The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the way the world operates. In spite of shuttered storefronts and companies that have furloughed workers, there has been a bright spot developing during this pandemic. People are turning to pets to alleviate the stresses brought on from the pandemic and isolation from working or studying at home. You may have even noticed that your neighbors have a new puppy and the parks are filled to the brim with new pet owners.
Animal Adoptions Soar
Across the United States, animal shelters and pet rescues are standing empty. While you may think that the reason is because of city or state social distancing mandates, the reality is that shelters are increasingly emptying out because people are clamoring to adopt or foster dogs and cats while social distancing mandates have them confined to their homes for the better part of the day.
This phenomenon has come at a great time for rescue animals, as well as the humans that have welcomed them into their homes. Many shelters and rescue organizations have been operating on increasingly lean budgets with donations making up a major portion of funding needs. When the pandemic first kicked into high gear, many shelters found themselves straining their already-tight resources as donations slowed. However, as people began adapting to the new normal, donations and applications for adopting and fostering their charges began pouring in instead.
People See Huge Benefits in Adopting a Pet
While most people understand the science and reasoning behind social distancing, this has resulted in negative health effects as well. In fact, the effects of social isolation have been well studied, with loneliness and depression being just two of the primary risks. For those adults who are older, loneliness has even more dire consequences and is often linked with Alzheimer’s and other conditions.
While pets may not completely make up for the loneliness from social distancing mandates, they do provide significant benefits. Not only do pets like dogs give people a reason to get up in the morning, but they also offer emotional support while reducing stress and anxiety. In addition, having a pet can help fill a person’s need for touch. Some people even prefer to be with their pets more than other humans.
Additional Benefits People See When Adopting an Animal
Having a companion animal does the body good. While interacting with a dog or cat, a person's heart rate, cortisol levels and blood pressure are reduced. But that's not all. Doing so also ramps up the production of hormones like oxytocin and dopamine that make people feel good. With so much anxiety surrounding the pandemic, social isolation and the financial challenges that many face, this mood boost is something that is crucial during this time.
Pets Support Coping Strategies
Many people have felt unmoored because the structure and routine their lives were centered around prior to COVID-19 are no longer in place. Having a dog or other pet can provide the foundation for a new routine that includes the feeding, care and exercising of the animal.
Dogs are lovably persistent when it comes to reminding their humans about their needs. Whether it's a morning wake-up call for breakfast kibble, a much-needed walk to stretch the legs or a welcome giggle at their silly antics, life with a dog can bring some semblance of normalcy back into a person's life.
Even those households in which families or couples are who are social isolating together can benefit from having the stress relief that a pet brings. As an example, getting a break from the relationship or putting some distance between two or more people who live in the same household can be accomplished in a safe manner by taking turns walking the dog. In a similar vein, the animal's silly antics can breathe a measure of stress relief and humor into a home that hasn't gotten much of either lately.
An Opportune Time
Caring for a new pet can be very time intensive up front. A new puppy or cat needs more attention early on as they adapt to their new environment and familiarize themselves with you and your schedule. With many people studying or working from home, it has become much easier to integrate pets into their lives.
With the upheaval the coronavirus has ushered in, the need for the benefits that pets like dogs can bring has increased dramatically and resulted in soaring pet adoptions. From support and fun to exercise and routine, dogs and other pets provide so many advantages to the humans that care for them.
