So, What's the Deal with Black Dogs?
    "Black Dog Syndrom" Puts Animals At Risk

    by Mike Fry

    Everyone has heard the saying "black is beautiful". However, if you are a black dog in an animal shelter, you may not be so happy with your color. According to the founder of the web site StartSeeingBlackDogs.com, black animals in shelters are more often passed over by potential new homes than other colored canines. The same is also true for cats, says Heather Rosenwald, who started the black dog-focused web site when she learned that at high kill shelters, an animal could be killed simply because it is black.

    So, what is the deal with black animals? Is this some cultural bias toward darkly colored animals? Or, is there more to the story? According to Rosenwald, the answer is fairly complex. It turns out that black animals in shelters face a series of challenges.

    "Poor lighting in many shelters can make it hard for people to see black animals," said Rosenwald. "Additionally, taking pictures of black animals can be challenging."

    Rosenwald points to the rapid growth of the Internet as a method by which shelters and rescue organizations market animals available for adoption. Good pet photographs, therefore, are becoming increasingly important tools to use when trying to find new homes for pets.

    Too often, according to the web site, shelter staff and volunteers do not have much time to devote to the task of taking animal pictures. Too often, they are taking the pictures in bad lighting. As a result, black dogs and cats can end up looking like black blobs.

    Additionally, dark animals in dark kennels can be harder for people to see. The same can be true of black animals taken to adoption events, like pet stores.

    To help shelters and rescue organizations work around these, and other, black animal challenges, Start Seeing Black Dogs offers great tips to shelters and rescue organizations wanting to better market their black canines and felines. They are also working to raise public awareness of the plight of homeless black dogs and cats. To learn more about what you can do, check out the web site StartSeeingBlackDogs.com.

    You can also listen to an Animal Wise Radio interview with Heather Rosenwald by clicking the play button below:

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    Comments from readers:
    On 09/11/2008 Ellen Weinstock said: store honors black dogs!

    Thanks for bringing attention to this issue. One thing I would add is that black dogs are more common in many breeds than other colors, so some folks think they are less special.

    Of course, those folks are wrong!

    Recently, I was on Cape Cod & went to the "Black Dog" store. It's an offshoot of a restaurant on Martha's Vineyard that was named after a sea captain's best buddy, a lab/boxer known simply as "the Black Dog." It was so lovely to see a store that honors several of my best friends, too! It's here: http://www.theblackdog.com/

    On 09/10/2008 Keely said: Black Dogs

    I had just heard about this problem in the last few years. The thought of black dogs not being as pretty or friendly as others had never crossed my mind. I grew up with two black labs. My family and I just adopted our own Large Black Lab Mix in Aug. of 2007. He has become my best friend even with his high energy moments. He is not only Big and Black he is missing his right eye and it has been interesting to watch people's reactions to him at the dog park or in public. Some are very friendly and find him funny and cute and there are some that find him frightening and scary right away and will actually leave the area. All this just by his looks. He was in rescue for 1yr from the age of 6mos. We are very thankful they saved him!
    He now lives a fun,comfortable, spoiled life in the company of his own family complete with kids,cat, and another Lab buddy.

    On 09/07/2008 Sarah Kannenberg said: I love black dogs

    I think that this theory is sad. I have adopted two black labs from shelters and they are both amazing animals! There really could not be any animals better suited for me.