The Times They Are A Changing

It’s true, the black or dark colored animals in the shelters are last to be adopted. There are no studies that attest to this fact, just animal shelter employees from around the country. Within the industry, it is called “black dog syndrome.” It relates to the misconception humans hold towards the black dogs, believing that they are more aggressive. It may not be a conscious choice, when people looking for a pet, move past the black ones and onto the multi-color or light colored ones.

A shelter employee from Central Oregon Humane Society says, “I think the black color makes it harder for people to read an animal’s facial expressions and body language. People focus on the animal’s eyes, which stand out against the neutral background and miss all the other signals the animal is giving.” Shelter employees agree that the same holds true for cats and horses, the black or grey colored ones are the last to go.

I urge anyone thinking about adding a pet to their family, to first check out their local shelter before purchasing a purebred from a newspaper ad. Save a life instead. And today, I ask you to save a life of a black colored pet. You know the color does not make the pet.