Who is Lamb Chop, America's most popular dog toy?

(NewsNation) — Lamb chops aren't just a meaty delicacy in the U.S.; they're also a dog's best friend.

America's most popular dog toy this year has been "Lamb Chop," a small plush lamb that millions of dog owners buy annually.

The squeaky toy got its name from a puppet with curly hair that starred in "The Shari Lewis Show" in the 1960s and again in a 1990s revival in "Lamb Chop's Play-Along" on PBS.

Lamb Chop gained popularity among children decades ago, and now, a new generation of kids — fur babies — have come to love the character.

About 32% of dog owners are millennials, according to the American Pet Products Association, and those people were coming up when Lamb Chop, also affectionately referred to as "Lamby," was on TV.

One of those people is Mia Christopher, 36, who still owns her Lamb Chop dolls from her childhood and threw her three-legged dog Daisy a Lamb Chop-themed birthday party.

“Wait, did I just totally subconsciously throw my inner 6-year-old their dream birthday party?” Christopher told The New York Times. “I’m just someone who loves ephemera and things from my childhood. It’s fun to be able to share that.”

In 2010, pet product company Multipet International Inc. introduced Lamb Chop to the dog toy market, first as a 10-inch toy, and later, a mini and jumbo version stocked store shelves as well.

Many dog owners will buy more than five per year, according to the president of retail at Chewy, an online pet supplies retailer.

“People love me because I make them feel safe, and I remind them of a simpler time in their lives,” said the Lamb Chop puppet, voiced by Mallory Lewis, in an interview with the NYT.

Lewis, who is the daughter of the original voice actress Shari Lewis, said, “It makes people feel good to share me.”