The last dogs to be adopted?

[Suki Wingy]

around here usually large black dogs and dalmatians (because how the movie 101 dals ruined their reputation)

[Sophist]

Actually, around here.. the "bad" breeds are almost the first to go!

Same here... every little punk wants a pit to look tough and make them feel like they are tough, too. The converstions I have heard from some of the people wanting bullies just for the image have been frightening. I do not think they screen carefully enough, but I understand that they're often between a rock and a hard place. Still, they don't have too much trouble getting out of the shelters. It would just be nice if you could know that they were really going to a better place when they left...

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Probably Pitties/bully breeds, big black dogs, seniors, and handicapped dogs.

[Danegirl2208]

big black dogs...its sad ...but i for one happen to be quite partial to big black dogs

[angelbow20]

When we rescued Sandy ( german shep/ huskey mix) it was her last day there. It even said on her cage that if nobody was going to adopt her that day she was going to get PTS, and she was about 9 weeks old!!! She was sooo cute, she was alittle brat as a pup and ate everything and chewed everything, she even got into rat poison once! But now she is the best dog I have ever had and I love her to death and im so happy we chose her instead of the little puppies up in the front room! We always have bigger mixed breeds, Labs and hound dogs for adoption.

[wolf_Q]

Whenever I visit the local shelter there's ALWAYS several labs (all colors) and some other sporting breeds like german shorthair pointers, border collies/mixes, german shepherds/mixes, and bully breeds/mixes. There's always a couple of small breeds (I've seen several purebred beagles and cocker spaniels as well as "designer" breed poodle mixes) and occasionally puppies too. Many of the dogs are purebreds and the vast majority are big dogs. I've seen several senior dogs which makes me so heartsick, I can't imagine having a dog for so many years then just dumping them. I haven't noticed a particularly large amount of black colored dogs, though I've heard statistically that is usually the case.

This is a sporting/farming area so there's a TON of sporting breed dogs like labs and herding breeds like border collies/aussies. I voted "big black dogs" and I'd say just any large breed dog is the last to be adopted here. If anyone wants to adopt a lab, just come here you'll find any age/size/color you want I guarantee it. I really have not seen many hounds or malamutes/huskies in the local shelters.

[Pogiebate]

I think big black dogs. They are so common most people want dogs that stand out. Not all people of course.
As for me I love big black dogs Of course I love all dogs LOL.

[dukedogsmom]

Actually, in my experience, the correct answer is "seniors".


But statistically, I know it is the big, black dogs.


Third? Maybe hounds.

Whenever I have volunteered at a shelter, the handicapped pets had to have owners very carefully screened because so many people attempted to adopt on an impulse due to pity. Even with extra careful screening, they never seemed to stay in the shelters long at all.

Wow. Dasher must be really lucky then. He's a big, black senior dog.

[Sophist]

Wow. Dasher must be really lucky then. He's a big, black senior dog.

Very, very lucky.

Big, black and senior is a triple-whammy for a shelter dog. Glad he found someone who saw past that!

[K9soul]

I'd hazard a guess that around 80%, if not more, of the dogs that end up in my local humane society are labs and lab mixes (most commonly black as well). There are just so, so many. The vast majority of "oops" litters are lab mix litters too.

Dasher is very blessed to have you Val. I know he loves you deeply. He's got a wonderful momma!

[Chilli]

Around here its the hounds.
Mainly because there is such a large number of hounds up for adoption around here. And alot of people who live in the city think a hound wouldn't be suitable for them.
I can't say how many times I've seen redbones, black & tans, beagles, and other hunting dogs not get adopted.

[Babyboonie]

That's quite a difficult one. I thought it would be the handicapped dogs as vet bills are naturally going to occur quite frequently...however, from reading the replies and looking at the results of the poll, it seems that big black dogs are the last to be adopted. Personally, i'm not sure why?

[luvofallhorses]

however, from reading the replies and looking at the results of the poll, it seems that big black dogs are the last to be adopted. Personally, i'm not sure why?

read http://www.blackpearldogs.com

[dukedogsmom]

read http://www.blackpearldogs.com

That is so horrible. I had no idea the stigma attached to big, black dogs. Makes me want to just adopt them. Very sad. I know I've sure got a pearl with Dasher.

[K9soul]

That's a good link Krista. I was reading more about it too. Here is another good excerpt I found:

(Black Dog Syndrome - Ace Atkins)

They are always at the shelter waiting to get noticed but seldom do.

They’re usually Labs or Lab mixes; often, they have a little crest of white on their chest if not completely black. We get entire litters of them. We get them when they’re older. We get them at six months. Almost always they are put down because they’re never adopted.

People in the dog rescue business call it the Black Dog Syndrome. There are a bunch of theories to why black dogs are the least likely to be adopted. Many think it’s because their photos don’t show up well on websites or adoption fliers because they’re too dark.

Others even note that it may be a stigma attached to black dogs that goes back to ancient myths. See the website blackpearldogs.com – an entire site dedicated to the forgotten dog -- for that theory and others.

But anyone at the Oxford Lafayette Animal Shelter (down on Highway 7 near the Yocona Basin for those who don’t know) will tell you the black dog is the most underappreciated.

Right now, we have numerous black puppies who will be passed up and several black dogs who won’t get noticed.

This site's page tugged at my heartstrings too:

http://www.centexhumanesociety.com/h..._syndrome.html