Shelters often find they have an overabundance of black dogs and cats and reasons for this go beyond superstitions. Several reasons people do not often adopt a black dog or cat follow:
- Black pets are harder to see and to photograph. This is true – we had a black Pomeranian (see my blog about losing our precious Binka) and whenever I turned the camera on her the camera would not focus on her because it couldn't pick her up as being more than a shadow and she would come out blurry. When people are adopting from a shelter, a black dog or cat hiding in a corner may simply have a case of shyness that may be mistaken for having a more sinister appearance and disposition.
- TV and movies don't do anything to help the case for black dogs and cats often portraying them as dangerous and evil. The lighter colored dogs and cats are the friendly, helpful, loveable animals. Also, it is easier to read the expressions on lighter colored pets. But when you see a black cat in a movie it often portends that something bad is about to happen.
You can help the case for adopting black dogs and cats by adopting one yourself and then showing your friends how loveable they really are. Our tiny Binka was the sweetest little girl and when I brought her outside, she photographed just fine. I have some wonderful pictures of her and paintings that I have done over the years that I will cherish forever.
pastel painting of Binka
photograph of Binka