The Superman movie hit the big screen in July, and it’s safe to say that it’s not just our eponymous hero who captivated the viewers, but also his superdog, Krypto.
Krypto stole the hearts of many moviegoers, so much so that there was a surge in Dog adoption interest. A trend analysis conducted by Woofz, a Dog-training app, showed that Google searches for “adopt a dog near me” jumped by 513% after the premiere weekend, “rescue dog adoption near me” rose by 163%, and “adopt a puppy” increased by 31%.
Furthermore, searches for “adopt a schnauzer” are up 299%, as Krypto appears to be a mix between a Terrier mutt and a Schnauzer.
THE ONE AND ONLY OZU
Krypto was based on James Gunn’s own adopted Dog, Ozu. Gunn tweeted about it in October last year: “Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman.
“Ozu, who came from a hoarding situation in a backyard with 60 other ogs & never knew human beings, was problematic, to say the least. He immediately came in & destroyed our home, our shoes, our furniture – he even ate my laptop.
“It took a long time before he would even let us touch him. I remember thinking, ‘Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?’ – thus, Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life.”
It’s all thanks to Ozu that we get the very rambunctious but lovable Krypto. It’s heartwarming that even though they did not depict Krypto as the “perfect” companion (he is a kooky and untrained pooch who destroys gadgets, stomps on Superman, takes a while to listen, and generally has no boundaries), people are still willing to adopt Dogs like him.
James Gunn took to Instagram to say, “This film has been a barrage of blessings for me: this one may be the greatest. Ozu has no idea any of this is happening but, if he did, he’d be proud.”
A WORD OF CAUTION
Despite the boom in adoption interest, Woofz’ CEO Natalia Shahmetova said in a statement originally reported by TheWrap.com that “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.”
While many people are interested in adopting a Dog after seeing the movie, proper research and willingness to commit long-term are needed to sustain a companionship with a Dog.
A disadvantage that arises out of the movie’s hype could be abandonment. Wouldn’t it be awesome if all the Dogs who get adopted get to stay with their families for the rest of their lives? The reality is, it’s hard to say if that will be the case for all of them. Many of the Dogs we see on the streets once had homes and were abandoned when the going got tough.
According to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, there are 12 million stray Dogs in the Philippines. Some of the reasons why there are so many include irresponsible animal companionship (abandonment, neglect, and mistreatment), failure to spay and neuter animal companions, and buying animals instead of adopting.
Before adopting a companion animal, make sure that you are ready to share your life with a living being that has their own needs and feelings. Remember that you will be the sole provider for an animal who will look to you for all their needs, from food to regular vet visits.
5 SIGNS YOU’RE READY TO ADOPT A DOG
- You are motivated
- You have a stable living arrangement
- You have the time
- You have the financial bandwidth
- You will do all that you can for the Dog to not end up in the streets or back in a shelter
MORE THAN A MASCOT
Krypto is more than just for laughs and giggles.
When the world turned its back on Superman, Krypto accompanied the man of steel in his pain and isolation. Krypto symbolizes hope in a world full of injustice and suffering, and that even though it is so easy to be swept up by hate, kindness still prevails.
TAKING KRYPTO HOME
In the movie, Krypto took Superman home. In the real world, we get to take him home.
Ready to make the commitment? Here’s where you can adopt your very own Krypto (organizations’ introduction is as shown on their website and social media pages).
AMPON ALAGA
Ampon Alaga is the rescue and adoption project of PETA Asia based in Metro Manila. Visit their Facebook and Instagram pages to see their adoptables.
BACH PROJECT PH
BACH Project PH (Bacolod Animal Chance & Hope) is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization located in Bacolod City, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need in Negros Island. Send them a DM via Facebook (@bachprojectphilippines) or Instagram (@bachprojectph) for questions about adoption.
HAPPY ANIMALS CLUB
Happy Animals Club is a no-kill animal shelter in Davao. Contact them to inquire about adoption at Facebook.
PART
The Philippine Animal Rescue Team (PART) is a SEC-registered, nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue organization in the Philippines located in Camarines Norte. Contact them through Facebook messenger @philanimalrescueteam to inquire about adoption.
PAWS
PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC) in Quezon City has hundreds of shelter Cats and Dogs for immediate adoption. Check out their website, paws.org.ph/adopt, to apply as an adoptive parent.
PAWSSION PROJECT
Pawssion Project Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused and neglected animals. Located in Bacolod and Bulacan, you can reach out to them at [email protected] to learn more about their adoption process.
BRING OUT THE PUP-CORN!
Aside from Krypto’s amazing role in the movie, here are four reasons why you should watch Superman.
ACTION AND WONDER
The movie offers stunning visuals and extraordinary action sequences that will leave moviegoers entertained.
EMOTIONAL RESONANCE
The film explores Superman’s inner emotions, flaws, and vulnerabilities, making him relatable and human.
ANIMAL RESCUE
The movie features animal rescue in several scenes, showcasing compassion and kindness toward our non-human animal friends. Fostering is mentioned, too!
HOPEFUL MESSAGE
Superman offers a refreshing dose of positivity, showing us that despite the negativity in this world, it is still worth it to do some good.
Superman said it best when he said, “Maybe that is the new punk rock.”
