What I am going to tell you is an open secret.
Everyone in the rescue world knows it, every shelter manager is aware of it, and each one of us, to a certain extent, is responsible for it.
Most animal lovers are racists. Granted, it’s an subconscious kind of racism but aren’t they all after all?
The truth is, we don’t see black dogs and cats. On the net, their pictures are overlooked, black spots on an page otherwise full of color. We just don’t pay attention. To all effects they are INVISIBLE.
Black dogs and cats are usually the first ones to die in shelters. Most of the time they don’t even get the chance to be shown to families, they are black anyway, who is going to want them? It’s called Black Dog Syndrome. Did you know there was such a thing?
So people enter Facebook, or pass through the shelters quickly, and they rush to the white and the yellow dogs.. but what happened to the little black mutt sitting, invisible, in the last cage down the corridor? He will be the first one to die.
And so.. What will happen to Toty?
We don’t know the circumstances of Toty’s birth, or how he ended up at the pound with a broken leg, but we know he was there, unable to step on his back leg. Broken.
Can you imagine? a black sickly puppy with a broken leg sitting in the last cage at the end of a long corridor in a dog pound.
AS A DOG, how unlucky can you be? How much worst things can get?
Luckily or Toty one of our friends went to the pound and has brought him to us. He has been sooo incredibly lucky, his leg is badly broken and without and operation he would never ben able to walk again.
So, the challenge is double… will Toty manage to keep people’s attention to get to this point?
Will people shed away their black bias and help Toty get operated and be able to walk again?
Toty is now sitting in a cage at our clinic, other than his broken leg he is healthy and in good spirits. We can’t operate him until Monday for a double reason. Our surgeon is away for the weekend AND, most importantly, we can’t operate him until we have raised the funds necessary for the operation. As you know Let’s Adopt is currently under severe financial constraint and we shouldn’t be taking new cases, but if we didn’t take on Toty’s case, he would very likely die or spend the rest of his life limping and in pain… He’s a black dog, it will be very difficult to raise enough funds, but we must try…
Please, if you have made it to here.. give us a hand with Toty’s operation… any contribution will do, it doesn’t mean much for one person but it’s going to mean EVERYTHING for Toty..
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UPDATE WEDNESDAY 8 MAY
The operation went great!!! Toty was a real trooper, what a brave little baby!!!!
Here he is… totally black, totally AWESOME!!!
Now… we must find him a home!. If you would like to add Toty to your family please write to me on viktor@myletsadopt.com and tell me everything about you and your family, let’s decide, together, if Toty would be a good fit to your family.
As always, these operations can take place thanks to the combined efforts of the Let’s Adopt Global community. Please, if you can, donate so that we can continue saving lives like Toty!.
Many many thanks
Viktor
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UPDATE June 15…
Toty did it… he proved that NOT ALL animal lovers are racists…
He proved, that there is a place out there for a black mutt with a broken leg.
He proved, that a man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.
OMG, he is the CUTEST little dog I’ve ever seen!! I wish I had the funds to help but I am unemployed. However, I follow your stories and will donate as soon as I am gainfully employed. Oh, if I could take him, I would pay to adopt him in a heartbeat!! <3
I find it insane that people would look over black animals just because of their color. But we live in an insane world. And I prefer black animals, fore black is my favorite color. So I guess it could be said that I’m a animal racists in the opposite way. I always look for the black animals first.
Anyway, I’m an extremely low income house hold of only my 3 yr old son and I and my 13yr old BLACK cat. (Had to throw that in) So I can not donate much. But I will give what I can.
I tell everyone who will listen about you guys. You’re changing the world one animal at a time. You guys are truly amazing. I’m more in awe of your organization with every story I read.
I would take Toty in a heart beat if I could. I know you’ll find him an excellent home. ( =
Hello, No I didn’t know that most black dogs and cats get left in the background, not noticed.
Funny enough I’ve always preferred black dogs, my last two were a mixture of breeds. We even bought, Friday was her name, with us when we moved here to the USA in 1991. We rescued her , she was about six mths. old. She was two yrs old when we moved. She was part of the family, you don’t leave a child behind because of the expense. She was my big baby. Alas she past away at the grand old age of thirteen in my arms. She didn’t even have to go in quarantine, at that time no rabies in England, don’t know about now though.
Toty is beautiful, how can you not fall in love with him.
I would love to adopt Toty, I have owned a black dog in the past and know that they can give just as much love as any other dog. Unfortunately I live in the UK, so if he is in a far away country it wouldn’t be fair to him to have to spend 6 months locked away in quarantine. I hope he gets a forever home soon x x x
Omgosh is he adorable! I don’t know how you do it Viktor, you and your staff are angels in disguise! I financially can’t do anythin right now for sweet Tody, but someday I hope to have one of your beautiful dogs…and black is not a problem for me. I know that this is a horrible thing in shelters and yet so true the sad “black dog syndrome”.
That’s a very cute dog, Only an idiot or a retard would care that he is black or whatever. He is so Cute!
