Give a Black Dog a Chance
Have you ever heard of the BBD Syndrome? No, it’s not a recognized disease that is attacking the pet population, but it is killing many, many dogs nonetheless. BBD stands for Big Black Dog. A large black dog in a shelter, particularly Labrador mixes, has very little chances of getting adopted and most of them end up euthanized. And keep in mind this happens with cats as well. These are animals that do not have any personality problems. Some of them, are loving, sweet, well trained, intelligent, with wonderful temperaments. Their only “flaw”? They are black. And no, we are not talking about adorable tiny black Poodles or Chihuahuas, we are talking about gorgeous Labradors and German Shepherds that are put to death simply because of their color.
Some black dogs are taken by rescue groups from shelters before they end up in death row, knowing full well that it make take months, and sometimes even years to find a home for those animals. Some groups don’t even accept black dogs because they are so impossible to place.
The reason is that there are many misconceptions and myths about black dogs, and when people come to the shelter or decide to adopt from a rescue group, they tend to gravitate towards lighter colored dogs, even if it’s unconsciously. Black dogs are regarded as bad dogs, vicious or dangerous. Unfounded superstition, literature and folklore have all conspired to give the black dogs a bad rep. Winston Churchill used to call his depression “the black dog”. The devil was represented by a black Rottweiler in “The Omen”. TV and film tend to portray black dogs as evil. There are legends where ghosts of black dogs haunt the 
roads, believed to be restless wicked souls . But these are all just that: myths, legends and superstitions. I would truly think that saving the life of an animal who is destined to get killed would actually bring good luck to the person who did it. Black dogs are just that, dogs that happen to have black fur.
Shelters do their best to get their black dogs noticed, dressing them up with bright colored bows, or putting colored blankets in their cages. They often try to get the potential parents to consider a black dog, but when people see so many black dogs still in their cages they can’t help thinking there might be something wrong with them. Adoption fees are sometimes lower for black dogs.
So now that you know, you can all help save many lives if you consider adopting a black dog if you decide to get a life companion. Pass the word, talk to your friends. There might be a wonderful friend with a bright black coat waiting to share its live with them.
Visit this site if you want more information: Black Pearl Dogs
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