Why should black fur make an animal unadoptable?

That’s what a particular national newspaper was proclaiming on its website on Wednesday, backed up, it seems, by the RSPCA, which claimed dozens of colour-challenged moggies were being dropped off by disgruntled smartphone owners.

If this is true, and I don’t believe it is, I am actually quite pleased, because anyone who is dim enough to consider an animal as merely a photogenic fashion accessory really shouldn’t own one. Personally, I wouldn’t trust them with a battery-powered hamster.

I think the RSPCA (if it wasn’t completely misquoted) was probably pointing out two major problems rescue centres have to deal with. One, for some reason black animals are really hard to rehome and two, at this time of year, people who shouldn’t own pets, but somehow have them anyway, decide the cost of putting Fido and Felix into kennels and a cattery will eat into their holiday beer allowance, so they dump them instead.

I have never understood why having black fur should make an animal unadoptable, I mean, heck, they don’t show the dirt or grass stains, they’re easy to spot in the snow and they never clash with your outfit or home decor (yes, that reason has been given for handing over a pet).

All my dogs have been black, or mainly black. Most of them have been rescues and I can say, hand-on-heart, none of them have malfunctioned. Well, except Boris, but then he had a pretty white belly and cute brown eyebrows, so I guess he doesn’t count.

Apart from him, they have all been sweet-natured, obedient, loyal and clever. They all loved children, adults and other dogs and only messed on the carpet when they were too new to know better.

I imagine the RSPCA thought animal lovers would be rightly outraged at the thought of poor portraits leading to homelessness and flock to their centres to take pity on the pussies.

I suspect it will backfire and all that will happen is social media will be flooded with selfies of black cats, with the hashtag #backcatsmakegoodselfies which actually won’t solve anything.

It seems a poor reflection on society that applying man’s vanity to cats to make a news story was ever thought to be a good idea. What’s next? Families giving up their baby for adoption because he spoiled the Christmas card photo with his baldness? Granny banished to the shed because her slipping dentures put the neighbours off their dinner? White pets being coloured in because they look a bit dull?. . . Oh, no, hang on a minute, people actually do that already.

Anyway, It all made me feel very insecure, because I don’t look good in selfies either.

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