Molly needs a forever home!

Most scientists still believe that a dog's eyes can only see black and white, that their world is colored only by different shades of gray.  Unfortunately for some dogs, people are able to see colors and their eyes tend to favor brighter, and multi-colored coated dogs. Black dog syndrome is well known in the animal rescue community, and a prominent reason for black dogs being passed over for adoption.

I love the sleek and shiny coat of a black Lab; they always look like they just had a bath! When I see the fluffy coat of a Newfoundland, I just want to run my fingers through it and cuddle him like the teddy bear that he is! Black dogs are just as beautiful to me as blue merle, red, or any other color.  Unfortunately, a lot of mixed breed dogs are black, in fact black dogs far out number any other color, and when a trait is that common it makes the dogs of other coat colors somehow more desirable.

 Molly (above) is a Border Collie mix, who has been in foster with 9-Lives Rescue for two months.  Most of the dogs that were in the program when she came in have been adopted, but she remains. She has that cute one ear flop and a playfully sweet personality.  Unfortunately, she isn't easily remembered because she is just another black dog. You can tell from the picture that she does not photograph as well as fancier coated dogs, but if you see her at the adoption fair you will fall in love with those warm brown eyes!  

 Black dogs have the highest euthanasia rates in US shelters because their adoption rate is also the smallest.  If you Google "black dog syndrome," the first response is from Wikipedia, which defines "Big Black Dog Syndrome" (BBDS) or black dog bias as "A animal shelter phenomenon in which black dogs are passed over for adoption in favor of lighter colored animals."  Some shelters try to make black dogs more appealing by lowering their adoption price, but it is hard to understand why the public as a whole is not interested in black dogs. Is it because black dogs are often portrayed as mean and aggressive by television and movies? Is it that some cultures view the color black as evil, so they steer away from dogs of that color? It's hard to say.

We owe it to our dark coated buddies to break the bias that surrounds them.  Every home is not really complete without at least one black dog!The next time you are considering adding a new pup to your life, consider a black dog.  Remember that they deserve the love that you have to offer just as much as the yellow dog sitting next to them.  

I have witnessed this discrimination first hand. Interestingly, in a shelter I worked, placing red bandanas on the black dogs raised their adoption rate 50%! Go figure! Perhaps it has something to do with color/coat contrast. By the way, Molly is still available;) -Debi