Is it just pure coincidence, or is there really such a thing as dog discrimination?
Melissa Dahl, a health writer for msnbc.com, recently wrote an article about the so-called “black dog syndrome” – a phenomenon in pet rescue circles where “big, black dogs are often the last to be adopted from animal shelters.”
Gregg, 49, from Xenia, Ohio talks about a banner he’d seen on an Ohio animal shelter’s website containing words similar to “We know that you people prefer colors, but we’ve got wonderful black dogs here, won’t you please consider them?” Evidently, this suggests how difficult it is for big dogs with black coats to be adopted or find new homes.
Madeline Bernstein, the president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal, has plenty of theories about why adopters tend to rule out black dogs in most animal shelters. “It’s mostly an unconscious thing” she says, which is also true for black cats who have the same problems being adopted. People who are aware of superstitions about black cats being associated with “bad luck” may also be unconsciously passing this existing superstition about black dogs.
Reading this news about black dog discrimination made me sad and made my stomach churn a little. If there is indeed an absolute truth to this matter, then there has to be some sort of psychological explanation behind it. I have always thought black dogs are adorable, and I actually like how shinier their coats tend to appear compared to white or brown dogs.
For obvious reasons, the kinds of dogs that are less likely to be adopted in animal shelters are the older or the abused ones, or the sick and the injured ones. Apparently, little did we know that it has something to do with color as well. Whether or not this ongoing syndrome is associated with coincidence, superstition, or the color black, for some reason, just don’t appeal to potential adopters is still a big question.
Black is beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep. Give the black one a chance. It might just be the best thing that could ever happen to you.
I don’t think this is happening. It seems absurd. Do you believe this?
[...] A smart blogger added an interesting post on The Plight of the Black Furry Dog | Gooddogz.org BlogHere’s a small excerptIs it just pure coincidence, or is there really such a thing as dog discrimination? Melissa Dahl, a health writer for msnbc.com, recently wrote an. [...]
Don’t know about dogs, but it’s certainly true with cats. You can watch a litter of kittens get adopted and if there are black ones, they’re always the last to go.