ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: GLOUCESTER
SOURCE: Associated Press
Fearful that someone might play Halloween tricks on innocent animals, local humane officials have banned adoptions of black cats until after the holiday.
``It's something we've always done just to eliminate any possibility that anyone could adopt them for the wrong reasons,'' said Terri Calhoun, manager of the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society shelter.
Black cats, like ghosts and witches, are synonymous with the spooky celebration. Through the ages, superstitious folks have believed black cats are evil and have magical powers.
Calhoun said she has heard of black cats being used for ``ritualistic things'' - hence, the temporary adoption ban.
The Gloucester shelter isn't alone. The Virginia Beach shelter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Norfolk SPCA and the Cat Corner shelter in Hampton have similar restrictions around Halloween.
The ``better safe than sorry'' maxim is a good one, said Cynthia Stitely, spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United States, based in Washington.
``I don't have any documented incidents, personally. But simply because black cats are associated with Halloween, and there are negative connotations about them, they're more vulnerable,'' she said.
``There are too many instances, unfortunately, where black cats have terrible things happen to them around Halloween,'' said Karen Pinneo, executive director of the Norfolk SPCA.
The Virginia Beach SPCA shelter also has restrictions on animal adoptions for other holidays, such as puppies three days before Christmas or rabbits around Easter.
``We're not in the merchandise business,'' said Sharon Adams, executive director of the resort city's shelter. ``We're adopting lifelong companion animals.''
The Peninsula SPCA doesn't have a ban, but they question people closely about adoptions.
One tipoff is what they're looking for. Most people seek a cat for its personality, not its color, said Fran Falls of the Peninsula SPCA.
``If someone specifically wants a black cat, our ears perk up,'' she said.
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