J.D. might also count as one.

* In Kamen Rider Ryuki, Takeshi saves a little girl and protects her from monsters in an apparent PetTheDog moment. [[spoiler:It turns into a KickTheDog when Asakura reveals that he cares nothing for her and was just using her as monster bait. Then ''back'' to a PetTheDog when he ends up waiting outside her hospital bedroom to see if she gets better, even after she has no more use to him]].
* In the fourth episode of season 3 of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' [[spoiler:a kid named Noah, who is apparently Sylar's son]] is the most distilled version of the Morality Pet ever seen for [[spoiler:future!Sylar. He claims to have curbed his "[[EvilTastesGood hunger]]" for him. When he dies, Sylar ''explodes''.]]
** Series/{{Heroes}} has quite a few: Nikki has a son that she throws herself into the action for to protect. More significantly, HRG has a surrogate daughter which leads him toward a straighter path than if he didn't have a daughter.

* Kira serves as this for Helena in OrphanBlack. It's implied she plays a similar role for her mother, Sarah.
* Melissa for Faye in ''Series/TheSecretCircle''.

* Arguably Harper and/or Justin, for Alex in ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace''.
* Gabrielle plays this role for Xena in ''XenaWarriorPrincess''.
* Recent seasons of ''Series/DoctorWho'' have suggested that the Doctor needs his companions to be this for him. After he loses Rose and Donna initially decides not to go with him, she tells him to find someone because sometimes he "needs someone to stop [him]" from [[KnightTemplar going too far]].

* Renee Walker starts out as this for Jack Bauer on ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]''... then [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope she cut a guy's thumb off with a jamb saw]].

* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': Charles' little sister Honoria appears to be one to him. He is a complete pompous {{jerkass}} to everybody else but his love for her inspires him to [[spoiler: stick up for a soldier who stutters. Later, it is revealed Honoria stutters.]] The few times we see him addressing her via tape recording, he speaks in a much gentler, softer voice than to anybody else.

* Michael's mother and to a lesser extent his brother in ''Series/BurnNotice'' are his morality pets. His mother is a straight example. Nate is more complicated as he is useless and morally dubious but harmless and he frustrates Michael a lot. However the fact that he awakens Michael's BigBrotherInstinct makes him this.

* Various cases from ''Series/{{Glee}}'':

** A meta example - Ryan Murphy's other shows (Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story) are intensely dark and disturbing. If you buy Glee's hopeful and optimistic message of inclusiveness as sincere, the show itself becomes this.
* Several villains in ''PowerRangers'' have morality pets that show them capable of love and kindness and may even try (intentionally or not) to cause a HeelFaceTurn, but the only one who actually ''succeeded'' was Nadira from Series/PowerRangersTimeForce, daughter of the BigBad, Ransik. He showed during the series that he was willing to put his hatred aside for her happiness, and pulled a HeelFaceTurn entirely when she jumped into the line of fire after twigging onto the CycleOfRevenge.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Annie for Jeff.

* Daniel Jackson and to some extent the whole team for Jack O'Neill on ''[[Series/{{Stargate SG-1}} Stargate SG-1]]''. Daniel, enthusiastic, morally upright, slightly gullible civilian, seems to bring out the nobler side of the grouchy, hardened, ex-black ops O'Neill, who can be pretty ruthless when left to his own devices.
** Though the stances were reversed on one occasion.
* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', Vir is pretty much [[ByronicHero Londo's]] Morality Pet, especially in seasons 2 and 3 [[spoiler:as Londo becomes more and more tainted by the Shadows.]]
* Arguably, Effy was this for Tony in ''Series/{{Skins}}'', since his relationship with her was the only sign that he had any empathy at all during the first season. Although, Effy was much more than a Morality Pet and perfectly capable of carrying her own stories, so this example isn't one-dimensional as the trope description might suggest.
* In ''Series/{{Jericho}}'' season 2, [[spoiler:Heather]] is a texbook example of that to Major Beck.
* John Watson for Sherlock in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''. Sherlock sees him as a friend; indeed, John is the '''only''' person Sherlock sees as a friend. John's presence humanizes Sherlock somewhat, forcing into question Sherlock's self-diagnosis of "high-functioning sociopath". [[spoiler:When John's life is threatened in 'The Great Game', solving what Moriarty is up to becomes second to making sure John is all right. Moriarty even refers to John as Sherlock's "little pet".]]
** Also Mrs Hudson - Sherlock may not count her as a friend, per se, but he is openly affectionate with her in a way he never is with anyone who is not John.
* Tora Ziyal is this to her Cardassian father, Gul Dukat during seasons 4, 5, and 6 of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''.
** Though since Dukat [[spoiler:goes insane after she is killed and eventually becomes the Bajoran antichrist, this could also be a MoralityChain.]]

