The "Black Dog" of Depression AND Black Dog Syndrome

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

A friend of mine recently posted a video on facebook about depression. The video is an animation meant to spread awareness about depression and encourage people to seek help. It likens depression to a 'black dog' that follows you around everywhere you go destroying your life piece by piece.

 

Here is a link to the video on Upworthy.com http://www.upworthy.com/what-is-depression-let-this-animation-with-...

 

I am all about spreading awareness about mental health issues. Depression and other mental health issues have run deep in my family and I know what it can do and how important it is to seek help when you need it. However, I can't help but be bothered by the way this video tries to break down one stigma by perpetuating another - Black Dog Syndrome.

 

Discrimination against black coloured dogs is widely reported by shelters and rescues. They say black dogs are far more likely to languish in shelters and foster homes for months while other coloured dogs are adopted more quickly. They say that black dogs have much higher rates of euthanasia. I did a little research of my own to see how much evidence there is behind these claims, and the truth is there is not very much out there. However, the anecdotal evidence appears to be quite overwhelming. Certainly, this has been the experience of the rescue group I volunteer with locally.

 

In my research I came across this website, dedicated to a research project to study the issue more in depth and put some qualitative and quantiative evidence to the issue. http://blackdogresearchstudio.com/  They posted a paper written in 2007 written by Amanda Leonard based on a year of fieldwork in 2007 at the Washington Humane Society in Washington, DC. The paper "elucidates the underlying predispositions that create, reproduce, and reinforce the discrimination against large black dogs in American animal shelters." I found the paper fascinating and I encourage anyone who has an interest in the topic to give it a read. I've attached it here for ease of reference.Kroeber%20BBD%20paper.pdf

 

The negative stigma associated with black dogs is deeply embedded in our culture. Historically black dogs have symbolized fear, aggression, darkness, immorality, and even evil. Meanwhile, in reality black dogs are no more or less loving, affectionate, gentle, loyal, playful, and 'good' then any other coloured dog. Why further the stigma by associating black dogs with depression - a crippling and debilitating illness? Why not use something a little more generic, such as 'dark monster' to symbolise the issue?  Instead, the makers of the video unwittingly chose to further the stigma against the very souls that could, if given a chance, lovingly help to lift even the most severe of depression sufferers out of their plight.  Dogs are becoming well known for the healing power they have over people with mental and emotional illnesses - yes, even the black ones.

 

Perhaps I'm over reacting a little but now that I'm involved in a rescue, where I see some of the sweetest dogs imaginable passed over by good homes for the small white fluffy ones, regardless of temperament, it just really pains my heart.   ...Sorry for the long rant but I hope some of you find this interesting.

[Sheila & Finnley]

 

Sherri ~ In the case of mental health, I don't think it's as much about a black dog stigma, as it is someones

"Descriptive Word" to spread awareness, that depression isn't a good thing to be going through, and you should seek help and support. All through the ages the color black, whether it be a dog, a horse, or a man dressed in black, represented the bad guy, and evil. I think a true animal lover doesn't see the color of an animal as much as how they, and the animal.... in this case dog, click.

Although it seems prejudiced, to relate a black dog in describing depression, I'm sure it wasn't meant as a slight to black dogs everywhere. It was more to paint a picture of how depression will stick with you, like a loyal canine companion, and black came into play to represent the evil of it all.

I think because you have such a big heart  and being involved in rescue, it just pains you to think that people will see black dogs as evil, and that will make it even harder for them to be adopted. I think that there are equal numbers of people out there, that love and appreciate black dogs just as much as the other colors. It all about the true animal lovers. They don't see the colors, they just see the love.

So don't despair it's not as bleak as you might think. Just remember that common sense will prevail.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Hi Sheila, thanks for your response. I think you are right that true animal lovers won't see the colour but the heart within the animal. However, Black Dog Syndrome is a real thing, a real issue. The article I posted above talks about how in addition to the association of black to bad things, it also appears that becasue it is more difficult to read the expressions on the faces of black dogs and it is also more difficult to photograph them nicely, people don't naturally gravitate towards them. I really don't think that associating black dogs with depression is fair. Why not a blue monster? There are otherways to symbolize depression without perptuating a stigma.

