BULLIES come in all ages

BULLIES come in all ages
(click to see movie trailer)

Surround yourself with positive people,
energy, and situations;
always avoid negativity.

~~~~~~~~~~

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So, love the people who treat you right.

Forgive, and then forget about the ones who don't.


Monday, August 24, 2009

I'm Juz Sayin'

Say it loud,
I'm black and I'm proud!

~James Brown~
The Godfather of Soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you know that big, black dogs are often the last to be adopted from animal shelters — a phenomenon known in pet rescue circles as "Black Dog Syndrome"?

Anyone who has worked or volunteered in a shelter can attest to the fact that animals (cats and dogs) with black coats are the hardest to adopt out, they're in the shelters the longest and therefore, they're most likely to be euthanized.

One of the most common reasons given for BDS is a reluctance to adopt certain breeds of dogs (Rottweiler, Dobie) because of their perceived aggressiveness.

Others speculate that black dogs just don't have the right look to catch the eye of potential adopters. There are several things a shelter can do to avoid black dog syndrome. One way is to photograph the black dog against a brighter, more visually appealing background. Black dogs tend to fade into the background when not properly lit, which can make them less appealing than other breeds.
Another tip is to heavily promote the benefits of darker coated dogs whenever possible. In other words, shelter workers should sell the breed, not the color. Many potential pet adopters would consider a larger black dog with a gentle disposition (Lab, for example) than a smaller dog with too much energy.
Anything that can be done to prevent future cases of BDS is certainly worth pursuing.
I'm certainly glad I found my big, black dog in time. I rescued Buddy on his "last day" at the shelter.



Happy Trails,

29 comments:

Martine said...

Thank you for sharing.... I didn't realize this. I love black dogs!

xo martine

Moose said...

And so handsome too, Buddy! You know I am a softie for big black dogs so I don't really understand it. I know it is true though. It is very hard in rescue to get a prospective adopter to realize that the personality is much more important than the color.
Anywho, thanks for sharing this on the behalf of black dogs everywhere!
Moose + Dana

Ziggy Stardust said...

That is interesting and of course very sad, I have never heard that before. I grew up with a black cocker spaniel mix.

Anne and Sasha

Gizzy's Mom said...

I'm glad you met Buddy that day too and brought him to his furever home. Giz was also a rescue dog.

Unknown said...

Wow! I have never heard that. Buddy, you are so lucky to have found your furever home just in the nick of time! I could not imagine a monday morning with out you! I sure love you too! Have you noticed that I "speak" to you more than your siblings? Guess I must favor Black Dogs.

Cocorue said...

you were meant for each other otherwise, she would have been the second last........mumster says a Biiiiiiiiig TQ for hoomans like you and Khyra's mumsy ( and the many we are not aware of...)

chikisses
i'm seldom the first to comment as i'm sleeping when my blogging furiends are chatting....hmmm mondays are not so bad after all....

Ina in Alaska said...

One of my first experiences I can recall as a child was with a big black dog named Brucie. He was a very special dog and was my grandparents. Smart, loyal, very loved. To this day I think of Brucie with great affection and I am very old!! I had never heard of this syndrome before this post.

Buddy is one lucky big black dog!!

animal lover, quilt lover said...

Maybe that is way people keep bring Bambi back to the shelter. She is black and the frist two times she was very active. By the time I came along she was a very sick girl. She needed me, so she has been here 11 years and 6 months.I am so happy she was the one. She is a wonderful girl!!
Love your visits, Bambi and Fern

Maxmom said...

What a very interesting post! Thank you for that...we didn't know this (BDS).
Lots of licks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

Hailey said...

This is so interesting! Thanks for the knowledge!

Hugs and smoochs xoxo
Hailey

Chester said...

How sad that even in the dog world we judge by color.
Buddy is a lucky dog, for sure!

Chester ;0=)

Dexter said...

Yeah, we have heard that too.

My previous mastiff, Raja, was trying out for therapy training and the teacher said it wasn't her size that would put people off, but her black mask.

Poor Mango! He is huge, dark, and has a black face! I hope that once little Dexter settles down he can learn to do therapy work. Dexter is our first lab and we wanted a yellow one, but the one with the best temperment for Mango turned out to be black and now I look at all black labs in a different way.

Mango Momma

Anonymous said...

Go, Buddy! I love my "little" black dog, too! All this just makes me too sad. SH

kks said...

what a beautiful big, black dog you are Buddy! and such a lucky boy!
i've always known that about black dogs....funny thing though, i've adopted 2 black labs from shelters over the years, for my parents....and they have both been the sweetest, gentlest dogs.....
have a great week! maybe we will meet next year in Alaska?....i was thinking about going to volunteer....
xoxo

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

We had no idea about this - interesting.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

My Mind's Eye said...

Ahhhhh Buddy you are just too gorgeous for words. I love your big expressive eyes. Your story has such a happy ending. Now we know why your mom has such a big place in her heart for you!!! You are indeed her Buddy!!! Madi and Mom

countryliving said...

Interesting...
Buddy was blessed when you took him to your home.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

This one is fur woo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9i2fqxSjTI

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Elizabeth Bergesen said...

Yes I have heard of BDS, especially since VA is a full of Rottweilers.

Thanks for all of the info!!

Elizabeth & Luna

Kathy said...

Who could resist that sweet smiley face of Buddy?! He's such a Happy guy!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

ohhhhhhhhhhhh dear friends...
What a very interesting post!!!!!
Thank you for that...
We didn't know this......
WE LOVE BLACK DOGS!!!!!!
And we love youuuuuuuu!!!!
We're very very happy you found your humans and thay gave you a wonderful furever home....you deserve it!!!
You're sooooooooooo special!!!
HAve a wonderful week!!!
Sweet kisses and licks

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Sometimes hoomans are just "not too smart"!!

Smileys!
Dory

Amber and Nala said...

Interesting! Hey, if you are in OR then you may as well head on up the coast to WA! ;) Nala says the dogs can come too. ;) Hope you have a great trip!

bbes tribe said...

Thanks for sharing. Have heard that before but it it VERY good to get the info out there. At one point I didn't want a black dog because it was hard to see them at night. BUT when we were looking for another dog we got Ernie. He was in a high kill shelter, and due to be euthanized in the next hour or so. He is the best dog,and is black. So glad we smartened up. We would have missed something great!!!
Ernie & Sasha's Mom

Shelley said...

One of the most beautiful dogs I ever owned was a 120 lb black lab! Didn't realize this was so hard. Now I want to make colorful bandanas for all those dogs at my local dog shelter!

P.S. The down with Michael Vick items are listed under the Product lines on the right hand side bar, entitled Michael Vick. I am making more today - bumper stickers, etc. I hate this guy!!

http://www.zazzle.com/shellmart/gifts?cg=196501527676524491

Woodrow, Luna, MJ Campanella said...

what a sad fact - that is horrible - us bully breeds dont do too well in shelters too

Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

SEDONA said...

There's something innately unsettling (albeit completely undeserved) about black animals in general...my human remembers how when Girl Twin was 2, when reading her favorite book, she would get scared when she got to the picture of a black cow and actually would get up and run away at the page before the black cow appeared!
Your pal,
Sedona

kks said...

thanks for the iditarod vol. web page....didn't see anything for vet techs...the dog drop would be cool, anything would be great, never been....would be a great experience!

Sam said...

I've heard about this black dog syndrome too.. in fact, it's the reason that my dog came up here to New York from Georgia. Her litter (all black) could not be adopted out - no one wanted them! Really is silly, the reasons people will or won't get a dog.

Thanks so much for your comment - we've started following you - we like your blog, too!