Get Over it and Adopt an Ugly Pet

Humans are biased when it comes to looks-even when it comes to their pets. A common observation made by shelter employees is that black dogs and cats are adopted less frequently and are euthanized more often, leading to a phenomenon of neglect called 'Black Dog Syndrome.' It's topic that's been reported on widely and for years. "If you're a black dog and come to our shelter, you're chances of getting adopted are pretty poor," an animal control worker recently told NBC. There lots of reasons people adopt particular pets, and they aren't always good ones-especially when it comes to appearance-but scientific research shows that black dogs and cats aren't necessarily at a disadvantage when it comes to being rescued.

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"What we feel in our gut doesn't match what the data says," Dr. Emily Weiss, vice president of shelter research and development for the ASPCA, tells Yahoo Shine. She explains that at any one time there are generally more black animals at shelters, because it's a common shade, so it seems like they aren't moving into homes. "People also get overwhelmed and choose the one animal that is a different color." She adds, "What we have found, is that people are really picky"-and arrive at the shelter with a preconceived idea of what they want in their pet, usually based on appearance.

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This isn't good strategy for finding the ideal companion. "Beauty is fur deep," animal behavior expert Nicolas Dodman, PhD, author of The Dog Who Loved Too Much and The Cat Who Cried for Help tells Yahoo Shine. "Pretty pets get adopted more often." He emphasizes that-black, white, or spotted-its crucial to prioritize temperament above looks when it comes to picking a pet. More than 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States, a number that he feels could be reduced dramatically if people choose pets with a complimentary personality.

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Dodman's advice for picking the right animal is to find clues about it's temperament before bringing them home. You can do this by inquiring about why the animal was left at the shelter and discussing its personality with the shelter employees. "Since the dogs are all bouncing around and cats are huddled in the back of their cages, ask to evaluate it outside of the shelter environment." Play with the cat outside of its cage and take the dog on a walk and observe how it interacts with people and other dogs.

Weiss agrees that potential pet owners need to look beyond the color, size, and breed to find the right animal. The ASPCA has a tool called Meet Your Match that helps people identify available dogs and cats that will be in synch with their personality and lifestyle. "There will always be love at first sight," she says, "but we point out the disconnects, so you can either decide to make accommodations or choose another pet."

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