Black or not, go adopt

Let's get the worst part of this column out of the way up front: I was wrong. You have no idea how I've dreaded putting that out there for everyone to read, but I have to admit it is at least partly true.

Last week I spoke to some co-workers about Black Dog Syndrome, explaining that my understanding was that black pets - dogs and cats, specifically - tend to spend longer amounts of time in shelters and are euthanized at higher rates than pets with lighter fur colors. Once I realized the co-workers were unaware, I decided it was probably worth a column.

But, when I actually started visiting with the good folks at area shelters I quickly figured out that, at least locally, Black Pet Syndrome doesn't actually exist.

'We have a really good track record for finding homes for all types of pets, including those with black fur,” explained Jan Clarke, communications director at Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Diane Webber, director at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control, added that while some individuals may come into the shelter with a specific type of pet in mind - for instance, a calico cat or fluffy white dog - such personal preferences haven't necessarily excluded black pets, nor are such preferences typically aligned with superstitions.

'I think maybe what we have seen, in terms of ‘Black Pet Syndrome,' is people hearing about it and wanting to specifically adopt a black pet because of it,” said Liz Ford, an animal technician at Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center.

So how did the idea of Black Dog/Cat Syndrome begin?

'Keep in mind that animal rescue and control isn't limited to Iowa,” cautioned Webber. 'What we can say is that this isn't a problem here, in our area. We don't make decisions based on the appearance of the animal. We look at their health and their temperament.”

Due to genetics, and current breed prevalence within the shelters, it could also be that there are simply more animals with dark fur rotating through the facilities, which generates a public perception that black animals stay longer. In the case of cats, especially feral cats, it could be that having a darker coat is a protective measure, which would lead to more cats with darker marking surviving and reproducing.

Finally, and because so many prospective pet owners are first viewing pets available for adoption on a computer, it could also be that the snapshots taken of adoptable pets aren't presenting black pets as well.

'We are so fortunate that we have a professional photographer who volunteers to take most of the photos of our animals,” said Clarke.

From looking at an animal or a photograph of an animal, people perceive personality information based on facial cues. Such cues are often taken from the eye and eyebrow area of the pet and, unfortunately, that section of the face is specifically difficult to photograph on black animals.

At Cedar Valley the volunteer photographers make sure the pet has good facial lighting and add a pop of color to draw a viewer's eye.

Quality photographs, however, are only one piece of the puzzle. Although Eastern Iowans have been blessed with many modern animal shelter facilities, historically and nationally such animals have not necessarily been kept in well-lit spaces. Darker fur colors can blend into the shadows in kennels, resulting in such an animal being overlooked by visitors.

'Even in our well-lit facility, we have one kennel that sits behind the door when it is open, and that kennel has less light than other spaces,” Clarke said. 'We are particular about that space, and try not to place a darker dog there, because we've noticed that set up can result in an animal not being seen or not being seen as easily.”

Do people walk into shelters and immediately indicate they don't want a black dog or cat?

'Yes, they sometimes do - just like some come in and say they don't want a pet with white fur,” Webber said. 'But more often people come in and tell us what they are looking for rather than what they don't want.”

The reasons people don't want a certain type of pet aren't really explored, added Ford.

'I really want to connect potential pet owners with the best possible pet for them,” she said. 'I'm not really going to spend a lot of time on discovery of why they don't want something, I'm going to focus on what they do want.”

Local experts encourage prospective owners to walk into a shelter with at least a basic understanding of what they hope to gain from the relationship with their new pet.

'Bring the whole family, and feel free to visit as many times as necessary to find the pet that suits your household best,” Ford suggests.

Taking stock of your and your family's personality - for instance, whether or not you like to travel or veg out on the couch after work - can also help shelter workers point you to pets that share your priorities.

'That's really the most important thing,” Clarke said. 'Take time to talk with the shelter workers and volunteers. Give them an honest picture of your life and your hopes for that pet. If you want a running buddy, tell us. If you want a lap cat, we can help you. Success happens when we are able to match the personalities.”

And, if you are in the market for a furry family member, please do consider adoption. Thousands of pets - white, brown, black and every other coat color imaginable - visit shelters in Eastern Iowa each year. All of them deserve a safe and loving home.

To help with the expense of adoption, Cedar Rapids Animal Care is currently offering reduced costs on cat adoptions. The Iowa City Animal Center will have specials during July, and Cedar Valley usually has select pets available for reduced fees.

If your home is already full, consider phoning Cedar Valley today between 12 and 2 p.m. to schedule your furry family member(s) in a photo shoot between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m. There is no sitting fee, packages start at $20 and photographer Carl Bromberg of Visions Photography is donating a portion of the proceeds to the shelter.

l Comments: (319) 339-3144 or @LyndaIowa or lynda.waddington@thegazette.com