Pets in the Pandemic
The pandemic has affected all parts of our lives, including our family dynamics. Millions have shifted to working from home and normal household routines to being around immediate family and pets all day. Pets have played a large role during the pandemic both positively as well as negatively.
Benefits
Increase in pet adoption
Many pet owners welcomed a new pet this year. Which is a good thing because pets deserve love. During the pandemic pet adoption rates have soared very high. According to Schrotenboer, (Ref.https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/02/dog-adoption-covid-19-creates-a-thriving-business-for-dogs/5680569002/ ), Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. Some rescues were reporting dozens of applications for individual dogs. Some breeders were reporting waiting lists well into 2021. So the increase in adoption meant that animals did not need to be put down and allowed for pets to find a new home.
Pets provide companionship
The pandemic has changed how we interact with our pets. A lot of people would say spending more time with their pets is the primary benefit of working from home.
Pets provide emotional support
Many pet owners say their pets help them cope better emotionally during lockdown. Pets are usually able to pick up on your emotions and can sense stress or sadness. Studies say that pets provide important benefits in the form of companionship, help reduce stress or anxiety, reduce boredom and monotony and reduce depression during COVID-19 because this can become a very lonely time. According to, The Conversation (Ref. https://theconversation.com/pets-and-the-pandemic-the-impact-our-animals-had-on-our-mental-health-and-wellbeing-153393), pet owners were reported to have poorer mental health before the lockdown compared to non-pet owners, indicating potentially greater vulnerability. But pet owners showed less deterioration in their mental health and feelings of loneliness during the lockdown. This might indicate that pets have a “protective” effect on owners’ mental health.
Pets help you be more physically active
Pets help increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities for their owners. Whether on a leash, in a stroller or on your shoulder, some pets are more than happy to accompany you on a walk, which is currently an excellent way to get much-needed exercise, breathe some fresh air and greet your neighbors from afar.
Downfalls
Financially burdensome in this economy
Yet on the other end of the spectrum having a pet has struck people financially. Some pet owners are concerned about their financial ability to pay for their pets' expenses meaning vet appointments, food, grooming etc. If a pet owner finds themselves financially dire and abandons their pet it can be dangerous and possibly lead to the death of the animal. Studies show in Newswire, other pet owners have considered giving up their pets in 2020 and out of this ratio of people, the majority, unfortunately, either gave up their pets for good or gave them up to short-term pet-friendly housing to help get back on their feet financially. According to https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-pets-in-a-pandemic-report-shows-how-life-with-pets-has-changed-in-2020-301175007.html#:~:text=Among%20all%20pet%20owners%2C%20three,74%25)%20during%20COVID%2D19, to accommodate some pet owners one in three city officials have acknowledged this problem and are working towards re-homing pets and securing pet care.
Limited veterinary access
More people have adopted pets, and they need veterinary care too. Rescues and shelters alike have seen a significant rise in adoption rates. What began in March as a slight increase in adoptions and fostering has turned into a literal pet buying and adopting frenzy. And all those pets need to be seen by a veterinarian for wellness checks and updates to vaccines, which causes veterinarians to become overwhelmed by new client appointment requests.
Veterinarians are following safety protocols that take up time and money. To keep staff and clients safe, veterinarians are employing the same safety protocols that you may see at any medical office. That might mean that they are reducing the number of staff on-site, using separate doorways, and/or moving all appointments to curbside. This also causes the pet owners to wait outside for however long the checkup is, because people aren’t allowed to stay in the waiting room.
What if the pet owner gets sick
Pet owners have to really consider what would happen to the pet if they became ill, or even die. Ultimately, pet ownership is never something to be taken lightly.
Thinking Towards The Future
The most important question people should ask is, ‘What will life look like for my pet after I return to my normal work schedule?’ This is an important question to ask yourself because you shouldn’t want to adopt any pet to help you only cope with your mental health. That would be very selfish in a sense. Adopting a pet means you are responsible for the well-being of that pet for the rest of its life. It is a dependent and just like a child should not be discarded once the pandemic is over.
Here are some resources for current pet owners and future pet owners:
Pet Adoption and Resources