BBD's: Big Black Dogs

[furtech]

Black Dog Trio


A good friend and her family foster dogs for a local rescue group (in MN). They are learning all of the highs and lows of fostering animals: the joy of knowing you were part of an animal finding their "forever home" and the lows of discovering how stupid people can be. The bad side of rescue sometimes manifests as scars (visible and emotional) on an animal and how they were treated to discovering how shallow or frustrating the attitudes of the "average" person can be.


In one case, they can see this in the scars on the body of a chow-mix (named Bear) they are currently trying to find a home for. She is a young dog and loves people and dogs and puppies-- remarkable when you consider that at some point she was apparently used as a "bait dog" for dog fights. Somehow-- miraculously-- she is emotionally unscarred. I honestly don't know how this is possible, but she's living proof of what animals can endure and still love everybody.

They also have a tiny puppy-- one of two that they started fostering in December. Laney (the tiny puppy) is everything you could want in a puppy: boisterous, fearless and a miniature Tazmanian devil of play. She -loves- the chow-mix: it's cute to watch them go at it. Her brother was adopted in a matter days, so my friend had high hopes for Laney-- but she's still there (more on that later).

Appropriately, the third dog of the trio is Char, who is a tripod dog. Char was found in a dumpster with a rear leg so damaged it had to be amputated. As any dog-lover knows, three-legged dogs do just fine. You have to be more diligent about their weight (one less limb to take the load), but they're otherwise happy, hearty animals. For the science fiction geeks amongst us, she moves like a Pierson's Puppeteer. Unfortunately for Char, she's middle'd: active people don't realize how active she can be (hey, she's a *cripple dog*, right?) and people who are attracted to dogs with problems find her exuberance too much for them (they want something that lays by the fire looking at them with eternal gratitude).

I think I know why these dogs are still looking for their forever homes. They all have one trait in common: they are all black dogs. They suffer from Black Dog Syndrome .

At a seminar run for and by animal shelters, I learned about BBD's and BDS. With a fair consistency across the US, black dogs (and especially big, black dogs) are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Why? There are a number of theories, from superstitions (folklore about evil, black dogs, pookas, demons) to religion (black dogs equated with Satan, devildogs, etc.) to something as simple and heartbreaking as the fact that black dogs take terrible pictures. When all you see in a Petfinder ad is two eyes, teeth and a black blob the tendency is to pass over them-- sometimes subconsciously (you just don't notice them) or sometimes consciously (you can't see what the heck the dog is--long hair or short? fluffy or fat? etc.)

Granted, in California and in large cities this is less the case. Fewer superstitious bias, more open-minded. But Los Angeles (for instance) isn't everywhere. We forget how some places have attitudes about certain things that would horrify even the most liberal or conservative Angeleno.

There are rescues that specialize in black dogs: a simple google search of "black dogs and adoption" brought up some sites that try to address this problem: Black Pearl Dogs is one such site; another is Black Dogs Second Chance .

FYI, if -anyone- is seriously interested in any of the above trio, let me know asap. It doesn't matter where you live: I will get the dog to you if you are in a position to take a rescue on. We'll talk. Other than that, if you do decide to rescue an animal, see if you can fall in love with a black dog or cat (yes, cats have the same problems). Adopt a BBD or a BBC!

Comments

[ladyaxum.livejournal.com]

those doggies are adorable! If i had an actual yard i would consider adopting... but living in an apartment i am limited to owning small doggies like Jerrie who is all of 7 lbs

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Jerrie sounds great! You should post pics of him!

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

I was doing a whole run of ACEOs of cats available for adoption at the local shelter in a fairly random assortment, and I've done 8 black cats vs 6 other colors. Of those 3 of the 6 "other colors" have been adopted vs 4 of the 8 black cats. So they seem to be a lot more black cats in the system, but seem to get adopted around as often.

One of the remaining black cats looking for a home in CT:

Ebony

[furtech.livejournal.com]

As a state/area, CT baffles me. It seems totally rural, yet average people that I've met there (granted, a small sampling) seem to have a progressive mindset. I wonder if the black dog adoption rate is similar to the cat rate?

