You remember the Flushed Pets, right? That ragtag, slightly terrifying group of abandoned animals living in the sewers of New York City? Most people immediately think of Snowball, the manic bunny voiced by Kevin Hart. But if you look closer at the lore of the 2016 Illumination hit, there is a name that carries a lot of weight for the "Revolution": Secret Life of Pets Ricky.
He isn't just a background character. He is the reason the Flushed Pets exist as a cohesive, albeit vengeful, unit.
Ricky was the original leader. He was the one who scouted the tunnels and recruited the "discards." While Snowball is the face of the franchise now, Ricky is the mythic figure whose absence drives the emotional stakes for the sewer dwellers in the first film. Honestly, his story is surprisingly dark for a PG-rated animated flick about talking dogs and cats.
Who Exactly Was Ricky?
Ricky wasn't a dog or a cat. He was a pig.
Not just any pig, though. He was a massive, scarred, and intimidating hog who had been through the ringer. In the world of The Secret Life of Pets, the Flushed Pets aren't just "homeless." They are survivors of human negligence and cruelty. Ricky represented the peak of that resentment. He was the one who established the initiation rite: the bite of the one-fanged cat.
It’s easy to miss, but the film treats Ricky with a weird level of reverence. When the characters talk about him, it’s in past tense, and it’s usually with a sense of mourning. He’s the fallen general. This gives the Flushed Pets a layer of depth that most animated "villain" groups lack. They aren't just mean; they are grieving.
What Actually Happened to Secret Life of Pets Ricky?
This is where the movie gets heavy. Throughout the first film, there are references to Ricky having "passed on." He didn't just retire to a farm or find a new home. He died.
The specifics are left a bit vague in the theatrical cut, but the implication is clear: life in the sewers is dangerous. Whether it was an illness, an encounter with NYC transit, or just the harsh reality of being an abandoned pig in a concrete jungle, Ricky’s death created a power vacuum.
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Snowball took over, but he’s basically overcompensating. If you watch Snowball’s erratic behavior through the lens of him trying to fill Ricky’s massive shoes, his character makes way more sense. Snowball isn't just a "crazy bunny." He’s a successor trying to maintain the legacy of a leader who was much more physically imposing and probably much more stable than he is.
Why the Fans Are Still Obsessed With Him
It’s the "Bobba Fett" effect.
Sometimes the character with the least amount of screen time becomes the most interesting part of the universe. Because we never see Ricky in his prime, he becomes a legend. Fans have spent years digging through concept art and the Secret Life of Pets comics to find more breadcrumbs.
In the tie-in materials, you get a sense that Ricky was actually quite protective. He wasn't just a warlord. He was a father figure to the weirdos. He took in the tattooed pigs, the crocodiles, and the lizards that nobody else wanted. He gave them a name. He gave them a purpose.
When you see the "RIP Ricky" graffiti in the background of the sewer scenes, it hits different. It’s a tiny detail that makes the world feel lived-in. It suggests that these pets have a history that started long before Max and Duke ever got lost.
The Contrast Between Snowball and Ricky
Snowball is all talk. He’s high-energy, loud, and uses comedy to mask his vulnerability. Ricky, from everything we gather, was the silent type.
- Size: Ricky was huge. A literal pig. Snowball is a tiny rabbit.
- Authority: Ricky’s authority was natural; Snowball has to constantly scream to be heard.
- Legacy: Ricky is remembered for his strength, while Snowball eventually finds his place as a pampered pet again.
That’s the big irony, isn't it? Ricky died a revolutionary. Snowball ended up wearing a superhero costume and living in an apartment. It makes you wonder what Ricky would have thought about the Flushed Pets eventually disbanding and many of them going back to humans.
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The Real-World Inspiration for the Character
Illumination’s writers clearly pulled from the urban legend of "alligators in the sewers." By making the leader a pig—an animal often associated with intelligence but also meat production—they leaned into the idea of an animal that has a legitimate grievance against human society.
A pig like Ricky being "flushed" or discarded is a commentary on how people treat animals as disposable commodities. While the movie is a comedy, the underlying theme of Ricky's life is actually a bit of a tragedy. He was a creature with immense capability who was relegated to the darkness.
How to Find Ricky in the Movie
If you want to spot the references to Secret Life of Pets Ricky yourself, you have to be quick.
- Look at the walls in the "Flushed Pets" headquarters. There is memorial-style art dedicated to him.
- Listen to the way Snowball mentions him during the initiation scene with Max and Duke. The tone shifts just for a second.
- Check out the deleted scenes and concept art galleries on the Blu-ray. There are sketches of Ricky that show just how much more "hardcore" he was supposed to look compared to the final designs of the other pets.
There was even a brief moment where the creators considered a flashback scene showing Ricky’s "final stand," but it was cut for being too dark and slowing down the pacing of the comedy. It’s a shame, honestly. That kind of backstory would have made the stakes feel even higher.
What This Means for the Franchise Going Forward
As the Secret Life of Pets world expands—through sequels, shorts, and theme park attractions—the "legend of Ricky" remains a foundational piece of the world-building. Even if he never appears in a prequel (which fans have been clamoring for), his presence is felt.
He represents the "Secret Life" part of the title that isn't just about what pets do when you're at work, but the secret history of the ones who don't have a home to go back to.
Actions You Can Take Today
If you're a fan of the lore or just curious about how these movies are put together, here is what you should do next:
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Analyze the Character Design
Go back and watch the sewer scenes. Pay attention to the "Tattooed Pig." Many fans mistake him for Ricky, but he is actually a different character who served as Ricky’s right-hand man. Notice the scars and the physical "toughness" of the sewer pets compared to the domestic ones. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling.
Explore the Tie-In Comics
The Secret Life of Pets graphic novels explore some of the side characters in way more detail. If you want to see the "Flushed Pets" before the events of the first movie, that’s where you’ll find the meat of the story.
Consider the Theme of "Abandoned" vs "Lost"
Think about the difference between Max (who is lost) and Ricky (who was abandoned). It changes how you view the "villains" of the story. Understanding Ricky helps you realize that the sewer pets weren't the bad guys—they were the broken guys.
Ultimately, Ricky is a reminder that even in a brightly colored kids' movie, there's usually a deeper, slightly more complex story hiding just beneath the surface—or in this case, just beneath the manhole cover.
Next Steps for Lore Enthusiasts:
- Watch the first film again specifically looking for the "RIP Ricky" Easter eggs.
- Compare the leadership styles of Snowball in the first movie versus the second to see his character arc away from Ricky's shadow.
- Research the "Flushed Pets" concept art to see the original, grittier designs for the sewer underworld.
The story of the Flushed Pets didn't start with a bunny; it started with a pig who decided that being discarded didn't mean being defeated. That's the real legacy of Ricky.