Friday, September 26, 2008

“Black Dog Barkapalooza” to be held in Dallas

By Pegasus News wire

Ruby (left) and Chip are two of the Big Black Dogs who will be available for adoption.

In celebration of “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month,” Animal Guardians of America will host a Black Dog Barkapalooza Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PetSmart, just north of Forest Lane in Dallas.

The festive fall event, which is sponsored by PetSmart Charities, will feature 35-40 BBDs—or Big Black Dogs—available for adoption. In addition, a magician/balloon artist, face painter and clown will be on hand to entertain children, and there will be free popcorn, goody bags and humane activity books for kids. Raffle prizes include an autographed copy of The Dog Bible by noted author and radio host Tracie Hotchner and a gift certificate for boarding in a luxury penthouse at Toothacres Pet Care Center.

“It’s a well-established fact that black-coated dogs are the most difficult to adopt,” said Annette Lambert, president of Animal Guardians, a no-kill animal rescue organization. “The phenomenon even has a name: Black Dog Syndrome.

“The purpose of our Black Dog Barkapalooza is to highlight their plight and show people what great dogs they really are,” said Lambert.

Mia, a 3-year-old Lab mix, is one of the Big Black Dogs who will be available for adoption.

Theories abound as to why BBDs and black dogs in general are the most difficult to adopt. A black dog in a stainless steel cage in a shelter is hard to see. It’s also difficult to feature black dogs on pet-adoption websites or in newspaper ads since their eyes tend to blend in with their black coats in the photos. A little white hair on the chin can make a young black dog look like a senior. And in books, movies and TV shows, black dogs are often portrayed as vicious and threatening.

Among the BBDs who will be available for adoption at the Black Dog Barkapalooza are Mia, a 3-year-old Lab mix who’s sweet-natured, very playful and eager to please; Ruby, a 5-year-old Rottweiler/border collie mix who’s inquisitive, has lots of personality and loves going on long walks; Jillian, a 1 ½-year-old Lab-Australian shepherd mix who’s smart, is good with other dogs and loves belly rubs; and Chip, a 2-year-old Lab mix who’s obedient and loyal and “has a joyful spirit,” said Lambert. The adoption fee is $150, and all dogs are spayed or neutered, current on vaccinations and negative for heartworms.

The Black Dog Barkapalooza is free and open to the public. For more information, call event coordinator Steve Hurst at 214-207-0045 or PetSmart at 972-239-3554, or visit www.AnimalGuardians.com.

Source: Metroplex Animal Coalition

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