Everyone loves a random, makes no sense holiday, right? Well - today is National Black Dog Day! I wonder if some pup somewhere made it up so he could get extra treats, hmmm. Well, it worked. And today, we celebrate!
It's actually a great moment to recognize black dogs, and cats too! Did you know that black animals are the hardest to get adopted out in animal shelters? It's true! There's a variety of reasons for that. Black dogs are often portrayed on TV & movies as being mean or aggressive (Harry Potter, for example), there's the whole black cat superstition thing, and even the "Beware of Dog" signs feature a silhouette of a dog in, you guessed it... solid black.
But that's not all. It's no fault to them, but black animals are just hard to see. Put them in a kennel in a dimly lit room, and people can just walk on by, not even realizing what they are doing. Plus, black animals are really tough to photograph, which is how many people start their adoption process - thru photos online. Their facial features can get lost in photos, and people can unintentionally just swipe to the next one.
But I promise you, adopting a black dog will be the best decision of your life! And if you're ever worried about not having Instagram worthy photos with your pup, then just change the scenery. I might be a little partial, but I think my dog Gunnar looks pretty great in these photos from some of our summer adventures, including a family vacation to the ocean.
If you're thinking about adding a 4 legged friend to your family, I strongly encourage you to consider a black (or in my case, black & white) dog or cat. I adopted my pup 5 years ago & it was one of the best decisions of my life. Click here to see a list of available pets at the Wisconsin Humane Society, and stop a little longer on those black ones. #AdoptDontShop