We discussed placing a ban on black cat adoptions this year at the shelter.
We decided it wasn't necessary. A $125-$150 adoption fee helps to dissuade people looking to get a cat as a decoration. Our interview process helps discourage others. I just looked up our stats... we adopted 0 cats on halloween. We hadn't adopted out a black one for 12 days before that.
I understand that the mutilation and sacrificing of cats has occurred and could occur again (though there is
some debate as to how prevalent it is). That said, if people are hellbent on harming or sacrificing an animal, it's possible for them to adopt a cat weeks (or even months) in advance. There's no way you can ban black cat adoptions for forever. What about the other satanic holidays? How many shelters deny adoptions those days?
What about cats adopted out to what seemed to be a great home that end up being neglected or abused? For instance, we adopted out a sweet lab to a very nice family. Their neighbor's son took the dog, killed her, and left her in a dumpster- all for no reason.
Publicizing this ban on adoptions is simply encouraging the superstition that black cats are evil/bad. It plants a seed of an idea - mutilation, torture, sacrifice. Yes, this is a real risk- but I think that banning black cat adoptions won't do much to help. It has been recorded that they'll use other colored cats, dogs, rabbits, goats, and other animals. What's to stop them from grabbing someone's outdoor cat? The dog barking in the back yard?
What about the children that have suffered satanic ritual abuse? Do we lock our children up on Halloween and other satanic holidays?
I'm not condoning this sort of disregard for animals and children, I simply don't believe that banning the adoption of black cats for one day out of the year is a valid precaution to take.