 

If I had the skills I would love to make a video called "The REAL black dog of depression" and focus it on how dogs (of any colour) can help people heal.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Very interesting and I'm glad you brought this up.
Black cats too are associated with all that is evil and are even tortured :(
Those owning black cats are told to keep the cats as inside pets only just for the fact they are targeted.

There is hope! I remember in the 90s so many households had black labs ;)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I once read an article about a shelter that always had problems finding homes for black cats. Then they named one Jelly Bean and it got adopted right away. After that, they always named their black cats Jelly Bean. Associating the cats with positive and sweet things seemed to help.

[Breanna]

We have a black cat named "Whitey" because my boyfriend is ironic like that. The neighbors moved and abandoned her as a kitten so he took her in. She is allowed outside because she loves it, but my boyfriend doesn't let her out on Halloween. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've been aware of Black Dog Syndrome ever since I became involved in dog rescue. Big black dogs are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. There are many websites devoted to the issue of black dogs in shelters; google "black dog syndrome and you get hundreds of them. Here are just a few:

http://www.blackdogrescueproject.com/black-dog-syndrome.html

http://www.blackpearldogs.com/

http://www.startseeingblackdogs.com/bdsyndrome.html

Time, USA Today, and Bark magazine have all written about Black Dog Syndrome.

http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1816859,00.html

http://thebark.com/content/black-dogs-face-hard-choice-shelter

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-09-1687263632_x.htm

One of the problems is familiar to many of our photography friends here; it's hard to get a good photo of a black dog. Since many, many people "fall in love" with a dog from a photo on Petfinder, this can be a real obstacle for the black dogs who are looking for homes. Many professional photographers who are also dog lovers have volunteered their time and skills to help black dogs in local shelters by taking their photos for the adoption ads. I know some of our Photography group members are doing this. Here's an interview with one photographer about his work helping black shelter dogs overcome "Black Dog Syndrome": http://jessefreidin.com/2012/08/cbs-5-interviews-jesse-freidin-abou...

Thanks for posting this Sherri, the more people who are aware, the better for the dogs.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Karen. In my google searching I read that the ASPCA claims that Black Dog Syndrome is a myth. But I can tell it's not. The rescue I volunteer with is picking up two one-year old labs today from a shelter. They are both scheduled to be euthanized - their only crime is being the colour black, literally. The shelter says they don't have space for black dogs because they don't get adopted. They don't even bother trying anymore. No profile photos, no petfinder posts, nothing.  It looks like I might be getting a short-term foster dog as they only had a place for one of them...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nothing like houseguests for Christmas, kiddo. :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

I can say that at the shelter I go to, Black Dog Syndrome is definitely real, and a problem. I think it's partly the photo, partly that people want light, (preferably tiny) cute dogs. My shelter regularly does "specials" on black dogs, which highlights the individual dogs, and gives a special on their adoption fee.  It does seem to help.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Prejudices and superstitions as well as just plain preferences run deep and i don't think you can easily change them. My cousin had a black lab we all loved and who i cared for at tomes. And of course i loved Rex, the black standard poodle who came with my son and stayed on when he left. But i purposely got light colored dogs for the ease of seeing ticks and seeing the dogs themselves in the dark.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What does it say about me that I want a big, black dog?? She will be named Olive, of course :) I hate to think of any animal or person being judged by their color. Thank you for sharing, Sherri!

[Miss Ellie]

I agree with you Sherri...I wish they wouldn't use a black dog metaphorically speaking as it does seem to portray them in a negative light. This breaks my heart. I grew up with three black labs and when I first got married we adopted a gorgeous black cat, named Dudley from the humane society and I can truly say that these four animals were some of the best pets ever.  It should have absolutely nothing to do with colour and everything to do with the temperament & personality of the animal.  If only everyone could experience the love of one of these animals!