QUARANTINE CUDDLES

Teacher Alison Duncan’s daughters pose with the puppy her family adopted over quarantine. The Duncans decided to use quarantine as a time to adopt due to the extended time the family was spending at home together.

Students and staff adopt pets during quarantine

BY AUBREY BANKS reporter

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teachers have had a lot of extra time to themselves. With this extra time and being stuck in the house, some have decided to adopt a pet.

Freshman Madeline Degenhart explains why her family adopted a Shih Tzu/ Poodle mix during quarantine.

“We decided to get a pet over quarantine because my two sisters had wanted one for a really long time, and once we got called off of school for the rest of the year, we decided it was a perfect time to get one,” Degenhart said.

Alongside Degenhart, business teacher Alison Duncan adopted her dog in quarantine.

“My daughters... always have wanted a pet, primarily a dog. The timing was ideal because we were at home in the spring, so it was kind of the ideal situation and setting for adopting a pet,” Duncan said.

Adopting a pet also brings in the challenge of training them. Training a pet can take around four to six months, and in some cases a year.

“We did obedience training over the summer through Stony Run, and he graduated from his class there. After, we just did a lot of perimeter training because we wanted to be able to not leash him while he goes out on our property,” Duncan said.

Unlike Duncan’s dog, sophomore Jacob Schopp says that his Siamese cats were trained prior to the pandemic.

“Our pets were pretty well trained already so when quarantine hit, they acted pretty well. They just got used to us giving them all the attention all day since we had nothing to do,” Schopp said.

Even though Schopp didn’t adopt during quarantine, he believes that the unusual situation will give a student a chance to adopt a pet.

“I think quarantine will push a person to adopt a pet more because having a pet during quarantine has made a huge difference. They can be very entertaining so they may give you something to do. And when you’re depressed, your animals are always there trying to make you happy,” Schopp said.

Taking care of the pet itself can also be a challenge, but Duncan claims it was easy.

“It’s actually been pretty easy. My husband has been home since November, so he has some additional time to be at home with the puppy,” Duncan said. “He just turned one in February, so we got him around the beginning of the first quarantine. It’s been really nice because someone is always at home with him and to stay with him so that he doesn’t get into any trouble.”

Schopp notes the impact that his older cat has had on his newer cats.

“Taking care of them has been very fun. They are turning two or three this year. Our older cat along well with them. She basically raised them and taught them how to be a cat,” Schopp said.

While most people notice the feelings of others during quarantine, some don’t realize that pets are also impacted during this difficult time, and may want more attention than before quarantine.

“I personally don’t think I have seen any noticeable differences from before quarantine and after. But I think it mostly comes down to them being more clingy now. Like they always want to cuddle and they will follow you more now. During quarantine, they loved to follow us so they are still doing that,” Schopp said.

Duncan also states that she thinks it will be a big change for her dog once her husband goes back to work full time.

“He loves all the attention, I think it’s going to be more of a transition for him when my husband goes back to the office full time. Our dog is used to having someone at home with him all the time, so I think it’s going to be a big change for him,” Duncan said.

Now that students and teachers are going back to school four days a week, they aren’t at home anymore and spend less time with their pets. Degenhart notes the differences in her dog since she has returned to school

“My dog is doing very well now that my family isn’t home all day. We keep all the doors shut in our house so he doesn’t get somewhere he’s not supposed to,” Degenhart said.

Similar to Degenhart, Schopp says his adopted cats seem to be more clingy.

“Now that we are going to school they seem to act about the same but they seem more clingy nowadays,” Schopp said.

As a final tip, Duncan explains how timing is important when adopting a pet from an animal rescue or a breeder.

“I believe that timing is always important. This was kind of the right time and situation for us because we were home most of the time, and I think that any pet you have or adopt is going to be with or around you. I would definitely take that into consideration. Also, finding the right animal for you and your family is important too,” Duncan said.

‘‘ I think quarantine will push a person to adopt a pet more because having a pet during quarantine has made a huge difference. They can be very entertaining so they may give you something to do.

sophomore Jacob Schopp