* ''Series/TheShadowLine'' has Joseph Bede's Alzheimer's-afflicted wife. It makes it a lot easier to root for a wholesale cocaine dealer knowing that's he's only involved in OneLastJob to pay for her treatment.
* ''Series/{{Rome}}'' has Eirene, Titus Pullo's vulnerable, doe-eyed slave and later love interest, whom he rescued. Unfortunately, Pullo's a SociopathicHero(though played for drama more than comedy) and his idea of expressing love for her is a little. . .[[MurderTheHypotenuse warped]].
* In ''Series/{{Charmed}}'', Chris is hinted to be this for evil Wyatt
* ''TheVampireDiaries'' gives evil vampire Klaus one in the form of Caroline.

* Not a single member of the ''{{Firefly}}'' crew is too tough to be concerned about [[TheCutie Kaylee]].

* ''FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'': Mr. Herriman has Madame Foster, his creation, he's normally no nonsense and uptight with pretty much everyone else in the house, including her granddaughter Frankie, but he truly loves Madame Foster (especially when you consider she never abandoned him after she grew up). He's even willing to perform the incredibly embarassing "Funny Bunny" song for her.

Not to be confused with a magic-user's {{familiar}}, the creature type of which often reveals the kind of person who owns it, though if the magic-user is fond of the familiar and treats it well, it could very well be a MoralityPet.

** Prior to, and unbeknownst to anyone else, the Beemahs were sort of the MoralityPet the Klegs wished they had-the meeting between the Beemah and the Kleg ambassador is kind of a [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Crowning Moment Of Heartwarming]], as the usually rude and self-serving Klegdixal pours his heart out with gratitude to Buck for reuniting the two species, as the Klegs had apparently been the original creators of the Beemahs and their one selfless urge as a species was to fix all the things that had gone wrong in the process (many of them flaws which are used to exploit the Beemahs by another party).

This also makes for a convenient excuse to help the heroes if needed; an ex-villain can simply claim to have his own '[[IWasJustPassingThrough selfish reasons]]' and save face. Anyone messing with the MoralityPet can expect a full-on MamaBear or PapaWolf response from the ex-villain or antihero in question.

If the MoralityPet dies or disappears and this causes the villain/anti-hero to revert back to his or her old ways, the Morality Pet was acting more like a MoralityChain.

** [[spoiler:Mrs. Bradley]] serves as a MoralityPet for both [[spoiler:Wrath and Pride]]. Fitting, considering [[spoiler:they're pretending to be her husband and son, respectively.]]

** In the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist first anime]] Bradley's pet was his son, Selim. Until he appeared he gave off an ambigious air after [[spoiler:how easily he killed Marta and his reveal as being an homunculus.]] Selim showed off he had a nice side too. [[spoiler:Or really how great he is with facades. He ends up [[WouldHurtAChild killing]] his MoralityPet before he himself dies]]

** Not to mention Gatomon with a MoralityPet Wizardmon in the original.
*** And Gatomon's eventual partner replaced that wizard [[spoiler: when the poor wizard kicked the bucket]]. Kari being a MoralityPet to something normally considered a pet?

** Euphemia is also the MoralityPet of her older sister Cornelia; Cornelia's doting on her younger sister is her main point of humanization.

*** Speaking of C. C., one might say that Lelouch becomes a MoralityPet to her, in that she begins to feel human emotions once again while in his presence, even [[{{Kuudere}} against her own admission sometimes]].

* Alyssa Searrs is Miyu's MoralityPet in ''{{Mai-HiME}}''. When Alyssa is introduced in episode 9, Miyu (who is the daughter/[[RobotGirl creation]] of [[spoiler:Father Joseph, a priest at the school's chapel]]) is actually seen ''crying'', genuinely moved by her young {{protectorate}}'s singing abilities.

** Also [[PlayingWithATrope played with]] in that the CrapsackWorld and '''multiple''' cases of ShootTheShaggyDog are finally beginning to [[BreakTheCutie take their toll on Rock's psyche]], and Revy seems to be in denial about the fact that her MoralityPet might not be so moral anymore.
** Garcia Lovelace is [[RetiredBadass Roberta's]] MoralityPet. Around him she acts like a nice {{Meido}}. When he's not around her, [[ImplacableMan she tends to go crazy.]] .