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear! I'm aware of the BDS.... I see it at rescues here. Another thing you kind of mention, that I've noticed here, is that black dogs are hardest to see in their kennels. Unless a shelter's kennels are lit up with lights (which they're not here), the black dogs just blend in the shadows. Lighter dogs pop out more. :/
Coincidentally, the best dog we've ever had is Jake, our all black shepherd mix. He's got the best temperament of any dog I've ever had. Well... he used to be solid black except for the one white patch on his chest.... nowadays he's turning half-silver.... so many white hairs! He's our old guy now. Stop growing old, Jake! :O

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Jake is The Dude--such a great dog. I wouldn't expect you to have a black dog bias, though: you're too much into rescue to be unaware. And yes, black dogs have any number of things affecting them negatively. I had never been aware of BDS until I got involved in rescue-- it surprised and disappointed me that people could be that way.

[patagonias.livejournal.com]

We have a big, dopey black labrador who is very loved and who is enjoying the snowy forest in our backyard right now. I've always thought his coat was beautiful, when his fur catches the sunlight it glimmers like a raven's feather, and he has big chocolate-honey-brown eyes that you can't stay mad at for long, ha. I can't imagine anyone passing up a dog over something like that, but like you said, many people are shallow or will quickly pass over things that don't immediately catch their attention. I wonder if animal shelters would take volunteer photographers? A little bit of good lighting and proper focus can go a long way.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Black labs and snow are a perfect. I love to watch them kangaroo through deep snow!

I think animal shelters would be open to any help like that. It's a lot of work, though: they need people who can do this on a regular basis, so that they and the shelter can get in-sync with each other. Shelters are so under-staffed and over-worked that it can be a problem to break routine for a one-time offer. If someone could get in even once a week at a certain time, they can work that into their routine. But! Give it a try-- they really do appreciate offers of help.

[patagonias.livejournal.com]

I always have people telling me, "Oh, your dog is so beautiful!" Here is a picture I took of him fairly recently (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/littletiger/gunnarsmile.jpg). See what I mean, the lighting helps a lot. Almost all of his "good shots" are outdoors.

Unfortunately I am without a camera at the moment, but I am to fix that soon, and as soon as my work situation stabilizes I will definitely look into some local shelters and see what they're looking for.

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

If I were not moving in with mom and dad, I would get a fluffy black dog.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I think your mom needs a dog (your dad has his birds and worms). Plus, there is nothing like a big dog to take on walks at night! Even a doofy lab will be a deterrent to anyone threatening.

[millencolinf0x.livejournal.com]

I think part of it too is they just aren't as flashy...to most people they all look the same, and everyone wants a dog that they think is unique.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

This could be another reason. Black dogs, like black cats, are a certain aesthetic. My original choice after I lost Frieda was a black shepherd mix, but she got adopted out from under me (long story). R0ndo came along a couple of weeks later and the rest is a happy history.

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately these guys are just too big and/or boisterous for my pet requirements and I'm not interested in a puppy, but its funny you mention this because the one dog I zeroed in on Petfinder as one I would like to see if he's still available when my situation clears up was a black dog named "Blackie" ;D

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Same, Laney is adorable (and so is Bear), but we sadly don't have the space/time for a dog now though. I was sorely tempted though!

I love black dogs and cats though. They are awesome.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

No pressures on either of you. You'll know the right dog/cat when you find them-- and I already knew that neither of you had black animal bias. One thing I've learned in rescue: the right dog at the right time will last a lifetime.

[hbruton.livejournal.com]

INteresting. I knew it was hard to place black cats but didn't know it also affected dogs. All three look lovely. I don' think I could ever do the fostering things. I get too attached and once an animal enters my home, it's there for life. Hope they all find excellent forever homes.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I agree about the fostering problem: that's why I do whatever I can in support of Border Collie Rescue-- I know myself well enough that I don't have the right mindset to foster. You need to be able to give them care and attention-- but not let them form attachments to you. I can't do that: if I have a dog under my care, they will be smothered with my doofy-ness.

