There are certain pets in shelters that have a notoriously difficult time getting adopted. Senior pets, and pets with other health issues, obviously have extremely difficulty getting adopted. The lack of interest in adopting these pets, while sad, is somewhat understandable since people wish to adopt healthy pets who will live a long time, so they will not need to purchase a pet and then be sadly faced with the task of burying their pet, buying pet urns or writing pet memorials. However, there is another class of pets that has a difficult time getting adopted- black dogs of all sizes.
Many people find this difficult to believe, because the black lab puppy is a quintessential symbol of the American dog, and because many people think of black Cocker spaniels or other all black dogs as popular and well loved canine icons. However, the sad reality is that black dogs are euthanized more than any other dogs in shelters.
There may be many reasons for this phenomenon. Black dogs may not stand out in dark kennels when potential adopters come to visit and look for a shelter pet. Shelter workers often try to help avoid this problem by placing a colorful bandana around the neck of black dogs. This can make them stand out more, even in a shadowy cage. Black dogs, especially solid colored black dogs, do not tend to have features that stand. While large, soulful eyes are easy to spot on a white dog, they may blend into the face of a black puppy. Therefore, it is very important for black dogs to be kept in well lit cages in shelters, so their positive features can show through and so that they have a greater chance of becoming adopted.
A related reason for the high rate of euthanasia of black dogs is black dogs do not tend to photograph well. Just like in a shadowy kennel, a black dog’s features may not stand out when a photograph is taken of the dog. Since many people chose a rescue dog or a shelter dog based upon a photograph online, this phenomenon only adds to the difficulty black dogs have in getting adopted. To avoid this problem, shelter workers should photograph black dogs outside in bright sunlight so that their features and beauty stand out.
A third reason for the high euthanasia rate of black dogs is lingering superstition. Many people believe that black cats bring bad luck, and this belief may subconsciously translate to black dogs as well. Furthermore, some people report seeing black dogs as “mean” or “unfriendly” simply because their solid, dark color can make them look more ominous. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid this problem other than trying to educate potential adopters about the prejudice against black dogs, and trying to emphasize the positive features of black dogs.
It is important that all animal lovers become aware of black dog syndrome, and work to prevent it. Every dog deserves a loving home, and dogs do not deserve to be euthanized in shelters without even pet grave markers to remember them, just because of their color.