* [[GentleGiant Kurita]] could be considered [[MagnificentBastard Hiruma's]] (enormous) morality pet in ''{{Eyeshield 21}}''. Sure, Hiruma inflicts his over-the-top violence on Kurita just as much as anyone else, but the choices he made because of Kurita really show the "heroic" aspect of his sociopathy. Interestingly, Hiruma's ''actual'' pet, Cerberus, is, um. Not a MoralityPet.

* In ''{{Noein}}'', cute little Miho serves as JerkAss villain Atori's MoralityPet. He was initially introduced as a PsychoForHire villain but eventually gets bumped on the head and loses his memory as well as his JerkAss nature. He grew a fondness for her during this time, but after his memory (and true nature) returns and he starts being a jerk ass villain again, Miho is still able to bring back the dormant good and kindness in Atori, which eventually leads to his [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]].

* Hibari, Mr. "Don't crowd or [[CatchPhrase I'll bite you to death]]" from ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' has two literal [[MoralityPet Morality Pets]] in the form of his pet bird [[HeadPet Hibird]] and his hedgehog [[CoolPet Roll]], the ''only'' two beings in the entire series he is not violent towards.

*** Oddly enough, X-23 often acts as a MoralityPet for [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Emma Frost]]. And has a MoralityPet of her own in the form of Hellion. And now she's acting as a morality pet for Gambit.

* In ''TreasurePlanet'', Long John Silver has a literal MoralityPet called Morph, a cute bloblike alien that apparently represents his conscience. One could argue Jim Hawkins himself is another MoralityPet for Silver.

* Chewbacca is pretty much Han Solo's MoralityPet. If he weren't so good at guilting his buddy, the ''StarWars'' trilogy would have been over after one movie.
* In ''RepoTheGeneticOpera'', Marni acted as this for Nathan. When she died, the role was fortunately taken over by Shilo, who in turn became Nathan's MoralityChain.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels by Creator/TerryPratchett, Captain Carrot's first appearance (in ''Guards! Guards!'') would count as being a MoralityPet for the Night Watch--he is everything they are not and, in many ways, are supposed to be. Even his naivete serves him well, in Ankh-Morpork of all cities.
** Similarly, Lord Vetinari might be said to have a group of {{Morality Pet}}s in the forms of his favorite catspaws: Vimes, von Lipwig, etc. A more literal MoralityPet might be the Patrician's [[spoiler:since ''Making Money'', late]] wire-hair terrier Wuffles, rumored to be the only living thing he cares for, and [[spoiler:whose grave he still visits regularly]]. A more metaphorical MoralityPet might be the city itself, which he treats with care and even affection, striving to improve it, to expand its influence and power, to modernize it--but always, and most importantly, to keep it running.

* In {{Smallville}}, [[spoiler:Lana]] is this for LexLuthor in season four, when he is pretty much already evil... [[VillainWithGoodPublicity not that anyone knows that.]] [[spoiler:But judging by how he is imprisoning meteor freaks in ''Subterranean'', capturing and experimenting on Chloe as no more than a test subject, insisting he has nothing to due with [[TeenTitans Victor's]] mistreatment then immediately going to discuss having Victor's girlfriend kidnapped in order to force him to cooperate, [[MoralEventHorizon he's gone too far.]]]]

* On ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', Gibbs is all about business and tough love with almost everyone, except with Abby, whom he kisses on the cheek and gives hugs, massages and occasional roses, among other things. No, they're not screwing. It's a [[PapaWolf father]] / [[DaddysGirl daughter]] relationship. He also acts significantly warmer towards children (stated to be because "when they lie, they don't have the guile to get away with it") and his father.

** In a strange way, Dr. Cox is something of a MoralityPet for J.D. Rather than in the traditional sense, J.D.'s interactions with his mentor sometimes force him to really think about whether he's more interested in playing by the rules or saving lives, and which is the "right" choice when the two diverge.

* In the fourth episode of season 3 of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' [[spoiler:a kid named Noah, who is apparently Sylar's son]] is the most distilled version of the MoralityPet ever seen for [[spoiler:future!Sylar. He claims to have curbed his "[[EvilTastesGood hunger]]" for him. When he dies, Sylar ''explodes''.]]

