The purchase of a hot dog at the Highway 58 Armando's today or Saturday can do more than stave off hunger. It can also help a black dog find a home.
Restaurant owner Ken Land has designated the third week of May for a Hot Dogs for Black Dogs campaign. For every hot dog he sells this week, he will donate $1 to the Humane Educational Society. The money raised will go toward adoption fees for black dogs, which are harder to place.
If you save your receipt, you can get half off your adoption fee of a black dog through May. The adoption fee, normally $90, covers spay/neuter, annual vaccination, rabies shot, microchip, health check and a starter bag of dog food.
Humane Society officials say that big, black dogs are often the last to be adopted from animal shelters, a phenomenon known as "black dog syndrome." Black dogs often stay at shelters longer than lighter-colored dogs. People may consider them too plain, think they are menacing or simply don't notice them because their dark color makes them disappear in their kennels, according to a news release.
Land and his wife, Charlsie, wanted to bring attention to "black dog syndrome" in hopes that more people will see the plight of these loving dogs, the news release said. "They hope that when it comes time to adopt, their customers will remember to seek out these dark beauties."
Land's Armando's restaurant is at 4767 Highway 58. Call 894-1413 for more information.