If there was an award for 'World's Most Beloved Dog,' it would undoubtedly go to Brian, the Griffins' talking pet dog in the hit show 'Family Guy.'  Plenty of people want the witty canine back on the cartoon series after he's been killed off in the previous episode, according to Metro.

Over 80,000 people have signed the petition made by one Aaron Thompson, an avid fan of the show. Based in Alabama, Thompson launched a petition through change.org, saying that, "Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience. He added a witty and sophisticated element to the show. Family Guy and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show. The writers of family guy didn't just kill off one of their creations; they killed off the dog who has lived in our homes for the last 15 years. They killed the dog we all have come to love. They killed America's dog!" The petition was directed to 'Family Guy' creator Seth McFarlane and Fox Broadcasting Company.

However, The Independent reports that McFarlane and Fox intend to stick with the new development in the Griffin home, especially since they've already  introduced the replacement for Brian, a dog named Vinny described to be 'a pooch with attitude.' Vinny will be voiced by Tony Sirico (The Sopranos).

The show's executive producer Steve Callaghan revealed in an interview that Brian's death was brainstormed by their pool of writers. "This was an idea that got pitched in the writers' room and it sort of caught fire, and we thought it could be a fun way to shake things up," he told E! Online. Callaghan added that the 'Family Guy' creative team 'got very excited about the way this change will affect the family dynamics and the characters,' reports Metro.

When asked if the show's producers were worried about how fans would react, Callaghan said that they were confident Vinny would eventually be accepted by 'Family Guy' fans. He said, "Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough, to know that they can trust us. We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series," according to E!Online.