More pets being adopted as people are forced to stay home
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
Rockingham, Australia
March 20, 2020 6:55pm CST
With so many West Australians confined to their homes and many more bracing themselves to lose their jobs, it seems people are taking in cats and dogs to share their isolation with. Many of the new owners are working from home and feel they have the time to care for a furry friend.
Rescue centres have reported an increase in adoptions and fostering. West Australia’s Cat Haven has gone from receiving one inquiry a day to around twenty. Centres have seen huge financial impacts with cat boardings being cancelled due to travel restrictions and fund-raising events. Boarding fees account for a large amount of the income of the Haven.
I can’t really see this as a good thing as it means more expense for people who are already, perhaps, without a regular wage coming in. However, both dog and cat rescue centres expect to see a surge in pets being given up as the lockdown tightens and more jobs are lost.
Photo is of a sad-looking dog we saw in France.
24 people like this
23 responses
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
21 Mar 20
There is a campaign here about pets - adopt instead of buying. They say that there are many pets that needed to be adopted like the stray cats and dogs. However, it is not easy to adopt a dog when you already have one.
3 people like this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
21 Mar 20
@JudyEv here it seems there is an oversupply of puppies. There are the so called puppy mills where they take care of female dogs for breeding. They sell not only in the pet shops but also by the roadside in the provincial highway.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Mar 20
@Alexandoy We have puppy mills here too and it's a dreadful industry. I don't know how you stop some of these dreadful practices.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122313)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Mar 20
Having a dog or cat as a companion is a great stress buster.
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122313)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
22 Mar 20
@JudyEv That is what many former soldiers have said when they are given a service dog tp ease their pain from war time.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135992)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Mar 20
If the new owners have thought it through it can be a good thing.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135992)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Mar 20
@JudyEv Hopefully they will keep the pet. This might give some people a new perspective on life
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135992)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Apr 20
@TheHorse I had one make it to 35 also. I do have a daughter from that girl here now.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69229)
• Centralia, Washington
21 Mar 20
@JudyEv I know from my own experience that my fur persons would go a bit nuts if I did that to them. Once I went on a road trip and Leah dog is not a good car traveler so I placed her in a commercial kennel so that she would be safe. I think they were pretty decent to her there but when I came to get her she went nuts with happiness. I took her back another time and Leah stood up on her hind legs, hugging me, obviously begging me not to leave her there. I've found house sitters ever since that time- an 85 pound dog beside herself with sadness is something not easy to deal with.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
21 Mar 20
That can be the good side of the bad
2 people like this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
21 Mar 20
I am glad those animals have found a new home. As long as they are adopted, they would not have the Euthanasia. I hope people will not forget their pets when they are in the good time since the pets have been with them in their hard time.
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
21 Mar 20
Pets can help us keep the morale up. But it is sad that many people see them only as bad weather solutions, so to speak.
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
23 Mar 20
@JudyEv My parents always taught me to respect animals, too, but know that they are animals, and not human. You must take care of them, but never put an animal higher than a human.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
@rappeter13 That was the lesson we learnt on the farm too.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
22 Mar 20
This is so wonderful so glad to hear it.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
22 Mar 20
@JudyEv Yes people sometimes dont think it thru agree
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Mar 20
Many people will be confined to their homes and having a pet would be a great comfort.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
21 Mar 20
Oh that is lovely. I hope lots of pets get happy homes
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (209169)
• United States
21 Mar 20
Well that is one positive thing to come out of this!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209169)
• United States
22 Mar 20
@JudyEv We will just just have to go hope that doesn't happen.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
21 Apr 20
You worry too much. Leave those out there in open and they are not gonna get food. They are not getting medical attention too. They are not getting water too. They will get sick and possibly become host for ailments. They will rummage through infected material to quell their hunger and bring infections around. They will help infections survive by becoming the hosts. They will also breed more making it more difficult to keep their numbers down. At the other end, they kill loneliness and can be best confidantes since they cannot communicate your sins to others. So plenty of benefits there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Apr 20
Goodness, you're a bag of happiness today, Vanny, aren't you? 
We don't have a lot of stray dogs here as most are rounded up and either rehomed or disposed of. Stray cats are harder to catch.
We don't have a lot of stray dogs here as most are rounded up and either rehomed or disposed of. Stray cats are harder to catch.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
24 Mar 20
like you I'm not sure this is a good thing...
what happens to the poor animals when the people eventually go back to work... or don't... and like you say then can't afford to keep their new furry friend... are these adoptions permanant or more like a fostering idea where it is only temporary until a full adoption comes slong... that old slogan comes to mind.. a dog is for life... not just christmas.... or the duration of the coronavirus.... I'm glad these animals can experience some love and attention and a home... but for how long... 
I hope the agencies are asking these sort of questions ....
I hope the agencies are asking these sort of questions ....1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238361)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Apr 20
I'll go with the bright side here. Having someone to love (and snuggle with) leads to the release of happy brain chemicals, including oxytocin. Oxytocin reduces cortisol (a stress hormone). Cortisol weakens the immune system. So having someone to love and snuggle with strengthens your immune system.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Apr 20
So many people would agree with you on this whether they knew about the brain chemicals or not. As do I.
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
21 Mar 20
Pets are great stress relievers. It's a win-win situation.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
22 Mar 20
@JudyEv I hope they can work it out. Pets (dogs especially) are so cool.
1 person likes this
