The service that Sebastian reads for Gloria's dog, comes from 'The Passionate Pilgrim' (1599), a collection of poems which is commonly attributed to Shakespeare. It is believed that Shakespeare is only responsible for five of the 21 poems. Sebastian's reading comes from poem XXI, which is not believed to be by Shakespeare.
The name of the animal rescue centre, the Lord Norfolk Rescue Centre, is most likely a reference to the Duke of Norfolk. The Duke of Norfolk is a character in four Shakespearean plays: "Henry VI, Part 3", "Richard III", "Henry VIII", and "Richard II".
Tybalt, the name of the Staffordshire terrier supposedly adopted, is a reference to the character of that name in "Romeo and Juliet".
The title "Outrageous Fortune" comes from Hamlet's soliloquy
Several things and characters are named after faithful advisors to kings in various plays, echoing the faithful nature of dog to man:
- Gonzalo's legal firm Prospero & Brown = Prospero from The Tempest
- Theodore Athenaeus & Tim = Timon of Athens
- Miranda Park = Miranda from The Tempest
Several things and characters are named after faithful advisors to kings in various plays, echoing the faithful nature of dog to man:
- Kent (Gloria's dog) = Earl of Kent in King Lear
- Duke of Norfolk rescue centre = the character in Henry VI pt 3
- Gonzalo in The Tempest
- "A lie, a wicked lie" (Sebastian to Gloria) from Othello
- "Nature turns into revolt when gold becomes her object" (the vet) from Henry IV pt 2
- Gloria pretends to be Vi Bolton = Viola from Twelfth Night
- Rex the dog double = every king in a Shakespeare play
- Sebastian's dog lament is from Shakespeare's poem Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music, VI.
- Thibault the dog = Tybalt from Romeo & Juliet
- "So distribution should undo excess" from King Lear
Mr. Gonzalo works for Prospero and Brown. Gonzalo and Prospero are characters from "The Tempest".