People Pets Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating Animals of 2015

This Instagram star's eyes are unlike anything we've ever seen, and her more than 96,000 followers agree. Matilda's social status saw a huge surge in 2015, and the kitty pays it forward by using her account to raise awareness about felines in need. Matilda's stunningly-spacey eyes are the result of spontaneous lens luxation. She will eventually need surgery, but is living a happy, pain-free life at present. 

When an entire species works together amazing things can happen, or, to be more specific, amazing selfies can happen. This small Australian marsupial found itself on the map in 2015 for its love of front-facing cameras. Countless Instagram shots prove this animal isn't afraid to pose for an indulgent tourist photo or two. It's the marsupial of millennials. 

Scaredy-cat she is not. In 2015, Millie proved kitties can learn new tricks too, popping up on her owner Craig Armstrong's Instagram account, climbing mountains, hiking trails and enjoying vistas. As Millie ascends mountaintops, down fall the stereotypes that say felines aren't adventurous or active animals. 

Think of her as the Kim Kardashian of the canine world. This socialite spaniel is a master at selfies and accessorizing, and now she is about to have the dog wedding of 2016. Toast announced her engagement to fellow Instagram star, Finn the Dog, this year, pumping up pooches everywhere for the next well-documented chapter of her life. 

She's a survivor! In May, Caitlyn was found wandering the streets of North Charleston, South Carolina, with her muzzle taped shut. After making her way through surgery and a challenging recovery process, she is back in full health and good spirits, spending her days enjoying her new forever home and helping other victims of animal abuse. 

It's alive! Then he wasn't … then he was again. That is what one Florida cat owner claimed early this year, when her pet crawled out of the grave she put him in five days before. The captivating story earned Bart the nickname “Zombie Cat.” Eventually, it was discovered that Bart was mistakenly buried alive, when his owner assumed he died after an accident and dug the feline's grave without taking Bart to the vet first. 

At six feet tall and almost 200 pounds, you'd think Presley the Great Dane would be fearless, instead he is afraid of everything, especially small dogs, plastic bags and vacuum cleaners. The massive dog's skittish manner has many calling him the “Real Life Scooby Doo.” Just like the cartoon vigilante, Presley adores those he is close to. Once you gain his trust, this gentle giant is ready to shower you in love. 

Right up there with a royal baby birth (in terms of preciousness and Internet freak-out intensity) is the arrival of a new panda cub. The National Zoo welcomed Bei Bei into the world this summer. The black-and-white sweetie has been a media darling ever since, with his every move documented and met with oohs and awwws from the masses. The public will finally get to meet this bear nose-to-nose in January 2016. 

A dog that might just be another smoosh-faced pug to the rest of the world stood out to the People Pets staff this year when he nobly volunteered to be dressed in a series of increasingly silly Halloween costumes. Thank you for your service, Frank. Your act of heroism was not overlooked.