Superman’s Dog Sparks a Surge in Adoptions—Animal Shelters Are Worried

From Blockbuster to Shelter Rush

Released on July 11, James Gunn’s new Superman film introduced the world to Krypto, Superman’s four-legged companion. Inspired by Gunn’s real-life pet and brought to life entirely through CGI, Krypto has captured hearts—and sparked a worrying trend.

Google searches like “adopt a dog near me” skyrocketed by +513% in the U.S. following the film’s premiere, according to dog training app Woofz. Searches for specific breeds like “adopt a schnauzer” rose by 299%, as viewers searched for dogs resembling Krypto—a mix of schnauzer and terrier.

But Krypto isn’t real. And that’s exactly the problem.

When Adoption Becomes a Trend

To capitalize on the film’s buzz, Warner Bros. partnered with Best Friends Animal Society, covering adoption fees between July 1–10. As a result, 454 animals found new homes. While this sounds like good news, it raised red flags for animal protection groups.

“It’s tragic to see dogs adopted on a whim,” warns Jacques-Charles Fombonne, president of the French SPA (Society for the Protection of Animals). “Yes, we want animals to find families—but not like this.”

Fombonne notes that impulsive, emotion-fueled adoptions often lead to heartbreak—for the animal and the family. “When kids realize their dog won’t have superpowers or look just like Krypto, they lose interest. And who suffers? The dog.”

Abandonment: The Summer Crisis

Every year, 45,000 animals are taken in by the French SPA. And the summer months are the worst: between July 15 and August 15, shelters can receive up to 7,000 abandoned pets, with one-third being dogs.

The SPA president reminds prospective owners that a dog is a lifetime commitment. “You don’t give up halfway. An animal is not a toy.”

He also highlights the cost: owning a dog averages €100/month for food, care, and vet bills. That number climbs quickly if the pet has health issues.

Hollywood’s Dangerous Influence

This isn’t the first time pop culture has triggered a pet adoption craze—with tragic consequences.

• After Harry Potter, fans rushed to adopt owls like Hedwig. Hundreds were later abandoned across the UK. J.K. Rowling herself condemned the trend, urging fans not to keep owls in cages.
• Following Zootopia in 2016, illegal sales of fennec foxes exploded in China, as people sought their own version of Nick Wilde’s sidekick.
• More recently, Messi, the border collie from Anatomy of a Fall, stole the spotlight at Cannes, even winning the 2023 Palm Dog Award. In 2024, 2,764 border collie puppies were registered in France, pushing the breed into the national top 20.

Hollywood may inspire, but it also sets dangerous expectations for pet ownership. And when those expectations crash with reality, animals pay the price.