This is a bad idea. Whenever people adopt pets on a whim like this - because it would be cute to have a black cat at Halloween, or a bunny at Easter, or whatever - they end up back at the shelter, or worse, on the street. I just hope that these organizations have a thorough enough vetting process to weed people like that out.

While I support any idea that helps more animals find forever homes, didn't it used to be a general shelter policy to not adopt out black cats around Halloween for fear that they'd be tortured or used in pranks? That's my only concern, and I hope their vetting procedures for potential adopters screen out anyone with malicious intent. However, if I could adopt one, I'd love a Halloween cat.

ahhhh I want another black cat now!!

This could have unintended consequences. There are people who "sacrifice" black cats on Halloween, and animal adoption centers and pet stores have in the past prohibited sale or adoption of black cats in the weeks before Halloween for this reason.

Jeez I didn't think of any of that type of stuff. I have a black cat whom I absolutely adore and saw this as an opportunity to get him a little friend. If only I had more space!! Isn't the SPCA fairly strict in regards to whom can adopt pets, though, to protect the animals?

It doesn't say that the SPCA is allowing the adopters to take the black cats home before Halloween. Hopefully they're not for all of the reasons other commenters already have pointed out. I'd love to have another black and orange and white calico, but our home is presently claimed by two old boys that probably would make the new comer feel most unwelcomed!

I agree that while I never want to interfere with a kitty or doggy finding his/her forever home, "promoting" black cats around Halloween could be slightly irresponsible and at worst, deadly. I used to volunteer at an animal shelter in Howard County that had a very strict policy of not adopting out black cats around Halloween if someone came in, asking specifically for that color cat (it was a case-by-case basis if people had already shown interest in a black cat prior to the holiday or if they were well-known at the shelter as being a responsible pet owner). I adopted a black kitty in September 2008 and he's the sweetest little soul on earth and my own personal Halloween decoration :)

Is there any actual evidence that people abuse black cats around Halloween more than at any other time of year?

This sounds like a bad idea. I agree with Anne - adopting animals out on a whim or as a gag isn't going to ensure the best placement for the animal. When I had a black cat, my vet strongly cautioned me to keep her indoors during the holiday.

Fea - I can't offer any statistics, but I can talk about what I've observed. In general, people very much dislike black cats, even if they like cats. When I would volunteer at a shelter, people would come in time after time stating that they didn't like black cats and for the volunteers/staff not let a black cat out of its cage while they were in the adoption area. It's unbelieveable the amount of discrimination a black cat faces (and dogs too - black dogs are generally harder to adopt out). I got so fed up hearing that stuff that one day I decided to speak up. A woman came in and told me she would look at any cat as long as it wasn't black because she didn't like black cats. I asked her if she felt the same way about black people. She gave me a horrified look, to which I replied, "Well, I'm just wondering if you have the same policy about black people. Do you steer clear of them too?" She was very uncomfortable (as well she should have been) and I passed her off to another adoption coordinator. I have a black cat and one time a Comcast tech literally left my apartment without completing a job, saying he'd have to have someone else come out because he was afraid of my black cat. I suppose I could have shut Laddie in a room away from the tech, but why should I - it's *his* house, not the tech's! Both incidents are ridiculous, but true. What I find to be funny though is that in other parts of the world, black cats are seen as good luck. People decorate with black cats at some weddings in England!