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HelpRe: Naming dogs and honoring people + cultural sensitivity
in reply to a message by zebra_cakes
I very much agree with Mirfak's post and thoughts on this issue. Plus, I'm not entirely sure the correlation between black animals being unpopular has any correlation to black *people* - more in terms of superstition about them being unlucky (that seems to be the case with black cats in shelters, anyway). So making a tie between black animals and black people is kind of dangerous ground.
On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with naming an animal after an admired person - I've known of dogs named things like Nietzsche, Spinoza and Gorky - but, I think you should pick the name for honest honouring purposes and not just because they are the same "colour". Then things start looking a bit flippant and callous.
I'd see nothing wrong with calling a dog Billie or bell after Holliday or hooks, but do it because you legitimately like the associations and people. Billie Holliday WAS elegant and glamorous so I wouldn't think a black dog named Billie was trying to make a racial statement right off the hop, unless someone was like "because the dog is black and beautiful and so was Billie Holliday, GET IT??" - but if you're banking on the glam factor, I wouldn't count out other names that bring elegance to mind, like Audrey, Marilyn, Twiggy, etc., if it's that statement of "beautiful" you want to make above all.
Buuut I also love the idea of Lupita, because that's just an adorable name.
On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with naming an animal after an admired person - I've known of dogs named things like Nietzsche, Spinoza and Gorky - but, I think you should pick the name for honest honouring purposes and not just because they are the same "colour". Then things start looking a bit flippant and callous.
I'd see nothing wrong with calling a dog Billie or bell after Holliday or hooks, but do it because you legitimately like the associations and people. Billie Holliday WAS elegant and glamorous so I wouldn't think a black dog named Billie was trying to make a racial statement right off the hop, unless someone was like "because the dog is black and beautiful and so was Billie Holliday, GET IT??" - but if you're banking on the glam factor, I wouldn't count out other names that bring elegance to mind, like Audrey, Marilyn, Twiggy, etc., if it's that statement of "beautiful" you want to make above all.
Buuut I also love the idea of Lupita, because that's just an adorable name.
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I seem to remember reading that one reason black dogs sometimes fail to be adopted from shelters, is that they don't show up well, in the cages/runs.
Seems like the walls could be painted a light colour, that might help?
I think also people might find a big black dog intimidating.Not a little one, though.
Seems like the walls could be painted a light colour, that might help?
I think also people might find a big black dog intimidating.Not a little one, though.
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