Charming Turbo Is Lubbock's Awesome Adoptable Pet of the Week

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Turbo is an insanely photogenic pup. Look at that happy, sweet smile!

I can't believe that he's been at Lubbock Animal Services for 30 days, but solid black animals may have a more difficult time getting adopted due to "black dog syndrome":

Black Dog Syndrome is the theory that a big, black dog is less likely to be adopted from a shelter than a smaller, lighter-colored dog. [...] Research has suggested a number of reasons for black dogs being less likely to be adopted, including:
• Black dogs do not photograph as well as other, lighter colored dogs
• Black dogs are not as visible when potential new owners tour an animal shelters
• Negative portrayal of black dogs in film and media

But any of us who have black animals know that they are beautiful, sleek, elegant and amazing animals. My Mr. Perfect is a long hair black cat. The most adverse effect I've had due to his coloring is that I've nearly sat on him a couple of times. It's my fault for giving him a black blanket that he melts into.

Here's what the Lubbock Animal Shelter and Adoption Center has to say about Turbo:

Turbo is a 3 year old male Labrador Retriever, who has been with us for 30 days. He is house trained, protective of others, and playful and shy. He is up to date on all his shots, fixed, and microchipped.

Three years old is a great time to adopt a lab. We all know that lab puppies can be quite the chewers, but at 3, Turbo is well past the teething stage. FYI, if you have chewing problems with your dog, I highly recommend giving them antlers. They love the taste, they last a really long time with even the most aggressive chewers and they are full of minerals that are great for your dogs. You can find them at Pets Plus (66th & University).Just be careful not to step on one barefoot because, wowzers, that hurts.

Turbo is available to meet at the Lubbock Animal Shelter and Adoption Center (3323 SE Loop 289). Remember, you can take a dog out on a date, foster them, or just come walk them if you aren't quite ready or aren't quite sure about an animal. There's no shame in that, and in fact, socializing the dog is a great way to get them adopted by someone who is ready.

The Lubbock Animal Shelter is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.