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ADOPTION STORY: HELEN the Blind & Deaf Black Cat

10/22/2021

When Helen came to MHC, we knew we had to do everything we can to find this darling cat a home that will be willing and able to take care of her special needs.

Helen already had a few challenges:

born blind and deaf
older cat at almost 9 years
she's a solid black cat (read about Black Cat & Dog Syndrome)

On top of that, she had become homeless when her owner passed away. Even the 2 cats she was surrendered with did not seem to care for Helen at all.

Despite all of life's challenges, Helen retained her sweet and gentle nature and kept hoping for the best.

One sweet day, someone saw Helen's story and wanted to meet and get to know her.
Soon, Helen's future family came by the Adoption Center inside PetSmart and instantly fell in love with her!

Thank you Marlow Wall and family for making Helen a part of your family. She is one lucky black cat!

NOTES FROM HELEN'S ADOPTER:

We just wanted to say again how thankful we were that Helen was there! She has been doing very well so far and adjusting beautifully. She is so sweet.
Helen's doing very well and has fallen in love with my daughter 😂 She really is a sweetheart and has done an excellent job of learning her surroundings. Thank y’all again for helping her get a second chance!

Midland Humane Coalition is honored to be a recipient of the PetSmart Charities Adoption Preparation Grant for 2021.

With the help of this grant, we are able to prepare rescues for their new homes!

Thank you, PetSmart Charities!

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Overcoming Black Cat & Dog Syndrome

10/22/2021

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Black Cat & Dog Syndrome is described as a phenomenon that dark-coated pets are overlooked most of the time by adopters in favor of animals with lighter fur hues. But why?

When we think of Halloween, the first colors that pop into our mind are orange and black. Other colors are often used for decorating like purples, greens, etc., but orange and black have been for a number of years the colors most often associated with the Holiday. Orange is understandable as it is a perfect fall color reminiscent of falling leaves and the pumpkin patch. Black, on the other hand, is a bit more symbolic.

Black is a popular Halloween color because like Halloween, it has ties to death. It’s believed that the veil between the living and dead is thinnest around Halloween time, thus the beautiful celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Besides death, black is often used to represent darkness and evil.

THEORIES FOR THIS SYNDROME
Is that the reason for the Black Dog and Black Cat Syndrome experienced at shelters? We don't know.

There are a number of theories of why black dogs and cats are less adoptable than lighter colored animals. Theories include:

There are more of them!
They don’t photograph as well so they don’t appear on websites!
They are harder to see so people overlook them at the shelter!
People associate black dogs with big black mean dogs!
Black cats were considered witches’ companions during the Middle Ages and thought to be members of the Occult!
They're bad luck!

We really don’t know for sure the reason for the Black Dog and Cat Syndrome, but statistics gleaned from animal adoption centers know that it is REAL.

Sadly, black dogs and cats are often left behind when other colors are chosen for a furr-ever home.

When selecting a pet, we need to judge it by its personality, energy level, grooming needs, size, and exercise requirements to determine if it is a fit for our lifestyle. Not the color of its coat!

Here are a couple of stories of black pets being overlooked, but proving that they are awesome pets when people decided to give them a chance.

PHOEBE JOANN'S STORY
Let me tell you about Phoebe JoAnn. Her mother was part of a major rescue in Graham, Texas a number of years ago. All the dogs were immediately adopted out as they were marketed as Boston Terriers, except for Phoebe JoAnn’s mother who was kept behind in foster care until the delivery of her pups.

I adopted Phoebe JoAnn when she was six weeks old. She was not a Boston Terrier by any description, but my Mother thought that she was the cutest puppy that she had ever seen. And she was black!

Phoebe was independent and full of herself, but she was loveable! She loved her time in the back yard and quickly became best friends with the next-door neighbor dog. But she also always wanted to be a part of whatever was going on inside. If someone was getting groomed, Phoebe wanted her turn on the table. I attribute her saving another pup who was choking on a chewy by coming to get me. Phoebe was full of energy, and we sometimes accused her of not listening. But she listened when it was her turn to receive her blessing at the Blessing of the Animals. The little black dog was a wonderful part of my family for 15 years.

PRESTO'S STORY
Another story involving a black dog and the time it often takes black dogs to be adopted is Midland Humane Coalition board member, Jonna Smoot, and her adopted big black dog, Presto.

Presto had spent just under 6 years being a “homeless” rescue dog and he was just under 6 years old, when Jonna took him into her home to foster and prepare him for his furr-ever home.

Having never known the security of a home and the love of a family, Presto was frightened. He wouldn’t eat and he was afraid to come into the house. Jonna’s determination, with support from MHC, helped him adjust and settle in. Soon, Presto was no longer a foster but had found his furr-ever home with Jonna.

“From the minute I got him home, Presto was truly the sweetest dog ever,” Jonna recalls. Today, she says, “He is the best dog I have ever had.”

Prejudice is all over the news today. Not a day goes by that we do not hear the word.

Let us not be a part of the prejudice of the Black Dog and Cat Syndrome and look beyond the color of the coat and into the heart of the pet.

Shelia Huffman, Contributor/MHC Board

Shelia recently moved to the Greenwood community of Midland from Dallas where she was a staff writer for White Rock Lake Weekly and a columnist for Bubblelife Media. A retired travel agent and event planner, she has been an animal activist her entire life. Shelia has a daughter and son-in-law in Midland, a grandson in Dallas and a granddaughter at Texas Tech. She lists cooking and writing about food, and, of course, playing with her Terrier Mix rescue, Penelope, as some of her favorite things.

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Make Halloween safe & not-so-scary for pets!

10/22/2021

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Trick-or-treating —going door to door in costume and asking for a treat —has been a tradition in the United States and other countries for more than a century.

Kids love it as do many adults who get into the spirit of Halloween by decorating their house and dressing in costume to hand out treats.

However, some family members may find it stressful rather than fun-filled: that is, the four-legged ones!

The constant ringing of the door-bell, laughter and noisemakers can make your pet very nervous.

Here are a few tips on how to make Halloween safer and less scary for your pets:

Keep pets indoors in a crate or a quiet room to cut down on their anxiety. Never leave them outside on Halloween night. Just like the 4th of July, when you protect your pets from the noise of fireworks, you need to protect them from the additional activity in the neighborhood as “Trick or Treaters” crowd the streets.
Make sure your pets have ID tags or are microchipped in case they wander off.
Make sure that candle lit Jack-O-Lanterns and halloween treats and candies are out of your pet’s reach. Sugar is not good for your dog and we all know the dangers of chocolate which can be fatal.
Cats are especially vulnerable at Halloween. It is unfortunate, but they are often the victim of wicked pranks, especially black cats. Just make sure that your cats are safe inside.
If your dog is high strung and people coming to the door make him more so, you might consider setting a time, perhaps an hour of the evening, to welcome the kids and then turn your porch light off to indicate that you are not participating in Trick or Treating.
If trick-or-treating with your pet, keep them on a leash or in a crate.
Use pet-safe Halloween costumes for yourself and your pet if you're dressing them up (i.e. no choking hazards) !

Have a safe and fun Halloween for the entire family, including four-legged family members!

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ADOPTION STORY: HELEN the Blind & Deaf Black Cat

Overcoming Black Cat & Dog Syndrome

Make Halloween safe & not-so-scary for pets!

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ADOPTION STORY: HELEN the Blind & Deaf Black Cat

Overcoming Black Cat & Dog Syndrome

Make Halloween safe & not-so-scary for pets!

Welcome

Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter

Archives

Categories

Location

ConNECT WITH Us

sign up

SEARCH THE SITE

Paw Prints