Loneliness and melancholy are common emotions exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdowns. Even after mobility restrictions are loosened, sometimes modern life launches us into a dark corner where solitude becomes oppressive rather than liberating. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cute fluffy companion, maybe a cheerful pooch or slightly rotund cat, by our side? A companion who loves us and motivates us to get through difficult times?
Emotional support is one of the many joys associated with pet ownership. Nearly 87% of pet owners in this UK survey said that their pets have helped them to cope emotionally during lockdown. The desire for companionship amidst social isolation could have motivated more people to adopt or purchase pets during COVID. Higher pet ownership may also be attributed to flexible work arrangements, which allowed more people to spend time at home caring for their pets.
As COVID restrictions ease, both people and pets need to adjust to new routines. Some workers are required to return to their offices, while others may have found new jobs or decided to relocate. Unfortunately, this also means that some pet owners end up giving up or worse, abandoning their pets. Animal welfare groups in Singapore told Channel News Asia that pet abandonment trended upwards by 30% in the early half of 2022. Hong Kong Dog Rescue shared with Reuters that they had to take in more abandoned dogs per month than the pre-COVID period as people moved out of the city.
A pet is a lifelong commitment and not just a short-term companion to tide their owner through lockdown. It is fine to get a pet during COVID as long as we continue to give them the best possible life in a post-COVID environment. I hope pet owners and their employers can work together to maintain some flexibility in working arrangements so that pets are sufficiently cared for.