You may not realize it, but there is discrimination when choosing which pet to adopt. On average, it takes a black dog or cat four times longer to find its forever home than a colored animal. There are many theories why black pets are harder to adopt, but in my opinion, it’s due to a lack of awareness. With National “Black Dog Day” nearing, I thought it might be fitting to honor our favorite black pups!
We have several black dogs here in our LubriSynHA family, and we love them just as much as the rest of the dogs. So what draws more people to a lighter colored dog when looking to adopt? We believe the following reasons contribute.
- Generic – Most people prefer a unique looking pet. Where black dogs lack unique markings they make up for in personality!
- Unclear facial features – Black dogs can be harder to distinguish facial features on due to their dark color. This doesn’t limit their ability to love you!
- Negative Reputation – Many stories portray black dogs as being scary or intimidating. This includes Harry Potter, The Omen, and the Hound of the Baskervilles. Black cats are often associated with bad luck as well.
- Poor showcasing – A kennel is a difficult place to get to know the personality of a dog. When it is poorly lit, it makes it that much more difficult for a black dog to stand out.
None of these reasons are any fault of the dog – they just ran into some bad luck. Genetics hurt their chances from the beginning.
Black dogs have so much to offer. Most people don’t even realize they looked over the black dogs in the shelter. I know once it was brought to my attention, I made sure to play close attention to those special guys. They are looking for a chance to be loved the same as all other dogs.
