Find out how James Gunn's dog inspired Krypto in the new Superman movie and his key role in the future of the DCU.

Krypto the superdog appears to have inspired "Superman" moviegoers to look into adopting their own furry friend

James Gunn tells PEOPLE about how his rescue dog Ozu inspired the new Superman movie, specifically the superhero's canine, a fluffy, white dog named Krypto

Sparrow, a Maury County Animal Services dog, was rescued both in real life and on screen. Here's how she went from the shelter to James Gunn's 'Superman.'

James Gunn knows that Krypto the Superdog is wonderfully silly, and that's what makes him a great director of superhero movies.

Krypto's role in James Gunn's Superman has led to a massive spike in interest in dog adoptions. According to data from Google Trends, the search term

Krypto flying the time bomb into the sky causes an explosion that sends a plane veering out of control. He stops the car only by knocking a water main askew. The dognappers fire bullets at him, causing a fiery gas leak.

Inspired by Krypto’s charming on-screen presence in James Gunn’s Superman reboot, searches for dog adoption have surged dramatically.

Superman gave Clark Kent back his heart, but did James Gunn give our staffers back their hope for his comic world?

That’s what Krypto has always represented — a vision of Rockwellian Americana where a good man has a good dog and an embrace of the outlandish science fiction inherent in watching a canine in a little cape display superpowers.