A witch may brew evil, but a black cat is just misunderstood.
The most highly euthanized companion animal, the black cat has long been associated with bad luck and superstitions. Now, in the spirit of Halloween, one Oak Forest animal shelter has decided to focus on the rescue of these shadowy felines.
The southern suburban-based Lulu's Locker Rescue is a non-profit organization working to find homes for black cats around the Chicago area.
"The superstitions and negative impressions surrounding black cats, through no fault of their own, does mean life or death for them," said Dawn Isenhart, founder and president of Lulu's. "A disproportionate number of them end up being euthanized because they are consistently overlooked.”
The shelter, however, is facing an uphill battle. The black cat has served as a bad omen since the Middle Ages, when most of western and southern Europe believed the animal to be an omen of misfortune and death.
Yet black cats aren't the only companion animal discriminated against on the basis of fur. The shelter not only rescues cats, but will provide a safe-haven for any black-coated pet.
“Simply put, animals with black fur are the least likely to be adopted from shelters and rescues, and the most likely to be discriminated against in fables as well as every-day life," Isenhart said.