Black Dog Discrimination: Death sentence for shelter dogs?
Black dogs, particularly big black dogs (BBDs) are the least adoptable at animal shelters, sparking concern with the Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Reasons include visibility, mythology, stigmas attached to some breeds and folklore. Since they stay in the shelters the longest, these black dogs are much more likely to be euthanised.
I have to admit that I used to be scared of BBDs. The scariest older guy in the neighborhood had a super hyper black lab that was poorly trained if he was trained at all. Not only was he hyper, but he was aggressive, very much like his owner. As an adult I can make that connection but as a six year old, all I knew was fear. That lab was nothing like our mutt of a brown dog that our father so imaginatively named BD nor like our little black cock-a-poo. Thank goodness out grew that and I am now the proud owner of a very sweet, loveable and obedient BBD.
Read more to learn more about my Big Black dog and what you can do to help reverse the trend of Black Dog Discrimination| digg story
I adopted a Black Lab/Dalmation mix from a Seattle shelter. He is the sweetest dog ever, even though he is a big dope sometimes and enjoys licking windows, even if spiked with hot pepper to prevent the smears. Alot of people are really scared of BBDs, but I find mostly it is superstitions of cats, so that bit makes me utterly confused >_< I think that people should show the world that just because you look scary, you might be the nicest person in the world, kind of like Velveeta. It might melt nicely, and looky cheesey, but its just a wad of edible rubber that probably can give you cancer.
*applause!*