Cities all over the country are sheltering in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. This novel coronavirus has caused one of the most significant disruptions to the economy than most people have ever seen.
Even with many people out of work or working reduced hours, demand for shelter animals is only growing. It makes sense too. People are locked at home. If they live alone, it can be very lonely. Our pets can be a real lifesaver during times like these.
If you’re interested in adopting a dog during quarantine, read below about what you should know before starting.
Adopting a Dog During Quarantine
With many businesses being closed, it’s sometimes hard to know when or how companies will open. Are dog adoption centers open during a stay at home order? Honestly, that’s a hard question to answer. All pet adoption centers will have at least some staff to take care of the animals, but they might not be allowing others into their facility.
This makes pet adoption a little trickier during a quarantine. Your first step would be to check your local adoption center’s website or social media pages. Most businesses have a place where they make announcements regarding closures or reduced hours. If you can’t find any information about altered hours, you might consider calling them.
Many adoption centers have very reduced hours, or they might be appointment only. Most facilities want all their animals to be adopted, but they still must keep their animals and their staff protected.
Can Dogs Spread COVID-19?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there was a report of one tiger at a New York zoo that came down with a respiratory illness. That one tiger tested positive for COVID-19. There have been no other confirmed cases of COVID-19 infecting any other animals. There have been a few claims of animals being infected, but no confirmed cases.
Because COVID-19 is so new, the latest information we have is changing all the time. It seems that your pets are somewhat safe, though. The CDC says there “…has not received any reports of pets becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States. To date, there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus to people.”
The CDC tells us not to worry about our pets getting this virus. Just remember that because our pets cannot get sick, it doesn’t mean they can’t help spread the virus. It’s a good idea to practice social distancing while you are out with your dog too. If you’re walking your dog, do not let others just come up and start petting them. Don’t allow your dog to interact with other dogs if possible. Your dog could potentially come in contact with COVID-19 by interacting with others and bring it into your home.
Just remember that if humans should practice social distancing, your pets should too.
Adopting a Dog Anytime
While adopting a dog during a stay at home order may take a bit more coordination, it’s not much different from adopting a dog at any time. There are some steps you’ll have to go through when adopting that don’t change.
Typically, you’ll want to check to see what animals are available. Then you can make an appointment to meet the dog. Once you meet them, you’ll be able to decide if they’re going to be your new best friend. There is some paperwork to complete, and the facility will take your information and copies of your ID.
The whole process is rather painless and quick. The only catch is that the adoption center may want to meet all people who live in the home. Of course, check with the adoption center, and they’ll let you know what you’ll need to walk out with your new pet.
The Benefits of Dog Adoption
There are many benefits to owning a dog. While you are stuck at home alone, it’s easy to become lazy. It happens to the best of us. You might be working from home with no real reason even to get some fresh air.
A dog needs to go out, though. A dog can be a powerful force to get you out of the house, even if it is to go around the block. Just that little bit of fresh air and sunshine can be a great mood booster. Aside from boosting your mood, having a dog can:
- Help you exercise more
- Reduce your stress
- Reduce depression
- Help you feel safer at home
These benefits don’t only apply during quarantine, either. Dogs and humans have developed together for centuries; it makes sense that we belong together.
With people stuck at home, it’s the perfect time to get some companionship. You can also dedicate a lot of time to training your new pup to make sure they’ll know your expectations. If you can, consider adopting a dog during the quarantine.