The Spanish city of Terrassa in north-eastern Catalonia has briefly banned the adoption of black cats from animal shelters to stop doubtlessly sinister “rituals” throughout Halloween.
All requests for the fostering or adoption of the felines will probably be denied from 6 October to 10 November to guard them from being harm or used as props, mentioned the native animal welfare service.
Deputy Mayor Noel Duque advised broadcaster RTVE that adoption requests for black cats normally improve round Halloween.
Whereas black cats are sometimes related to witchcraft and seen as unhealthy luck in Western tradition, many different cultures, together with Japan and Egypt, see them as symbols of prosperity and fortune.
Terassa’s metropolis council mentioned there had been no file of cruelty in direction of black cats within the city, nonetheless there have been incidents in different areas and the choice was taken after warnings from animal welfare teams.
“We attempt to stop individuals from adopting as a result of it is fashionable or impulsively. And in instances like these, which we all know exist, to stop any macabre practices,” Duque mentioned.
Terrassa is house to greater than 9,800 cats, in line with native authorities, and the city’s adoption centre homes round 100 felines, 12 of that are black, the Catalan Information Company reported.
The town council emphasised that the measure is “non permanent and distinctive” and represents an additional precaution for animal welfare, however didn’t rule out repeating the ban sooner or later.
Exceptions in the course of the ban interval will probably be assessed individually by the adoption centre and regular fostering requests will resume after Halloween.
