[3] Pedott first learned about "something called the Chia Pet" being imported from Oaxaca, Mexico, when he attended a housewares show in Chicago in 1977.

[6] They were produced by Pedott's San Francisco-based company, Joseph Enterprises, Inc.,[1] which was purchased by National Entertainment Collectibles Association in 2018.

[1] A range of generic animals has been produced, including a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, and hippopotamus.

Cartoon characters have also been licensed, including Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and SpongeBob.

[4] Additionally, there are Chia Pets depicting real people, including Barack Obama and Bob Ross.