Have you ever had a pet rock? The novelty gift was created by Gary Dahl in 1975 and featured an ordinary rock, packaged and marketed as if it were a real animal to care for (despite not ever needing to feed, walk, or bathe it). If you like the idea of having a âpet rockâ that will live forever, youâll greatly appreciate Japanese artist Akie Nakataâs animal-inspired stone paintings. They are both pet and rock in one.