CANFIELD, Ohio - As the Halloween season approaches, some animal shelters around the country may suspend the adoption of black cats for their protection.

Here in the Valley, at Angels for Animals, the Feline Manager Sherry Bankey said, "in this day and age, you never know."

But, Bankey said because of their shelter's stringent screening policies, she feels confident any black cats adopted will go to a good home.

She said the screening process includes checking to see if an animal's adopter is a home owner. If the individual does not own their home, the shelter will call their landlord for confirmation that pets are allowed. Angels for Animals will also call an individuals vet to ensure any other pets in the home are well taken care of and up to date on their care. Individuals will be denied a pet if the shelter discovers that they lied on their application.

Bankey says in years past, Angels for Animals has offered a special on black cats during the month of October. She said, there are no plans to offer any specials this season.

Co-founder Diane Less said black cats are less likely to be adopted because they don't have distinctive features as some other cats. She also says black is the main color in their gene pull adding to their population in numbers.

Currently about half of the cats at Angels for Animals are black. They have 80 black cats in foster care, 30 on the adoption floor and about 30 that are receiving medical care.