It’s hard to believe that Waffles was once overlooked in a shelter for two whole years, given her lively personality in the slideshow of images shared by her new owner on Reddit.
“I wish I found her sooner!” said the adopter who goes by u/dogluvr_1 in the comments, explaining that they first came across Waffles through a heartfelt Facebook plea. “[We] found out she is dog friendly, immediately went to see her, and the rest is history.”
The caption accompanying the photos read: “Waffles is the best around. She was overlooked in the shelter for 730 long days.”
In the comments, Waffles’ owner revealed why it took so long for her to find a home: her fur color.
“Black dogs [and] cats are typically overlooked in the shelter due to superstitions sadly,” they wrote.
This phenomenon is widely recognized in the animal welfare world as Black Dog Syndrome—the idea that black dogs are adopted less often than lighter-colored pets.
The Persistence of the ‘Evil Black Dog’ Myth
The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that negative superstitions surrounding black dogs remain prevalent today, reinforced by media portrayals. In the horror film series The Omen, for instance, black Rottweilers were cast as symbols of evil.
Research supports these adoption biases. In one study cited by the AKC, participants rated photos of Labrador retrievers that differed only in coat color. Black Labs were rated 27 percent less friendly and were twice as likely to be considered aggressive compared to their yellow counterparts.
Other Reasons Shelter Dogs Are Overlooked
Beyond coat color, research shows that long-term shelter dogs often share certain characteristics. They are more likely to be older, male, large in size, neutered, and sometimes classified as “dangerous breeds.”
Behavioral challenges such as aggression or high arousal can also reduce their chances of adoption.
While their physical health is usually sound, these dogs often display stress-related behaviors, suggesting they may be more sensitive to shelter stressors and find it harder to relax in a kennel environment. Experts emphasize that these dogs need extra attention and targeted strategies to boost their adoption chances.
A Happy Ending for Waffles
Despite her long wait, Waffles has finally found her forever home—and judging by her joyful smile, it was worth it. Her new owner shared: “Now she spends them snuggling, playing fetch, and going crazy with her dog siblings.”
The post has already earned more than 2,000 upvotes, with commenters celebrating Waffles’ happy ending. One wrote: “She is so precious, I’m overjoyed that she is loved and in her forever home now! What a beauty! I love you Waffles!” Another added: “She looks like a sweetheart,” while a third noted: “She was just waiting for you.”
Newsweek reached out to u/dogluvr_1 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
Reference
Raudies, Christina, et al. “Characteristics and Welfare of Long-Term Shelter Dogs.” Animals : An Open Access Journal from MDPI, vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2021, p. 194. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010194.