"Big black dog" syndrome

Recently, the AP reported a story about how big black dogs, lab mixes, rottweiler mixes, and the like, are the hardest dogs for shelters to find home for. CNN also posted the story to its web site last week.

This quote from the story pretty much sums it up:

It's not just that large dogs can be frightening: Animal shelters say black dogs of all sizes are difficult to photograph for online listings, and are hard to spot against the shadows of their crates and cages in dimly lighted kennels.

Older black dogs with a little white in their muzzles can look elderly. Bigger breeds like German shepherds or Chows aren't as fashionable as small, cuddly lap dogs.

Then there's the reputation. The idea of a big, black dog unleashing destruction is a common theme in books, movies and folklore as diverse as "The Hound of the Baskervilles," the "Harry Potter" series and "The Omen."

It's such a sad thing that the generic "black dog" is so hard to find a home for, and as the owner of a "big black dog" (my old lady dog Reba) it always depresses the hell out of me to read about this subject. But I have to say, I was beyond thrilled to see national news organizations actually pay attention to it--and it's a pretty good story too! I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've thought mainstream national media did justice to a dog issue. Usually, most stories about dogs in the media are of the biting dog variety or the animal rights variety. This one is neither. Anyway, you can read it for yourself here.