V (Taehyung) and his cute dog Yeontan
When Yeontan was first introduced on V's birthday VLive, he received so much attention that he developed a fan base like a K-pop idol in his own right. It is known that Yeontan has undergone several surgeries due to health problems, yet he surprises everyone with his commitment to life and energy. When Taehyung learned that Yeontan had a structural problem in his heart, he shared an emotional message and pulled his fans emotionally with him in this process.
Yeontan is one of the most photographed pets among BTS members and one of the most mentioned pets on the internet. V describes Yeontan as “like my eyes” and says that he often thinks “what would he say to me if he could talk?”
SUGA and His Adoration for Cats
Although SUGA currently has no known pets, there are reports that he has adopted stray cats in the past. Fans have nicknamed him “Min Yoongi Cat” because they think SUGA has a feline personality; this is because he is quiet but alert like a cat. SUGA has expressed his interest in cats in many interviews; he said that he has a special interest in black cats.
“If I could be a cat one day, I would just want to curl up and sleep in the sun,” he said, sincerely expressing his admiration for cats. Fans are making fanart predicting that he will adopt more than one cat in the future and build a quiet life.
Jungkook and Family's Tiny Army Commander: Bam
Jungkook's doberman, Bam, was first seen on BTS's “In The SOOP” and has since become a superstar for fans. Bam is a surprisingly disciplined dog; he listens to Jungkook's commands flawlessly and was seen silently meditating with him in some episodes. Jungkook describes the emotional bond between them, calling Bam “not just my dog, but a friend we grew up with”.
The fact that Bam is especially kind to Jimin and constantly follows him is called “Bam-Jimin bromance” among fans. Despite his large size, Bam has almost never damaged anything in the house; Jungkook has taken a close interest in his education.
RM and Namjoon's Calm Friend: Rapmon
RM's old dog Rapmon (American Eskimo breed) was a frequently mentioned pet in the early years of the band. Rapmon's name was inspired by RM's old stage name “Rap Monster”. RM would often visit Rapmon at his parents' house and would sometimes post pictures of him on social media, commenting that “he's grown up but still looks the same”.
Rapmon's fur was so fluffy that some fans created humorous content claiming that he was a cloud. Fans drew similarities between RM's love of nature and Rapmon's quiet and docile personality.
Jin and Seokjin's “Gourmet” Pet: Jjanggu
Jin's best known pet was a small white Maltese dog named Jjanggu. Jjanggu was best known for being very picky about food; Jin said that Jjanggu would turn up his nose at certain foods and refuse them. In one broadcast, Jin said that Jjanggu would periodically “sulk” not only with him, but also with other family members.
When Jjanggu passed away, Jin did not share this directly, but made emotional references between the lines in his broadcasts and fan letters. Among fans, Jjanggu is still referred to as “Jin's little angel” and occasionally appears in fan drawings.
J-Hope and Mickey: A Small, Bright Source of Joy
J-Hope's dog, Mickey, is a small Shih Tzu and has an energetic and affectionate personality, much like his owner. Mickey was first recognized through his social media posts and became known as “Hobby's heartthrob” among fans. J-Hope says that when he can't take care of Mickey, the dog lives with his family, but he visits him every chance he gets.
Mickey's excited barking and running to the door when he hears J-Hope's voice stands out as a heartwarming detail in several fan videos. Fans often jokingly share that Mickey's ear structure is similar to J-Hope's haircut.
Jimin's Sensitivity Towards Animals
Although Jimin has no known pets, he is known to be extremely soft-hearted and sensitive towards animals. His natural affection and loving bond with Bam in the series “In The SOOP” led to comments on social media that “Jimin = animal magnet”. When Jimin sees a dog, he lowers his voice and starts talking sweetly; this behavior is called “Puppy Voice” among fans.
In one program, he privately supported a fundraiser for the protection of stray animals, but did not announce it in front of the media. Jimin's memory of keeping a bird for a short time as a child, but releasing it back into the wild, is included in fan chat.
Group Moments with Animals
The members of BTS stand out for their spontaneity when they get together with animals; in many programs, their communication with animals has created entertaining moments. In a VLive broadcast, when the members were asked which animal they would want if they built an imaginary zoo, RM said “I would want to talk to a snake”. In Bon Voyage programs, they were often observed feeding stray stray animals and taking a few minutes to stop and care for them.
Some of the members had not been able to keep pets in their childhood, which made the bond with their pets much stronger in adulthood. “If an animal trusts you, that can be more meaningful than any validation from humans,” V said in an interview.
Fan Influence and Cultural Reflections
Birthdays of BTS pets like Yeontan, Bam and Mickey are celebrated on social media with hashtags like #YeontanDay. Some fans express their love for BTS by naming their pets with names like Yeontan, Bam, Rapmon. Illustrations of BTS and their pets drawn by fan artists are frequently used both on social media accounts and in concert fan-projects.
Fans say that Yeontan's little paws or Bam's big eyes inspired the emojis. It is accepted that these emotional ties of BTS have a great impact on the fact that pets have become a part of the idol personality in the K-pop universe.
Emotional Depth: BTS and the Symbolic Meaning of Animal Love
Jin said in a broadcast after the loss of Jjanggu, “To become attached to a living creature is to learn to say goodbye.” RM once stated that he thinks animals lie less than humans, which is part of his nature-centered philosophy. Jungkook revealed his instinct to protect his pet by saying “I want to create a safe world for him” in a video about Bam.
V said about Yeontan, “She is my friend who doesn't talk but understands everything,” taking their relationship far beyond a simple owner-pet relationship. J-Hope said in a broadcast, “When Mickey is at home, I feel like a child, like I have something to protect.”