The set of “General Hospital” is no stranger to four-legged friends. In recent storylines, fans have fallen in love with the mischievous little beagle named Outback. From stirring up trouble on the Quartermaine estate to leading Cody Bell to uncover that Ric Lansing had been held against his will in Alexis Davis’s basement, little Outback continues to leave his mark in Port Charles.
Even more recently, “GH” fans have witnessed Sonny Corinthos’s living room turned into a dog park. This came after Sonny’s grandsons, Rocco Falconeri and Gio Palmieri, along with their friends, rescued a pack of dogs from a secret lab conducting animal testing. Of course, the group decided Grandpa Sonny’s was the place to hide the pack.
While dogs have recently taken center stage in Port Charles, several “General Hospital” actors are devoted dog lovers in real life. Here’s a look at some of the biggest dog lovers among the “GH” cast.
1. Steve Burton
Soap legend and long-time “General Hospital” star Steve Burton began appearing on the show as Jason Quartermaine in 1991. The actor was a steady presence in Port Charles for over two decades, even as his character evolved from a young Jason Q into the fan-favorite “Stone Cold” Jason Morgan. While Burton eventually took a step away from “GH” in 2012, he’s been no stranger to Port Charles, reprising his role from 2017 to 2021 and then again in 2024.
Burton recently announced that he will be taking a brief hiatus from the show to focus on his family, which includes an adorable little pup. Last year, Burton tied the knot with Michelle Lundstrom, known for her appearance on Netflix’s “Barbecue Showdown,” in a romantic ceremony at Laguna Beach. The couple is now working to create a healthy and happy blended family. Burton shares two daughters, Makena and Brooklyn, and one son, Jack, with his ex-wife, Sheree Gustin. Lundstrom also brought two daughters, Lilah and Hannah, into the family from a previous relationship. After exchanging vows, the couple also welcomed a new member into the family, an adorable Toy Australian Shepherd named Wyatt Burton.
2. Rory Gibson
A relatively new face in Port Charles, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos from Chad Duell in May 2025. Prior to playing Michael Corinthos on “GH,” Gibson could be found on the set of “The Young and the Restless.” While in Genoa City, Gibson played the role of Noah Newman, the son of legendary supercouple Nick and Sharon Newman, from 2021 to 2023.
Away from the cameras, Gibson has proven to be one of the biggest dog lovers among the “GH” cast. Gibson and his fiancée, Alicia Ruelas, are proud dog parents to two adorable pit bulls, Cloud and Otis. The couple first met in high school and will celebrate 15 years together in 2026. Sadly, during their relationship, these dog lovers also suffered the heartbreaking loss of two other sweet pups. One of their dogs, Chet, passed away in 2022, shortly before Gibson popped the question to Ruelas in Hawaii. Their other dog, Clementine, passed away from heart disease in 2023. Despite these heartbreaking losses, Gibson continues to prove he is one of Port Charles’s biggest dog lovers, balancing his onscreen duties with life as a devoted dog dad.
3. Laura Wright
Another dog lover and familiar face in Port Charles is Laura Wright. Having portrayed Carly Spencer on “GH” since 2005, Wright is one of the soap’s most recognizable stars. However, Wright’s daytime career stems back even further, having made her debut in 1991 on “Loving,” a former ABC soap that ran from 1983 to 1995. Like many soap stars who spend decades in the industry, Wright’s personal life has become deeply intertwined with her work.
Wright met her longtime partner, Wes Ramsey, early on in her daytime career when they were both starring in the CBS soap “Guiding Light.” However, the couple didn’t officially become a couple until 2017, when they starred together once again on “GH,” with Ramsey portraying the villainous character Peter August. Luckily for Wright, Ramsey seems to be a much better guy off-screen and a dog lover, too. The couple is the happy pet parents of a Goldendoodle named Kimba.
4. Cameron Mathison
Soap legend Cameron Mathison is another soap veteran who doubles as a dog dad. Having previously starred as Ryan Lavery on the former ABC soap “All My Children” for over a decade, Mathison already had a storied soap career before landing in Port Charles in 2021. While Mathison arrived as the hero character, Drew Cain, fans got to see a different side of him as he transformed into a total villain in Port Charles.
While Drew Cain might have turned cold-blooded, Mathison certainly hasn’t. After the death of his beloved dog, Red, in 2024, Mathison decided to open his home to foster dogs. Mathison shared on social media that his first placement was another Doberman named Hunter from the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter. The dog lover that he is, Mathison was excited to have a Doberman around, sharing with fans, “I’m thrilled to have him. I’m thrilled to take him out of that shelter, and we’re going to hang out.”
5. Maurice Benard
The godfather of Port Charles, or should we say dog father? At any rate, Maurice Benard has been a staple on “GH” since his debut as the fan favorite mobster, Sonny Corinthos. Benard joined the soap in 1991 and has been going strong ever since. Just as Grandpa Sonny’s place has proven to be a safe space for dogs in Port Charles, Benard has shown “GH” fans that his home is always open for a new dog, as well.
A well-known animal lover, Benard has opened his heart and his real-life home to many dogs over the years. After losing his beloved dog, Cain, Benard adopted a cute little bulldog named Vito from Roadogs Rescue located in Southern California in 2022.
