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Superman's dog fuels 513% hike in 'dog adoption' searches — it all started with a real-life 'rescue'

A movie’s influence on a breed's popularity hit its strongest in the 90s but declined thereafter.
PUBLISHED 22 HOURS AGO
(L) Cute and funny dog wearing superhero mask and cape; (R) Couple visiting a shelter dog. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Lakshmi 3; (R) Monkey Business Images)
(L) Cute and funny dog wearing superhero mask and cape; (R) Couple visiting a shelter dog. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Lakshmi 3; (R) Monkey Business Images)

Recently released Superman is caught up in the news again, but this time for an adorable reason. The movie somehow managed to create a domino effect in pop culture, prompting people to adopt dogs. Watching Superman’s dog, Krypto, being an irresistibly sweet trouble for the protagonist, influenced many viewers to reach for Google in search of pet adoption shelters near them. The Woofz, a dog training app, reported a hike of 513% in “dog adoption” searches after the release of the movie.

Dog Standing on its Owner in the Park. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Deklofenak.
Dog wearing a cape alongside his owner. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Deklofenak)

Krypto, who appeared in DC comics, has a generic pedigree. However, in the movie, the dog is of Schnauzer-terrier mix breed. The bittersweet moments between David Corenswet and the foster dog, Krypto, made him America's favorite breed. The dog’s character that appealed to the masses was inspired by the director, James Gunn’s rescue pet, Ozu. Be it the dog’s behavior or the dog’s relationship with Superman, everything was inspired by the real-life dynamics of Ozu and Gunn.

Dog Standing on its Owner in the Park. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Michelangelo Gratton.
Dog standing on its owner in the Park. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Michelangelo Gratton)

The Woofz reported that the search for Schnauzer-terrier mix dogs surged by 299% after the premiere weekend, reflecting Krypto’s popularity among Americans. Plus, “rescue dog adoption near me” also took a jump at 163%, while “adopt a puppy” reached 31%. The statistics highlight the love people share for dogs. The superdog’s ability to torment Superman at first, and then transition into an unflinching support whenever danger appears, fascinated the audience most. This further led to the instant surge in dog adoption shelters.

It is quite amazing that the movie stimulated many to adopt a pet. But it is a responsibility that should come with utter seriousness. Adopting a pet is no funny business. And The Woofz, CEO, agrees. “Adoption is a real commitment. The hype will fade, but your dog will stay, so make sure you’re ready to give them the time, care, and training they need and deserve,” affirmed Natalia Shahmetova. The movie-makers were sure that Krypto’s role would become immensely popular among the viewers. So, 10 days before the release of the film, the production house, Warner Bros., partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to cover the fees of pet adoptions occurring from July 1 to 10. The movie was released on July 11, and in that period, a total of 454 pets were adopted.

According to the study Dog movie stars and dog breed popularity: a case study in media influence on choice, the impact of mass media in popular culture was so intense that the featured breed in the 1993 movie 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,' trended for at least 10 years after its release. The study also found that a movie's impact on breed popularity correlated with the estimated number of viewers. Especially, the number of people watching the movie during its opening weekend was categorically associated with the popularity of the breed. However, the study also stated that a movie’s influence on the breed popularity hit its strongest in the 20th century but declined thereafter. Certainly, Gunn’s Superman is waking up the dying trend, having thousands of people looking to adopt a pet that looks exactly like Krypto.

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