Along with the multitude of artichokes, gelaterias, and bridges in Venice, you can hardly walk two steps without bumping into a Lion...
The winged lion is Venice's symbol or mascot, since the remains of San Marco, the Evangelist, were stolen from a tomb in Alexandria, Egypt, and brought there in 828 AD. Vitorio Capaccio painted this lion in 1516. The lion is usually depicted with its paw on an book inscribed with the Latin motto goes: Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus.Aka: Peace be with you Mark, my evangelist.
Being Mark the patron Saint of Venice.
This lion guards the Accademia bridge...
Another lion protecting the courtyard at La Fenice opera house...
Each of the arcades of Piazza San Marco have different lions heads. Fortunately not all are roaring at once... 
Caffe Florian in San Marco sprinkles lion heads over it's china, napkins, and sugars. I know. I saved the sugar packets... 
If a Venetian house has a door knocker, it's likely to be a lions head... 
You can follow suit and bring home a lion knocker or doorbell... 
Or a winged paper weight. I did not see any Lion masks. Did you? 
For a while Venetians kept live lions in their gardens in the 16th century. For a longer while there were thousands of cats, but they were removed to a shelter on the Lido. This Fu dog (Lion of Buddha) is the most current lion to reside in Venice. 
Venetians had a penchant for Rhinos as well, illustrated in this Pietro Longhi painting. You do still see a few. There was one on my street corner, fortunately in bronze. Donna Leon has yet to take up Venice's lion in her mystery books, but I've only read four... 
The Venetian lion must be a good cell conductor. "Can you hear me now?" This one is lounging in Piazza Mani. BONJOUR LIONS OF VENICE!