As an animal lover, I understand that pets are important fixtures in people's lives and feel a connection with those furry faces I can recognize on sight. Some pups are known for their famous owners, while others are famous in their own right. From the pup that cheekily said "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" to past presidents and celebrities' furry friends like Socks and Loki, tell me which late pet do you miss most in 2009?

And don't stop voting there — check the rest of my best of 2009 polls!
Source: Getty, Source: Guinness World Records, Source: The Daily Wag, and Source: Karen Tracy of Pazazz Chows
The Results Are In: Celebrity Puppy of the Year
I'd have to call Martha Stewart's new puppy alert this year's version of our current first dog watch! She picked the cutie Chow Chow two weeks ago, and he just squeezed into our top new pet of '08 poll with days to spare. Our pick for puppy of the year is named Ghenghis Khan – at about 9-weeks-old now, I'm betting we'll see much more of the lil guy when he joins his new sisters in 2009.
New Puppy Alert! Martha Stewart Names Ghenghis Khan
Well, we've been waiting for word on which lil Chow Chow Martha Stewart would be adding to her family, and she's finally made her choice! Meet Ghenghis Khan, this adoro grandson of the late Paw Paw. He's just seven weeks old and the only boy in his litter (with two sisters) – I wonder if lil Sharkey and Francesca are ready for him?!
Turns out Martha waited for another litter so those pups we saw her cuddling with before (including a different pup named "Khan") have found other happy homes. Check out another cute shot of this pooch when you read more