Are You Sure You Want To Adopt That Pet?
Pandemic puppies are an extremely cute trend, but adopting an animal in quarantine could be a dicey proposition
--
It seems like every time I scroll through my social media feeds, I see another friend who’s fostering or adopting a pet. They’re romping with rescue pups on grassy lawns. They’re cuddling with kittens as they binge Tiger King.
I’m a little jealous, but I’m also a little skeptical. I grew up with a beloved family dog that I often miss. But because I know how much work they are, I’ve held off on getting my own pet, even as adoptions and foster care applications have surged with the country in lockdown.
This odd new phenomenon of animal shelters running out of dogs is, broadly, a good thing — especially when the pandemic has forced many shelters to reduce their hours of operation or close entirely. At the same time, while bringing a pet home right now can make people less lonely, it can also be uniquely challenging, from having to take your rambunctious puppy on socially distant walks to being hit with a steep vet bill right as you get laid off. Here’s what to consider before you hop on that animal shelter waitlist.
Looking for love
First, the pros. It’s fairly obvious why so many people want a furry little body to snuggle with right now: We’re living through a very difficult, unprecedented time that is pushing us to find new coping mechanisms. Getting a new dog or cat can feel like a natural salve, so much so that our brains push right past the fact that it’s also complicated and labor-intensive.
“One of the things that I’ve learned from studying human-animal interactions for 30 years is our decisions about animals are often not very rational,” says Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat. For one, Herzog notes, humans evolved from creatures much like chimpanzees, which bond by grooming and touch. With so many people missing hugs right now, petting an animal very quickly fulfills that primal need for touch.
There are also emotional benefits. “[Having a pet] makes us feel needed. It alleviates boredom,” Herzog says. “It takes your mind off yourself, your own problems.” As the days blend…
