Beanz top dog of social media

Move over *Grumpy Cat *, *Boo the Dog *and *Lil Bub *- there's a new pet celebrity set to take social media by storm.

Long-haired chihuahua *Beanz Mills *has become something of an identity around *Perth * and is steadily building up a strong following on Instagram via the handle @vivalabeanz.

The two-year-old pooch, whose owners are PR queen *Melissa Lekias *and famed street artist *Stormie Mills *, has his own designer wardrobe and can even sing Happy Birthday on demand.

Like some of the world's leading pet stars, Beanz is leveraging his popularity and is in talks for several ambassador roles, having enlisted award- winning animal photographer *Alex Cearns * to shoot his first press campaign.

Cearns told _AAA Weekend _she believed the little dog was so popular because people loved to live vicariously through his adventures around Perth.

"He is a nice guy but he also has a little bit of an edge, so he can rock out a bow tie or a funky jacket," she said.

"He has a great lifestyle, so I can understand why people would want to follow along and see what he's up to.

"He would be a great role model and ambassador for dogs. He is a much-loved dog; he has beautiful humans who really care for him."

Cearns, who will soon fly to Laos as part of her conservation work with Free the Bears, added she didn't think the online community's interest in pet celebrities would die down any time soon.

"I think it's a beautiful way for people to share the funny, quirky things that make their pets unique," she said. "I love to see what other people's pets are up to because it reminds me of mine when they are naughty or when they are cute and cheeky."