YOUR PANDEMIC PUP By Jacqueline G. Goodwin, Ed.D.
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elcome to the Pandemic Puppy Club! So you finally gave in. You always thought about a getting a dog, but when the coronavirus pandemic became a real thing you decided to take the plunge. Congratulations! You’re not alone. Many people became first-time pet owners since the coronavirus pandemic arrived last spring. Adoption and foster rates of adult dogs and puppies have never been higher. The ASPCA has seen a nearly 70 percent increase in animals going into foster care compared with the same period in 2019. According to the ASPCA website, this surge in the number of fosters and adoptions nationwide is because sheltering in place has allowed people the time to tend to a new dog. “When the pandemic first hit, unprecedented numbers of people signed up to foster animals,” says Julie Castle, the chief executive of Best Friends Animal Society. “Some shelters completely emptied their kennels for the first time ever. In the middle of a crisis, many groups saved more lives than they ever had before. There is no reason we cannot keep these positive gains we made during the pandemic.” Many first time adopters who have been working from home with their new pet have discovered the secret reality of what dogs really do all day: They mostly sleep, with a bit of eating and playing mixed in. 20 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020
Now that you are the fur parent of a pandemic puppy or older adult dog, what can you do to ensure that you can provide your pet with a good home well after the pandemic ends. Both The Humane Society of Harrisburg and the ASPCA offer the following many tips to make sure your pandemic puppy receives the love and care it deserves. Go to The Humane Society’s website at www.humanesocietyhbg.org for additional tips and puppy parent resources. Establish a Routine • Keep your pandemic pup’s day to day routine as consistent as possible. Feeding and potty trips should be provided around the same time every day. Talk to your family about how to make this work. A consistent routine will help your pandemic pup adjust and know what to expect. Pet-Proof Your Home • Make sure there are no hanging cords from blinds that can get wrapped around your pet’s neck. • Get rid of toxic plants like African violets, certain types of daisies and lilies, daffodils and other potted plants and cut flowers. Dogs can become ill if they chew on them.
