Are we Fur-judice? Why Black Animals Take Longer to Get Adopted

Can prejudice and racism translate beyond skin color to fur color? It seems a likely answer as to why animals with black fur are harder to adopt than their lighter colored companions.

But, Lt. Lisa Worrick with County Department of Animal Services says there are few reasons why darker animals take longer to get adopted.

First, they are harder to photograph. I experienced this first-hand trying to photograph the black animals at the . The moving of the animals along with flash and indoor lighting, made for a challenge. 

Second, Worrick said there simply may be more black dogs and cats than animals of other colors. Black labs for instance, are more common than say .

Lastly, some associate darker colors with superstitions such as the idea that black cats are bad luck. 

Black however, is good luck for Black Friday shoppers. In its first ever “Black Friday” pet adoption drive, the County Department of Animal Services is slashing adoption prices ahead of the holiday shopping season for animals sporting the color black. The regular adoption fee of $58 for cats and $69 for dogs will be dropped to the super-low price of $25 for all animals with black in their coats at any of the three shelter branches.