Donated from across the water in the UK. Please help this little one. My dog is black and I love him to bits. The world is a very cruel place out there. Thankyou for all you do for the animals out there. Hope you get enough to operate on this beautiful little pup x
Donated. He is so sweet; I pray for him to find a nice family.
i’m in nj, if he is close i want him
Donated cos he is so sad looking and I have a black cockapoo who I love to bits.
Hey, I’ve rescued two black pups,one silver, on e brindle, two fawns, and a blonde!
Black dogs and cats are the ones that I like the most. This is a cute dog!
This made my cry, idiot cry. A lot,I have four dogs and love all dogs. Blaack white don’t matter. They all need. A. New. Home and a good. Life.Help. Them please. The. Black dogs. To
This is mad i have 2 black cats and a black dog …that poor little mite dont let him die just because he is black i hope he finds his forever home.. just wish i could take him 🙁
I don’t know why people can be so stupid, I luv all dogs but especially black dogs just like my puppy Roxy who is black also in the family my son has a black cat and they are meant to bring good luck. God bless the Lil black dog and I hope he gets his leg fixed soon. Look at him he’s absolutely beautiful some lucky person or family will be able to take him home XXXXXXXXXXX
Insane world and superstitious people indeed! My Zorro is (of course) a black cat and if I could, I wouldn’t hesitate adopting adorable Toty <3 or whatever black dog… 😉 So Viktor, here's a li'l donation as usual for his leg operation. Surely this awesome little guy will find a generous and non-superstitious human being to adopt him and be the family baby! Smooch on his little nose…
Tracey Fitzwilliam, there is no quarantine in the UK anymore. This rule changed on 1/1/12, all that needs to be done since that date is rabies jab and tapeworm treatment, which I expect LAG would advise you on.
He’s a gorgeous little puppy, love those ears. xxx
Yes I knew that some people do not like black or dark coloured dogs .. the turkish people think they are evil and in lots of countries this is so. I have a dark brindle boxer and when I live in Northern Cyprus everyone was afraid of him due to his colour which is stupid. I also adopted a little black scottie type dog as no one wanted black and she was adorable and it seems she was poisioned as she was a street dog so I could not keep her at home the way I did with my boxer.
So along with prejudice against black animals, there’s the equally ignorant and insane anti anything bulldog or chow or shepherd and the list goes on. And the basis of most of it is rooted in superstition (I include religion in there…and I’ll probably get hate mail). I have two black cats and two black dogs (along with other assorted colors) and when all the blacks decide to sleep together, it’s an amazing sight! They make one HUGE black creature — enough to scare the sh@#t out of one of these nutcases.
Awe, Toty…you are just gorgeous. I live with black dogs….and I love them. Love the shine on their coats when the sun catches; love the gorgeous deep and dark eyes…. and most of all I love the cuddles. Another success story…well done guys!
Toty is amazing! I love all black animals; horses, dogs, cats etc. I would be proud and happy to have an energetic little black dog like Toty. I actually have seven black and mahogany dogs; and, I love them all!
If people really believe that because a dog has a black coat they’re not good, then let me tell you that you are about the stupidest people on earth. Their hearts are as good and their souls as loving as any other dog. I can’t believe people would think this about black coated animals, that just proves what a stupid society we have. Really…. unbelieveable that it would make a difference, Im shocked that people are that damn stupid.
Please check your feed as someone tagged an inappropriate YouTube video after the one of Toty’s surgery. I know you do wonderful work and just want to make you aware of this video feed.
The people who are so racist that they take it out on animals are nothing but morons….how absolutely absurd to be racist towards animals, bad enough it is against people….so abhorrent.
Have always loved black animals , black flowers , the colour black and have had lots of them , cats dogs and flowers .
I never knew there exists ” racism” towards them . I always believed a black cat crossing the path is lucky and to find a black animal considered lucky too .
How is Axel getting on ? xox In my thoughts every day
QUE HERMOSO VIKTOR
I am confused like others the “black animal syndrome”. Actually I have always sought out black cats and dogs. I do know the reality tho that they show up in shelters more. I don’t get it. I just hope that there are others that think like us. Its not a FUR color. Its the personality. Just like it’s not a skin color. sigh doesn’t make sense I think black cats looks cooler than any other cat Just my opinion. Maybe some are spooked by ladders too?
Idid not know people let black animals die. I have had 3 black dogs. Tey are just ordinary dogs but of a great color! I have always loved black! And lots of people have been telling me how well the animals looked…
A wonderful update. all 3 fellas in one place. Carpi is very fast now….
I would like to ask, does Truffle need a wheelchair ? He can’t walk
Toty is GEORGEOUS look at his eyes they are beautifull I am so glad he found a home,the pictures of Toty and the other dog who is also black are beautifull together their coats are so shiny,I think black cats and dogs are beautifull.Thank you for fixing his leg and finding him a home
Black? Why black is bad??? All my dogs were black! I love black dogs 🙂 Only my shiba is red, because only red shiba looks like a fox. My daughter’s cat was black, too (with white signs). And when was killed by a car, next cat is the same colors. 🙂