Veda is at Butte Humane Society waiting for her forever home. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Until I started walking dogs at Butte Human Society in Chico I had no idea some dogs and cats are likely to be in the shelter longer because of the color of their fur.

There’s an actual name for it—black dog/cat syndrome.

I was first alerted to this fact by a BHS employee during a special adoption event earlier this year. I asked how things were going, and she essentially said, “As usual, the black dogs are not finding homes as quickly.“

I understand size, breed and age play a factor in a person’s preference. I even understand if the dog/cat is good with other animals and/or kids. But color as a preference? That’s absurd.

I suppose I understand people wanting a yellow Lab over a black Lab, though not really since I had a black Lab.

But color as a preference beyond Labradors? Wow, just wow.

“The reasons are varied and complex, ranging from deep-seated myths and superstitions to more superficial factors like appearance and visibility,” Paws.org website says. “One of the most persistent threats to black cat adoption rates is the centuries-old superstition that they are harbingers of bad luck. This myth, rooted in medieval Europe, paints black cats as witches’ familiars or omens of misfortune. Yet black cats are conversely seen as good-luck bringers in ancient Egyptian beliefs and Welsh folklore, for example.

“Black dogs, on the other hand, suffer from a different kind of bad publicity. Some people associate them with aggression or danger due to their portrayal in books, movies, and TV shows.”

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Veda at BHS. What a love bug. She rolled on her back and wanted belly rubs before anything else. Yep, she’s a black dog.

Maybe it’s because I grew up with black dogs that I never gave their color any thought. Maybe it’s because my last dog was blonde that I don’t really don’t have a clue to what my next dog will look like.

I’ve been drawn to all sorts of dogs at the shelter; ones I could see taking home if I were looking for a dog. The only real constant is being medium sized. Color, breed, age—all over the board.

But now that I know black dogs have a harder time being adopted, I might actually seek out a black dog.