On the Paw-sitive Side of the Pandemic

by jenna tipton

What better way to lighten the mood than by getting your own pet?

A lovable creature is the best way to brighten any household. Even though there has been a lock down on pet shelters there has been a bigger demand for pets then the shelters actually have in stock.

Pet Adoption rates rise during covid-19,Hannah Jackson states that “Among U.S. adults, 5% adopted a dog in the three-month period generally corresponding to initial COVID-19 impact era — a windfall in a market where dogs account for twothirds of product and service sales. In addition, given the unique current context of business shutdowns and stayat-home orders, 4% adopted a cat, and a disproportionately high 4% adopted other types of pets — especially pet reptiles and small mammals.” This is quite a surge in statistics compared to other years. In 1970, 67 million animals were adopted but this year more than 135 million pets have been adopted.

Many people have been seeking a furry friend to help them through this tough time. According to Super Market News, Dog adoptions and sales soar during the pandemic, “Americans kept trying to fill voids with canine companions, either because they were stuck working from home with children who needed something to do, or had no work and lots of free time, or felt lonely with no way to socialize.” Many shelters and foster homes have received a lot of applications for adopting a pet. Dog adoptions and sales soar President Madeline Berstein of the Society Prevention of cruelty to Los Angeles nonprofit shelter, states that “ adoptions were double their usual rate in late June, with 10 or 13 adoptions a day,” Almost all animal shelter inventory have been low due such a demand for pets. This is a rare sight to see that so many pets are being adopted.

Some people have said that they have had a better time dealing with the stress of the pandemic because they got a pet. That is what happened to Madaline Mann, Bullitt East spanish teacher who had adopted a mutt puppy right before the pandemic. Marvolo, or “Marv”, was rescued on Jan. 24. Mann describes having Marv as a blessing. “Just having this extra thing in the house that my sister and I can take care of kind of alleviated a lot of our stress. ” said Mann. He encouraged us to get out of the house and enjoy the outside. When getting a new puppy and never leaving the house, many puppies can get separation anxiety. “We always knew we were going to get a second dog anyway,” said Mann. So to help her puppy with his anxiety and to keep him entertained, she got a much older dog named A painting of Ms. Mann’s two new dogs she has rescued this year. As a keepsake to remember the first few days of Gwenog, ‘Oggie’,who getting her dogs. She commissioned Jenna Tipton for it. Artwork: Jenna Tipton was rescued Sept. 21.They have been best friends ever since and their house is more lively. Getting a pet has been proven time and time again that it is a helpful way to take off the stress and loneliness of life especially during a lockdown. It makes your home much livelier and entertaining. There are so many pets that go without a home every year and end up being euthanized later in life. It should be recommended that everyone who can, should adopt a pet.