Things That Go Bump In The Night

Frightening legends about black cats and dogs do not just come up during Halloween--these are superstitions that turn people away from having a black pet.

Jay, a black cat, sits quietly in his cage. Jess Townsend, adoptions director at the shelter on Georgia Avenue in Northwest D.C., says he's a great cat. "When people come in I say, 'ooooo go look at Jay,' and they're like, 'no I don't want a black cat' and I'm like, 'but why, he's perfect.'"

Townsend says black cats and dogs get a bad rap because people think they are intimidating or bad luck. Diana Foley, a Washington Humane Society trainer, says some shelters discourage adoption of black cats and dogs around Halloween. "People might want to adopt them for harmful purposes or as practical jokes," said Foley.

But this Halloween, the Washington Humane Society wants people to think about these animals as pets, not demons.

Kate Sheehy reports...