Overview

• Terrassa’s municipal animal center halted black cat adoptions from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, citing a precautionary need to prevent potential ritual use or mistreatment around Halloween.
• Animal welfare councilor Noel Duque Alarcón said shelters observed unusual, narrowly targeted requests for dark‑coated cats in prior years, prompting the temporary curb.
• The city’s measure applies at the CAAD and follows recurring shelter alerts that this period brings a spike in suspicious adoption attempts.
• In Mexico, rescue groups and activists are publicly advising pauses on placing black or white pets during October–November and are tightening screening of would‑be adopters.
• Rescuers recommend safeguards such as sterilization and vaccination before placement, background and social‑media checks, home visits, and ID verification, while noting the absence of official statistics and warning that other animals can also be targeted.