Organizers say black dogs are last to be adopted

GENEVA – Black dogs in crates and on leashes peppered the lawn Sunday outside Fiora's Restaurant on Third Street in Geneva.

Big dogs, little dogs, fluffy dogs, puppies and older canines snoozed and cavorted on the sun-dappled grass while pet-seekers and the curious – attracted by the cuteness factor – petted and cooed at them.

Among them was Mike Chalawa of Bartlett bonding with Rocko, a beagle-hound mix that was mostly black.

"Rocko's a cool little beagle mix," Chalawa said, giving Rocko a back scratch.

"I grew up on a horse farm, and we had beagles and they're very good dogs. And he needs a home and nobody will take him. So maybe I will consider. I will not make a decision today. I will come up and see him where he's at and go from there."

But the adoption event called Diamonds in the Ruff sponsored by 4 Paws 4 U 4 Ever had a more specific purpose than just promoting dog adoption. Though the shelter brought out its other dogs, they were really promoting the adoption of black dogs.

Gaye Masnjack of Elburn, the adoption coordinator for the nonprofit no-kill shelter based in West Chicago, said Rocko is affected by "black dog syndrome."

Black dog syndrome means black or dark-colored dogs are the last to be adopted and the event is intended to showcase black dogs that are "just as loving and wonderful as any other dog," Masnjack said.

She said it is the plight of black dogs throughout shelters.

"The Humane Society did a nationwide study where they went to many large shelters and put a large black dog in every other cage and videotaped people as they came through," Masnjack said. "And as people left the shelter, they were asked to view the videotape and fill out a survey on how they reacted to the dogs."

And what they found consistently is that people would walk right past the black dogs but would bend down to speak to the small dogs or dogs of any other color, she said.

The most common reason given was they did not think the black dog was a family dog. Instead, they saw it as a guard dog. Further probing revealed that they were reminded of the large black dogs in the 1976 movie "The Omen," that guarded both the anti-Christ boy and a graveyard.

"Even television shows have guard dogs are typically shepherds or Rottweilers or dobies or mixes and it's usually a large black dog," Masnjack said.

The second most common reason was that people could not see a dog's eyes and did not know they were friendly enough to approach she said.

"Last year we adopted out a wonderful Rottweiler-mixed female. The shelter had her for three years," Masnjack said. "Our poster child today is called McMac and he is a black Lab-shepherd mix. The shelter has had him a full year and he has not found a home."

But as the event continued and more than seven dogs were adopted – including a puppy Lab mix named Layla, Chica a husky, and Lucy a golden retriever – even McMac seemed finally to find a family to adopt him.

John Casey, who runs the shelter with his wife, Shari, said McMac had been adopted out twice, but brought back both times when the families could not take care of him.

But then came the Tymec family: Steve and Diane, their daughter Kiara, 11, a sixth-grader at Haines Middle School in St. Charles and Nathan, 9, a fourth-grader at Corron Elementary School in South Elgin.

The Tymecs met McMac, and it was a go.

"We wanted to rescue another dog, but it was important that they interacted well together," Steve Tymec said as McMac and shih tzus Peanut and Kirby sniffed each other, tails wagging. "The little one, Peanut ... she walked right up to him and that was the deciding factor. They look like they're going to match really well."

"He's really cute, and he's my favorite dog," Nathan said, hugging McMac's neck. "He's quiet, and he does not run around a lot."

Adds Kiara, "We're really happy about it."

Even those not looking for a dog could not resist stopping.

Brandon Petersen of Elburn, who has been walking down Third Street with his wife, Carrie and infant son, Ryker, were among those who were just checking out the pups.

They were most impressed with Austin, a handsome 10-month-old Lab-Weimaraner mix with dark gray fur.

"We were shocked at how cute and well behaved Austin was," Brandon Petersen said. "How cute and gentle and well- behaved."

Still, the couple was not ready to adopt a dog, not until their son is older.

"We were just walking by and the cuteness factor kind of distracted us," Petersen said.