What: Thinking About Animals conference
Where: Pond Inlet
When: Thursday, March 31 (8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) and Friday, April 1 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

It’s not easy being a big black dog in an animal shelter, and this week, a George Washington University researcher is coming to Brock to talk about why.

Amanda Leonard

Amanda Leonard, who recently earned a Master of Anthropology degree from the Washington DC university, has studied “Big Black Dog Syndrome.” The phrase describes why big black dogs remain un-adopted while their smaller, more colourful counterparts find loving families.

Leonard will be one of dozens of local and international presenters at the Thinking About Animals conference at Brock on March 31 and April 1. Other topics include slaughterhouses, veganism, how animals express grief and a much-publicized investigation into the Toronto Humane Society last year.

“Big Black Dog Syndrome,” Leonard said, results in more black dogs being euthanized and fewer finding loving homes. Her recent study, which will be published in the Kroeber Anthropological Society Papers, finds the issue stems in part from humans’ inability to distinguish facial expressions on black dogs. Also, with shelters typically being dark places, bad photography accompanying adoption ads could also be a culprit.

Leonard’s report includes a list of recommendations for animal shelters regarding how to make black dogs more marketable.

“If you walk into an animal shelter, they may not know the term ‘Big Black Dog Syndrome,’ but they will know what you’re talking about,” said Leonard, a former employee of the Washington DC Humane Society. She will be part of a panel from 1:45 to 3:35 p.m. on March 31.

The conference will include activists and academics. It is hosted in association with the Institute of Critical Animal Studies as the 10th Annual North American ICAS conference.

• Full schedule of events
• Event poster
• Watch a video of John Sorenson, Sociology professor, discussing Thinking About Animals with rabble.ca