It’s been almost a month since the new Superman movie hit theaters, and it’s brought worldwide attention to Cleveland, the original birthplace of Superman.

With the movie filmed in Cleveland, there are some amazing shots of iconic locations that have left residents feeling proud of their hometown.

Mango outside of the ArcadeSome of the heartwarming scenes feature Superman’s canine companion, Krypto—which may have fans looking for a new pet.

In fact, some local animal shelters are hoping to tie in the red-caped hero Krypto into real-life dog adoptions.

“We haven't seen any spike in adoptions, unfortunately, but we would welcome it!” says Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter administrator Mindy Naticchioni.

FreshWater talked to some of Cleveland’s dog shelters to find out if any of them have potential “Kryptos” looking for their forever homes.

Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter

The Cuyahoga County Animal shelter, 9500 Sweet Valley Drive in Valley View, is in charge of licensing and housing stray or lost dogs within the county.

The shelter is currently focused on finding homes for its two longest residents, Harley and Smoothie. The shelter has features on its TikTok for both Harley and Smoothie, and you can find updates on them on the shelter’s TikTok and Instagram platforms.

Harley was born at the shelter seven years ago when her mom arrived at the shelter pregnant. Mom and puppies were all adopted out, but then, when Harley returned to the shelter as a stray, her owners chose not to reclaim her. Harley has been at the shelter for more than 400 days.

Naticchioni says Harley prefers to be the only pet in the home, not because of aggression but more because she’s an “independent soul.” She has a chicken allergy, which requires a pescatarian diet.

Harley has been at the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter for more than 400 days.Harley has had training sessions with an independent trainer to refine her skills—making her a great candidate for adoption.

Smoothie is an American Pit Bull Terrier mix estimated to be about 18 months old. He’s been at the shelter since February 28 and is described as “an absolute sweetheart.”

Smoothie walks well on leash and is generally friendly with other dogs, but “overly confident,” according to the shelter. They recommend he be in an only dog household.

Naticchioni encourages families to look at a dog’s breed and how it fits into their lifestyle rather than the dog’s looks or “cutest dog” ratings.

The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter allows volunteers to take dogs on day foster trips. It even offers its Dogs Day Out program, in which people can sign up for a day and get a shelter dog to spend the day with a dog that has been overlooked for adoption.

Interested in adopting Harley or Smoothie? Go to the adopt section on the shelter’s website and click on “adopt me/adopt a dog,” which will redirect to PetPalace, which lists the County Shelter’s adoptable dogs. Interested adopters can also contact the shelter directly at (216) 525-7877.

Cleveland APL

The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL), 1729 Willey Avenue in the Tremont neighborhood, is a nonprofit agency that is not funded or controlled by any government agency or organization.

The APL provides temporary space for animals that have been abused, relinquished, abandoned, or have come to the agency as strays. The Cleveland APL residents are treated to field trips, where they get temporary respite from shelter confinement with everyday activities, like going to the beach!

The APL echoes a similar statement to the other shelters. “We have not seen an increase in dog adoptions since the release of the Superman movie,” says Ayse Dunlap, vice president of operations.

To combat this, though, the Cleveland APL has many upcoming promotions, including the national Clear the Shelters Campaign, says Hannah MacIntyre, Cleveland APL’s annual fund and database manager.

Upcoming promotions at the Cleveland APL include:

• August 22 through 24: Adoption fees for all adult animals (five months and older) are waived; kitten fees are reduced to $50.
• Whisker Wednesday: Every Wednesday in August, adoption fees are reduced to $75 for kittens and $20 for adult cats

Lula has been at the Cleveland APL for more than a year.Lula (at shelter since June 25, 2024): According to the APL, Lula is an incredible sidekick, and she has the best personality to match. She’s laid back and enjoys her sleep. Lula walks great on leash, is house/crate trained, and may do well with other dogs and kids. She’s extremely friendly and enjoys cuddling.. She is the perfect mix of happy, calm, and gentle. Lula is about seven years old and will surely bring lots of joy and smiles to a new home.

Luna (at shelter since May 15, 2024): This nine-year-old adventure pup is always smiling and lights up every room she enters. Her favorite part at the end of a field trip is snuggling with her volunteer buddy and showcasing how friendly she is. Luna has wonderful manners, is house-trained, and people-loving. She loves swimming and the water, going in any kind of water, whether it’s the lake, splash pad, or creek, according to the APL.

Columbo (at shelter since Jan 1, 2024): He’s a smart, affectionate eight-year-old pup who loves to show off his tricks. His two favorites are “sit” and “down.” He walks well on a leash and enjoys going on walks and field trips, according to the APL. Columbo loves chew toys and playtime, especially when he gets to run and stretch his legs. On a recent outing, his volunteer buddy described him as a “very good boy” who was eager to please and rode calmly in the car.

McIntyre advises discussing adopting a pet with all members of their family and potential adoptive pet parents need to consider the costs of properly caring for a pet. She also recommends renters get appropriate permission from their landlords or check their leases for pet policies.

Interested in adopting a pet through the Cleveland APL? Check out the agency’s adoption process and contact the Cleveland APL at (216) 771-4616 about providing a forever home for a specific pet like Lula, Luna, or Columbo.

KryptonCity Dogs Cleveland
City Dogs Cleveland is the adoption and volunteer program for Cleveland Animal Control. Meetings with any potential attendees will be held at the Cleveland City Kennel, 9203 Detroit Avenue. Note that adoption hours are different from hours at animal control services.

City Dogs adoption/volunteer coordinator Izzy Esler says she hopes the “Superman” movie will entice people to explore adopting a pet.

“We haven't heard of anyone coming in explicitly because of the movie yet, but we love that it might be increasing interest in dog adoptions across the country at a time when we really need it!” says Esler.

In fact, City Dogs hosted a Superdog adoption promotion a couple of weeks ago. Their dogs had the opportunity to dress up in a cape and take pictures at some of the filming locations in downtown Cleveland.

The promotion was successful—Esler says all the dogs pictured for the promotion have since been adopted.

But new dogs keep coming in, and City Dogs is once again full. Esler says the staff hopes to see more adoptions when the shelter participates in the August Clear the Shelters campaign.

City Dogs Cleveland will offer reduced adoption fees of $21 from Aug. 15 to Aug. 24. The shelter can be reached directly at (216) 664-3069.

With all of these upcoming promotions, these area shelter volunteers say they hope to find homes for their residents. August may just be your month for adding your own Krypto to the family!