Pets in a Pandemic by Melissa Cronin
Twenty twenty (2020) was an emotional year for many. Those who had pets before COVID were already fortunate enough to turn towards their furry companions during moments of anxiety.
Others were isolated from people and had no animals to turn to, which made a sad situation even worse. It soon became clear that adopting or buying an animal during quarantine would ease loneliness; there was no turning back from something that made a lot of sense. These exact circumstances actually applied to me and my boyfriend about halfway through last year.
We moved in together a year ago but did not have any pets of our own. Realizing we would be spending most of our days indoors since our campus, Cal State Channel Islands, was moved to online learning instead of in-person, we decided to take action. We first bought two female mice from PetSmart in April. We originally went to the store in Oxnard where we live because we wanted to buy a fish or two, but that idea quickly changed.
After seeing the costs of how much the tank and supplies would be if we were to purchase everything, we were ready to leave the store when the mice for sale caught our attention. It has been entertaining these past nine months watching them take sunflower seeds from our hands and listening to them run on their wheels at night.
Much to our surprise, in July we were given a free Dachshund puppy from the downstairs neighbors at our apartment complex. We love the mice but having our dog, Louie, has completely changed our lives for the better. He put smiles on our faces even when it was hard to be positive in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Though he was only a few months old when we first started taking care of him, Louie now comes with us during our outdoor adventures and road trips.
Leanne G. (age 23 of Thousand Oaks, CA) also recently became the proud owner of a male canine. He is a 4-month-old French Bulldog named Beau. Leann always wanted a dog of that breed, yet she was unsure when that kind of life change would be able to fit around her busy college schedule. It was time-consuming driving to Camarillo each semester and being physically gone from her house as a result. Taking on the responsibility of having a puppy during COVID was perfect, since she had the chance to spend the first few months staying home to raise Beau with her boyfriend.
“He is an extremely playful and sweet puppy,” says Leanne. “He is attached at my hip and we spend most of our lazy days watching movies and playing in the backyard.” She admits that Beau is like an emotional support dog because he makes her moods better. “Animals are great to have around since they take care of you as much as you take care of them.” Though this year is just a continuation of 2020, last year is when fear of the unknown sparked the rollercoaster of emotions at full force.
With that being said, I agree with Leanne that dogs in particular seem to pick up on when their owners are worried or laying low. Though they don’t understand what is happening with the virus, they offer support when needed because they can sense when their owners are stressed. Leanne’s advice for those who are considering getting a puppy is: “Be prepared for messy cleanups, but for even more laughs and cuddles. It is completely worth the best friend you build along the way. Also, don’t forget to hide your shoes!”
On the other hand, puppies are not the only pets to provide nurturing and friendship. Barbara W. (age 76 of Sacramento, CA) adopted two kittens during June and October. Punkin is male, orange, and the oldest at 7 months, while Misty is female, black, and 3.5 months old. Barbara wanted to adopt because she lives alone and feels cats are great company. Punkin came first but instead of stopping at just one, she decided it would be good for her kitty to have a playmate. “Both kittens were feral. One of my sons had a stray cat that he kept feeding, so of course one day she showed up with babies.”
Misty is Punkin’s little sister since they have the same parents. However, their colorings are not the same because they are from a different litter. “If one isn’t around the other will go into various rooms looking and meowing.” On an uplifting note, she states that one of her co-workers adopted the brother and sister of Punkin’s from his litter. Though it is risky when cats are not fixed and have babies that end up without homes, this group turned out differently and has a happy ending.
Barbara does recommend that people have this “heads-up” before taking on the role of a feline pet parent: “Kittens like to get into things. You have to put your good glass items away for now, just like you would with a little child.” Nonetheless, the joy outweighs any kind of work or tidying up that is required. “I say to Punkin, ‘Do you want a hug?’ and he rubs my legs, so I pick him up and hold him for a few seconds.”
Though Barbara had many cats and dogs while living in Rio Linda, she did not have any animals for years after that. When the world became more aware that COVID was going to last indefinitely, she said it made for a good reason to get pets again. Her sons were also telling her she needed a cat since they remembered how much she bonded with cats in the past. The uplifting news is that her boys can visit the kittens whenever they want, making the family bond that much stronger.
It’s clear that pets are essential for the souls of people to be at peace during tough times (and at all times). There is a special connection that cannot be found from another human. Luckily, these stories are not the only ones out there; pet adoption rates have been soaring all over since the pandemic progressed. Stay-at-home orders continue to be mandated in many areas, which means 2021 is sure to continue the movement of bringing a fluffy friend into the mix. In the famous words of Mark Twain, “The more I see of some people, the better I like my dog.”