( CNN ) -- `` Family Guy '' fans are not letting Brian Griffin go gently into the night . After the Fox animated comedy killed the character in Sunday 's episode , several fans have signed a Change.org petition pleading with creator Seth MacFarlane and Fox Broadcasting to bring Brian back . To many , the four-legged cast member was a necessary part of the Griffin family , and a replacement dog -- even one voiced by `` The Sopranos ' `` Tony Sirico -- just is n't going to cut it . `` The writers of family guy did n't just kill off one of their creations , they killed off the dog who has lived in our homes for the last 15 years , '' reads the online petition . `` They killed the dog we all have come to love . They killed America 's dog ! '' On Tuesday morning , the petition had already amassed 35,000 signatures and counting . `` Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience , '' the petition says. `` 'Family Guy ' and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show . '' In Sunday 's episode , titled `` Life of Brian , '' the dog 's demise seemed pretty permanent . Brian was hit by a car attempting to play with his constant companion , baby Stewie , and the devious tot could n't use his time machine to solve the heartbreaking problem . If Brian were to return , it would n't be the first time a TV show has resurrected a character , but Fox did already air a farewell to the smart and snarky pet . Interestingly , MacFarlane has yet to comment publicly on Brian 's death , although a few creatives who 've been involved with the series have spoken up . `` Wilfred '' executive producer David Zuckerman tweeted Monday that although he 's no longer involved with `` Family Guy '' and knows `` the show 's in good hands , '' he still hopes `` Brian is n't really dead . '' For what it 's worth , TV critic and author Alan Sepinwall believes `` Brian will stay dead just like Superman did , '' as does the New York Times ' Dave Itzkoff , who speculated on Monday , `` Everyone will cover Family Guy just as fervently when the 'dead character ' comes back in a week or two , right ? '' Adding to hopes that Brian is n't gone for good is a website called BriansAnnouncement.com , spotted by Deadline Hollywood and Variety . Along with a road sign welcoming visitors to the Griffin family 's hometown of Quahog , Rhode Island , there 's a countdown clock for a `` special announcement from Brian '' in 10 days . And yet , Fox has said that the site is a hoax . Producer Steve Callaghan did n't drop any hints about such a site while speaking with E ! News after Sunday 's episode , although he did explain that the idea to kill off Brian caught on in the writers ' room and was seen as `` a fun way to shake things up . '' `` Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough , to know that they can trust us , '' Callaghan told E ! . `` We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series . ''
`` Family Guy '' fans are petitioning to bring Brian back . But some observers do n't think the character has been killed off for good . The show is still on air, and reruns continue airing in syndication. A `` Family Guy '' producer called Brian 's death a way to `` shake things up ''