The little black dress, Black Tie affair, a well-run business operating in the black - - all positive connotations for one of the most chic colors in modern culture.
Yet for dogs, Black is another story.
Explains Holly Chasin, founder of The Little Pink Shelter, “Black Dog Syndrome is a phenomenon that is well known to shelters and rescues across the country. Black dogs are much more difficult to find homes for. They are the last dogs to find homes and the first to be euthanized.”
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There is a reason why many women love diamonds and jewelry: The eye is drawn to sparkle and we love to stand out in the crowd. If a black dog is next to a lighter color dog, one’s eye is immediately drawn to the lighter colored dog first. When people are looking for a dog to adopt, many times people fall in love with the lighter colored dog or the dog with unusual markings without ever noticing the black dog next to it.
Even online, black dogs do not attract as much attention as lighter colored dogs. Chasin works with rescue shelters in the south where the dog population is abundant and the number of potential adopters is minimal. She posts the dogs online on her website and interviews for homes in the Northeast.
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“We are not certain how much of the ‘black cat superstition’ impacts the black dogs,” Chasin said, “but we know for certain that a dog’s coat color has no affect on the dog’s temperament and personality. Black dogs are just as playful, loving and fun as dogs of other colors.”
“When adopting, please be aware that Black Dog Syndrome is real and you may have a tendency to overlook the black dogs,” Chasin urges. “Make an effort to see ALL of the dogs available and make your decision based solely on the dog that will be the best fit for your family, regardless of the color of his coat.”
Please visit The Little Pink Shelter website at www.pinkshelter.com
