Ugh, geez, animal shelter! (SAD)

[alzi]

That is so sad:(

[blueballoon]

Poor kittie

[lightbulbsun]

That is so sad

[Deleted]

I didn't know black animals were discriminated against either!

[underwaterrhymes]

When we adopted our kitties we knew we wanted a black kitty because they are so hard to adopt out. We went in there with the specific intention of adopting a kitty who had been with his siblings on a golf course and when some "good samaritans" found them, they brought in the others who were not black, but left him behind because they were superstitious. When they went back a week later, he had a broken leg and they finally brought him in.

When we got there, however, my little black kitty Maeby crawled into my lap and started purring, so we brought her home instead (along with a tabby who took a liking to H.)

I feel so sad that black and black and white kitties have such a hard time finding homes.

[Deleted]

I feel like I have to adopt one now!!

[Lauren88]

I've never heard that black cats don't get adopted.
I had a black cat that my STXH had to keep because my mom is allergic and he's the coolest cat ever! Such a love bug! This makes me so sad.

[Deleted]

That is so sad. And seriously, who leaves behind one kitty because it is black? Assholes.

[Kit]

I had no idea black or B & W cats were so hard to adopt out. Is it because of the superstition surrounding black cats, or because their fur shows up so much on light clothing?

Either way, that is so sad. I would totally adopt a black kitty.

[eb777888]

I had no idea black and white animals were discriminated against, either. I'll keep that in mind the next time we get our next pet.

[tulip]

I had no idea this was a thing. I had a big black Tom cat growing up. He was the coolest cat. People suck.

[scotty]

Sad indeed. <3

I have a BBD, I love him so. It's so funny how afraid people are of him when I walk him. Little do they know he thinks he's a lap dog, he's the gentlest of my dogs, and when I say 'Look at me.' -- he does.

[interro]

That is really sad I had no idea that black/b&w animals had a harder time getting adopted! I love black cats. If I ever adopt another I'll be sure to go for another black or b&w kitteh.

[litebright]

People really avoid black animals because of the fur showing up on their clothes? I guess I thought it was because of superstition.

I have a black-and-white dog. His white fur shows up on everything. Anyone wearing dark pants to my house is doomed. But I hardly notice his black fur on anything.

[loveday]

My dog is a black and white Dane/Lab. We love her to pieces, all of her siblings were adopted too. I love the black and white animals. Poor kitty

[Deleted]

I had no idea...I have two black and white medium hair cats. Everything in my house is covered in their fur but they are such beautiful, fun cats it doesn't matter. We just buy a looot of lint rollers.

[hubes]

Aww... I love my black dog.

[kasi]

Awww, so glad I adopted my little black dog. I never even thought of her color as a problem. Her fur shows up everywhere and it's annoying but so what. She's a cutie with a little white goatee.

[Kit]

I can't believe people actually believe that crap about black cats/pets. And as for people not being drawn to them, I personally think black cats are very striking. Very sad for those kitties. People are stupid.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using ProBoards

[kellbell191]

People are less likely to adopt black animals because they tend to have black features...black mouths, black eyelids, etc. It makes it harder to see their facial expressions which makes it harder for people to feel an emotional connection to them in the thirty seconds they're walking past the cages. At least, that is part of the research I've read. They're also more common than calicos or white cats or orange cats and people seem to seek out the more unusual looking animals I guess because it makes them feel like they're getting something better?

Personally, I hate when shelters publicize who dies and I refuse to look at a lot of the euthanasia alerts when we can't foster. I'm doing my best here, I know animals die, I don't need to feel worse about it. There is a huge divide in animal rescue land over whether it is better for adopter morale to publicize who dies or not. Personally I don't like the idea of guilting people into adopting.

And that was my animal tirade for the day.

[salimoo]

That's just MEAN though! "You didn't do enough SO WE KILLED A KITTY. And it's all your fault."

[bostonrunnah]

Jul 18, 2012 11:07:03 GMT -5 salimoo said:

That's just MEAN though! "You didn't do enough SO WE KILLED A KITTY. And it's all your fault."

Yup.

Why do they need to say that they had to put the animals down? I'd love to have a pet - I can't because my schedule would essentially leave the pet neglected in my apartment. I feel bad enough about this already. I don't need the guilt.

[mamasaurus]

My favorite childhood pet was a black and white cat named Rambo. His nose was even half black. He had been a stray.

I want to write a testimonial declaring that the color of a cat in no way affects its snuggling abilities or jingle ball-chasing prowess.

[Deleted]

poor kitty cat.

I had no idea that people don't like to adopt black pets. I love my big black Dane.

[salimoo]

Yeah, I adopted a dog, I give a monthly donation to the shelter, plus other donations to other shelters as needed. I'd adopt more if I could. So don't shove dead animals in my face. I get it. I do all that I can. So I hide all of those posts or, if they become excessive, hide or delete the person/group posting them.

[pittsmcgee]

Aww. that is terrible. Poor kitty.
We got a "discount" because we adopted our black and white doggie that nobody wanted. Assholes.

[interro]

Jul 18, 2012 11:52:36 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

aww, Meatball. I hope she gets adopted soon.

Ugh, I have to stop looking at this thread. I'm already having an emotional day and this cat is making me teary eyed.

[sake]

Both of our pets are black or black mixed with another color because I knew of the discrimination... I would love to have a yellow lab one day, but realistically, don't think that i'll ever have a dog that isn't black.
Once you go black, you never go back.

[kellbell191]

Jul 18, 2012 14:01:19 GMT -5 Que? said:

Tell me you can't read this black dog's expression!

LOL! I love when dogs smile. I think it applies more to cats...like Meatball's photo.

I take issue with Meatball's bio too. DH and I fostered long term shelter residents and special needs cats for about two years and found that writing a real description of them worked wonders in getting people interested. The most applications I've ever had on a cat or kitten was for a 3 year old cat with FIV (I think he had a total of 6 applications when all was said and done). Writing a bio about how they haven't been picked plays on guilt, writing a bio about their awesome personality characteristics attracts the right person. Take a nice bright photo, post an awesome bio, get the cat in foster where she can actually come out of her shell and show her personality and you'd do a lot better!

It's hard to get a real feel for a cat's personality in the shelter, they don't respond well to stress and can really shut down. Ours was there for a year and was scared to come out of her cage. She's a social butterfly now and got along with all the other animals immediately. She's the greeting committee for new fosters.

[Deleted]

Chiming in to say that Ethel is black, brown, and white and the only hairs of hers that I ever actually see (other than on the swiffer pad) are the white ones.

Everything in my house is the same color as Stella.