** ''Heroes'' writers apparently believe Sylar is in desperate need of a MoralityPet. At the end of Season 4, [[spoiler:Peter arguably applies, when he and Sylar are trapped together in the episode, 'the Wall']], although it could be argued that [[spoiler:Peter wasn't the impetus for Sylar's change of heart; Sylar's reformation was already underway.]] Too bad, but I think I see some BadassDecay in Sylar's future.

** Michael is arguably ''Fiona's'' MoralityPet. She would be a lot nastier without him.
* Various cases from ''{{Glee}}'':

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', Vir is pretty much [[ByronicHero Londo's]] MoralityPet, especially in seasons 2 and 3 [[spoiler:as Londo becomes more and more tainted by the Shadows.]]
* Arguably, Effy was this for Tony in ''Series/{{Skins}}'', since his relationship with her was the only sign that he had any empathy at all during the first season. Although, Effy was much more than a MoralityPet and perfectly capable of carrying her own stories, so this example isn't one-dimensional as the trope description might suggest.

* In the HGame ''IdolsGalore'', the protagonist would otherwise be a JerkAss at best, if it wasn't revealed that it's mostly a JerkassFacade (albeit to hide his very reluctant good qualities). In fact, if he gets the ending with his MoralityPet, its revealed he's actually a fairly decent and even noble person who was hiding under several layers of asshole because he didn't want his inner decency to show.

* In the later missions of ''StarCraft'', Jim Raynor might be seen as the MoralityPet for Tassadar and the other Aiur-dwelling Protoss.

* Subverted in ''BaldursGate II'': Irenicus ''tries'' to use his old lover as a MoralityPet, but since he's been exiled and stripped of emotional response (aside from thundering rages), every attempt he makes ends up being both misguided and just plain creepy.

* In most single-player video- or computer-game [=RPGs=], [=NPC=] party members aren't so much MoralityPet as they are MoralityCompass - good characters will approve of good actions and deride evil ones, and vice-versa - but the fact that, for example, the option remains for the PlayerCharacter's old friend from childhood to still be treated like a favorite sister even after they've taken down a kidnapping ring and set themselves up in its place probably makes many players feel warm and fuzzy inside.

* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Fire Emblem: Sword of Flame]]'', Nino is Jaffar's MoralityPet, changing him from a soulless Angel of Death to someone with actual feelings.

** Cloud ''himself'' is a MoralityPet for the majority of the cast, [[spoiler: since he's gone through so much and keeps the cast going even when things seem hopeless.]]

* Fanon likes to make [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Adrian Andrews]] into a MoralityPet for Franziska Von Karma. In the actual games, she does latch onto Von Karma because of her dependency issues, but the main reason Von Karma is any nicer to Andrews than she is to anyone else is that at this point in continuity, she's still dedicated to her win records and knows that this is the best way to get Andrews to work with her in court. Later on, when Von Karma is less of a royal bitch and doesn't need a MoralityPet so much, Andrews is learning to stand on her own, without the aid of the strong mentor figures she relied on.
** To some extent [[spoiler: Trucy]] acts as a sort of MoralityPet for [[spoiler: Phoenix]] after he is [[spoiler: disbarred]], ''and'' as we see that he becomes totally BadAss after being [[spoiler: disbarred]], if he hadn't had a MoralityPet...
** [[spoiler: Mia]] and later [[spoiler: Maya]] as a MoralityPet for [[spoiler: Godot]]. It's his prime motivation for why [[spoiler: he killed Elise Deauxnim, who had the spirit of Dahlia Hawthorne inhabiting her body.]] [[spoiler: Maya even tries to take the heat for him.]]

*** Cyrus raising a Crobat is pretty much the ''exact opposite'' of his StrawNihilist philosophies, emphasizing its MoralityPet status due to the hypocrisy.

* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', [[LadyOfWar Tsubaki Yayoi]] is the MoralityPet of both Jin Kisaragi and Haku-men. The former is an AxCrazy {{Yandere}} {{Jerkass}} with [[AnIcePerson ice powers]], and the latter is a vaguely [[KnightTemplar Knight Templar-ish]] HeroAntagonist who ''exemplifies'' GoodIsNotNice. However, both of them are extremely warm and friendly to her, and woe betide the man who [[BerserkButton harms her in any way]], for ''[[ImplacableMan they will hunt him down]]''.