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

I was shocked the first time I heard about Black Dog Syndrome, because I LOVE big black dogs! Unfortunately I'm not able to have a dog at this time. :( But I would adopt a big black dog with pricked ears in a heartbeat.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah-- Blue-- the rescue I almost got originally-- was a slender, prick-eared shepherd mix. I was shocked when she got adopted out-- the shelter was closed the day I decided that, after several visits, I wanted her-- but when I went back the next day I found out she'd been adopted out at an adoption fair the day before. Talk about disappointment: I'd emotionally bonded with her in my own mind and since she'd been available at closing two days before, I thought she was mine. Just goes to show: if you think it's the right animal, get it now!

[dogteam.livejournal.com]

I have a soft spot for black dogs, obviously, since I currently have 3 black labs.
Around here I just call the dogs you describe "Alberta Blacks"...the black gene, being dominant, tends to pop up first when breeds intermix. A few generations of Heinz 57's in the farm country all tend to drift towards the same look...sort of a shaggy border collie/lab/shepherd. Almost without fail, they have a sweet disposition and lead rather short lives.

A co-worker is heavy into pit bull rescue, and recently had me babysit a year old female (brindle black) in my office until she could slip away to the vet. Like Bear, her temperament was not suitable for fighting and she was used as a "bait dog"...scars criss-crossed her face, and she had just had surgery to repair a torn cruxiate ligament. She was sweet and submissive, her only challenge was that she was so excited to be shown affection that she became a 120 lb ball of lovable frenzy. She is now in a new home on a trial basis, and I have my fingers crossed for her.

Some dogs, unfortunately, are too scarred both emotionally and physically, to be helped by even the best rescuers. Such was the case of another pitty...her "owner", high on crack, doused her vari-kennel in gasoline and set it ablaze, melting it onto her body. Almost tragically, she survived...burned over 70% of her body and too frighted to trust anyone ever again. I'm afraid that she has been put down.

Black dogs rule. I doubt that I'll ever have anything else.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Our local social group calls them pariah dogs (though that name isn't good for official, public rescue media). Prick-eared, sickle-tail and lanky. Down here they tend to eventually turn into red dogs, though.

Bait-dogs are a horrible thing. It never ceases to surprise me how loving they are after all they've gone through. I can picture the 120lb frenzy of luv.

BCR had a dog with a similar background: someone had thrown a flammable liquid on her and set her ablaze. One whole side of her was a mass of scar tissue. She was the sweetest dog, though. Many people were tempted, but they worried that people would thinkg -they- had done this to her and would pass. Amazingly, she had a very happy ending: a producer in the film industry adopted her. She and her buddy (his other dog, possibly a lab) adored each other and travel all over the world now.

[kazmalop.livejournal.com]

The chow mix is beautiful. I recently babysitted a black lab puppy, and my family fell in love with her. They were sad to see her go. Since then my family has been looking for a dog to adopt.
Mind emailing me some information on them so i can talk about it with my mom? I'm particularly interested in Bear.
We do have a smaller dog, so Char is not ideal from what i can tell... but who knows. My email is monstersays(at)gmail.com

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I was updated on Bear: she's still on hold until she gets cleared medically by the rescue. I will pass on your email to the foster and she can give you the details on Bear (and probably Laney, as they're both at her home). Thanks for the interest!

Edit: and no pressure! If it's a good match and situation for you, we'll work it out.

[steele-the-wolf.livejournal.com]

What a great blog post. I've know about this for quite a while and its always stood out in my mind because I have always loved big black canines and couldn't understand how the public could react that way.

Over the years of doing rescue work it wouldn't surprise me anymore. I can take a look at the statistics from our own rescue and see exactly how people behave. Our mixes/mutts (some of our best foster animals) are in the single digits, our purebreeds are in the double digits, and the puppies get views in the hundreds.

Most people are better off with an older dog but they would rather buy something "new" it seems. Dogs seem to be the victims of consumerism along with overbreeding.