Shelter Bans Adoption of Black Cats as Holiday Safeguard

With Halloween just days away, now is not the time to adopt a black cat from animal shelters in the county.

Since Oct. 17, the Humane Society has banned adoptions of black cats out of fear that the animals will be mistreated by Halloween pranksters.

On Monday the Ojai-based shelter banned adoptions of all other animals for one week because of Halloween. However, the ban on adopting black cats will extend until Nov. 7.

“We’ve done this for years,” said shelter director Jolene Hoffman. “It’s to protect the animals.”

She said officials at the shelter worry about animals being mutilated and pets running out the door in the confusion of arriving trick or treaters. If the animal is very young and new to the home, it is easily lost, she said.

At the county’s animal shelter in Camarillo, there is no ban on adopting black cats during Halloween, but workers scrutinize anyone showing an unusual interest in them.

“We keep an eye on the black cats,” said Kathy Jenks, director of the county’s Animal Regulation Department. “We take each situation.”

Jenks and Hoffman are not aware of any Halloween-related animal mutilations this year, nor have they encountered any people with suspicious motives at the shelters. But last year workers at the Ojai shelter were suspicious of several visitors, Hoffman said, including some with skeleton-shaped earrings.

“We had one lady call and want 20 black cats,” Jenks said.

Jenks had another precaution for dog owners at Halloween or Easter. Dogs can be poisoned and even die from eating chocolate, she said.

“It’s a chemical reaction” that only seems to affect dogs, Jenks said. Some people call the shelter, fearing their dogs may have eaten tainted candy. But it is simply the chocolate, she said.

“We get them every year,” she said.