** Prior to, and unbeknownst to anyone else, the Beemahs were sort of the MoralityPet the Klegs wished they had-the meeting between the Beemah and the Kleg ambassador is kind of a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, as the usually rude and self-serving Klegdixal pours his heart out with gratitude to Buck for reuniting the two species, as the Klegs had apparently been the original creators of the Beemahs and their one selfless urge as a species was to fix all the things that had gone wrong in the process (many of them flaws which are used to exploit the Beemahs by another party).

* [[TheHeart Noodle]] is the MoralityPet to [[{{Gorillaz}} her band]], most prominently [[JerkAss Murdoc]].

* {{Wolverine}} has had a number of unofficial "sidekicks" used to balance out his ferocity and vaguely thuggish appearance. The tendency of them being young girls in most media -- Jubilee, Kitty Pryde, a younger version of Rogue -- is almost [[MemeticMutation a cliche]], possibly [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in his humorous short alliance with ''PowerPack'''s ''five-year-old'' Katie Power. And when [[{{Runaways}} Molly Hayes]] visited ComicBook/XMen Headquarters, guess who ended up babysitting her?

* Alfred, Robin and the rest of the "Bat Family" function as Comicbook/{{Batman}}'s ties to family and sanity. It's worth pointing that their ideas of sanity and/or morality doesn't necessarily fit with the rest of the world's, the Batfamily being [[DysfunctionJunction what it is]].

** Vegeta's family forms this for Vegeta later in the series. Ironically, [[GenreSavvy he is aware of this (and not pleased with it)]], and has to resort to magical brainwashing to perform a real FaceHeelTurn and [[LonersAreEvil become more powerful]]. Luckily, his love is strong enough that the change doesn't stick. [[spoiler:He also seems to get hit with RedemptionEqualsDeath.]]

* It didn't last long, and she didn't make him turn good or consider turning good, but the appearance of Loki's mortal daughter Tess Black in the Spider-Man comic "The Coming of Chaos" made the God of Mischief look less like a MagnificentBastard.

* Yubaba's son Buu plays this role in ''SpiritedAway'', being the only person she cares more for than money. In fact, when Haku implied that he had taken Buu away (when he didn't), she went full MamaBear on him to find out where her baby was.
** Chihiro is this herself, able to bring the best out of the grumpy Lin and Kamaji and the cold Haku and geniunely befriends No-Face.

* ''Manga/DragonBall'' 's straight application of this trope would have to be Piccolo and Gohan. While Goku's influence means Piccolo is no longer evil, essentially adopting and training Gohan made him proactively ''heroic''. [[spoiler:He is then promptly hit with RedemptionEqualsDeath, though not permanently.]]

[[folder:Film]]

* [[StarWars Chewbacca]] is pretty much Han Solo's MoralityPet. If he weren't so good at guilting his buddy, the ''StarWars'' trilogy would have been over after one movie.

* In ''TreasurePlanet'', Long John Silver has a literal MoralityPet called Morph, a cute bloblike alien that apparently represents his conscience. One could argue Jim Hawkins himself is another MoralityPet for Silver.

* ''{{Jimmy Two-Shoes}}'' is this to [[EnfantTerrible Heloise]] since she's in love with him, but not even he's safe from her anger and wrath.

* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': Boo for Sulley.
** Not that Sulley was in any way villainous before he met her, but her reaction to him roaring ''does'' [[HeelRealization clue him in]] on how traumatic his job can be for the kids he scares.

* Harry to Norman Osborn in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}'' animated series. Unlike other adaptations, Norman Osborn does seem to care for his son and he shows genuine concern when he hears the Frightful Four are attacking his son's school. He's is still strict with Harry though.
* In ''{{Tangled}}'', Rapunzel becomes this for Flynn Rider. While he's not an evil guy, he still starts off showing very little concern for his cohorts (he abandons his previous two partners in crime to be arrested and, likely, executed). When he ends up dragging Rapunzel into dangerous situations though, he does whatever he can to take care of her, and ends up falling in love [[spoiler:and dying to set her free from Mother Gothel.]]

One way to handle this is to present another character to [[FriendlessBackground befriend them.]] Ideally, this should be someone who could pose no threat or even be demanding, and depending on how the plot goes, the recovering villain becomes fond of this other character and may [[LivingEmotionalCrutch draw stability from their presence]]. The Morality Pet may even be somewhat pathetic (and will be told so), but has often gone through some anguish to which the recovering villain can relate secretly, or reminds the villain of someone he lost long ago. They're usually upbeat, though they might go a little [[TastesLikeDiabetes overboard sometimes.]]