'Lilo & Stitch' sparks love for the French bulldog
On May 17, the remake of "Lilo & Stitch" premiered in Los Angeles; however, it didn't hit theaters in Colombia until May 22. Since its release, the film has been warmly received by audiences , positioning it as one of the three highest-grossing films of 2025, with a total of approximately $858.4 million worldwide.
The live-action Lilo & Stitch movie premiered on May 22. Photo: Disney Studios
This phenomenon hasn't been limited to movie theaters, as Disney has deployed its entire marketing arsenal, launching clothing, household items, tableware, and other items. However, an unexpected impact has been the increase in demand for French Bulldogs as pets, not only in Colombia but also around the world.
A pet alien Although Stitch, the organism that unexpectedly lands on Earth, is an alien from a nearby planet and the film conveys a message of responsible animal ownership, the creators can be seen to draw a slight inspiration from certain dog breeds.
The similarities don't end there, as some viral social media videos have claimed that some of the classic character's sounds and growls actually belong to a rescued French Bulldog named Theodore. Additionally, some scenes from "Lilo & Stitch" feature Dale, a French Bulldog recognized on social media for his surfing skills.
Fad Film and television have set many trends, even in the ownership of certain dog and cat breeds. Examples such as the movie "101 Dalmatians," which made this breed of dog fashionable, "like dogs and cats," which popularized Beagles, or "Game of Thrones," which featured the Siberian Husky, have increased the popularity of these breeds and the desire to have them in homes.
According to the North American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom, there are no clear statistics to establish a direct relationship between the film and the increase in desire for this breed, since it began to become more popular since 2013, eventually surpassing the Labrador Retriever as the most popular breed in 2022. However, some veterinarians in Colombia have seen an increase in veterinary visits for dogs of this breed.
French Bulldogs are known for being excellent companion dogs. Photo: iStock
“It's very difficult to attribute the increase in these dog ownership to the release of a movie; however, it's been seen before with other breeds, and it's worth taking advantage of this moment to prevent people from wanting a certain breed just on a whim ,” explains veterinarian Guillermo Zuluaga.
A complicated race Although dogs of this breed are characterized by being friendly, playful, gentle, and kind with children, some of their physical characteristics make them one of the breeds most prone to illnesses and, for this reason, one of the most frequent visits to the veterinarian. Not surprisingly, countries like the Netherlands and Norway, and veterinary associations such as the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), the Federation of European Veterinarians (FVE), and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA), have called for a ban on the breeding and reproduction of breeds similar to the French Bulldog.
The reason? These dogs, which also include the English Bulldog, the Pug, the Boston Terrier, and the Pekingese, belong to the group of dogs called brachycephalic or flat-headed due to the anatomical conformation of their heads. This physical characteristic results in a wide and compact skull, a short nose with narrow nostrils, an elongated palate, and numerous facial folds.
The French bulldog is a complicated breed. Photo: iStock
However, this anatomical conformation also makes them susceptible to different diseases such as:
- Narrowed nostrils: This can cause difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, constant panting, and pale mucous membranes.
- Laryngeal collapse: In which the larynx cannot open normally and therefore normal airflow is restricted.
- Elongated soft palate: This causes difficulty swallowing and breathing, snoring, and abdominal straining.
- Heat stroke: Because they have difficulty breathing and cannot easily regulate their body temperature.
- Eye problems such as ulcers, inability to close the eyelids, or frequent irritation caused by eyelash growth toward the inner part of the eye.
- Skin problems due to skin folds on the face or body, making them prone to fungal or bacterial infections.
For these reasons, the invitation is to prevent animal abandonment and abuse due to improper pet ownership, since, as the veterinarian points out, "the film teaches us that the family is never abandoned and that each member of the family has certain responsibilities.
GABRIEL GARCÍA - FOR TIME
eltiempo
