black dog syndrome

if there's one thing you probably know about me, it's that i love animals.  i love animals of any kind really, domestic, wild, large or small.  the critters of the world never cease to completely fascinate me.  i mean just look at this. 

anyway, i was hanging with dotty and sita on monday and got to meet sita's two wonderful dogs, one of which is a black dog named sam.  sita adopted sam just before he was to be sent to the black dog rescue.  having never heard of this organization, i was surprised to find there is actually a rescue service specifically for black dogs.  why you ask?  well, apparently there's a stigma put on them just because they're black.  it's like some bizarre form of racism...who knew? 

apparently:
-black dogs, particularly black labs or lab mixes, are euthanized at a horrifying rate at many pounds & shelters because people pass them up for lighter colored dogs.

-black dogs are often the last to adopt out, for whatever the reason, whether it's because they don't photograph as well, or people think they look meaner, etc.

i mean really?!  just like people, color shouldn't matter.  it's the personality that potential adopters should be considering.  and sam, sam is possibly the sweetest dog i have ever met.  i mean really, we met and like five minutes later he was resting his head on my bosom.  MY BOSOM! just look at that face!! 

and rocco the wonder newf...another one of my favorite big black dogs!