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Doggie Discrimination

As a result of excessive overpopulation, an estimated four to six million domestic dogs are euthanized in United States shelters each year. At a minimum, this suggests that one healthy dog is destroyed every eight seconds due to lack of shelter space and the failure to find a permanent home. In addition to this, a heart-breaking phenomenon has swept through rescue shelters across the nation; it has been labeld the "Black Dog Syndrome." Unfortunately, a fur color bias has been identified in shelter adoptions - meaning that dark colored dogs, especially large black dogs, seem to be the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.

My idea is to spread the word about the "Black Dog Syndrome". I would like to organize a "Black Dog Walk" for the community, where current owners and local shelters can come out and show off their black beauties! Whether it be at a local park or one of the area's college campuses, this could give black dogs a chance to shake off this stigma associated with their dark fur. Not to mention, this would also give the local shelters some well deserved publicity (and a chance to adopt out some dogs)! Maybe increased awareness about this phenomenon can help slow its devastating effect...

Check out http://www.blackdogrescueproject.com/black-dog-syndrome.html for more information.

Submitted By:

• Erika Bryant
• Erika Bryant