A South Korean animal protection organization, the Dolphiners, has created a short documentary aimed at raising awareness about the struggles faced by animals in shelters. The film presents the world through the eyes of a black stray dog, illustrating the emotional challenges these "unwanted furry children" endure.
The documentary begins with a scene where shelter staff prepare to feed the dogs. A little girl and her mother arrive, igniting hope in the stray dog that they might take him home. However, due to superstitions surrounding black animals being considered unlucky, the black dog is overlooked in favor of a white breed that catches their attention. The black dog watches helplessly as the mother and daughter adopt the white dog instead.
As the story unfolds, the black dog discovers that his cage is not locked and ventures out into the world. He walks along the road, reminiscing about a previous owner who loved him but abandoned him for unknown reasons. Along his journey, he encounters two curled-up black stray cats, both equally unnoticed and unwanted.
While passing through a park, he sees a beautiful white Jeju dog being walked by its owner, who tightly holds onto its leash. This sight fills the black dog with envy as he longs for an owner who values him. Unfortunately, his unappealing appearance and color render him invisible to potential adopters at the shelter.
The film concludes poignantly as the black dog gazes into a gift shop window displaying cute white dog plush toys, prompting viewers to reflect on why black cats and dogs are often not prioritized by adopters. The short film has resonated with many online users, who shared their thoughts in comments such as:
- "Many older people really believe that black cats and dogs bring bad luck; it's hard to change such deep-seated beliefs."
- "My adopted cat is a black cat; when I adopted her, she was the only one left at the shelter. She's so beautiful and healthy!"
- "Animals with all-black fur really have a disadvantage from birth."
This documentary serves not only as a narrative of one dog's experience but also highlights broader societal issues regarding perceptions of animal adoption based on color.