Say “Yes” to Pet Adoptions

We have been in the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly one year. It also happens to almost be the one year anniversary of adopting my dog, Burghard. My mom and I adopted him from the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in April of 2020, one month after my mom lost her job and Fluvanna County High School cancelled classes for the remainder of the 2020 school year.

Since then, CASPCA had their best year in terms of adoption numbers, along with shelters across the globe. My family has also had a growth spurt with the addition of a kitten named Shelby. But is it a good idea to adopt pets during times of uncertainty?

On one of the first days after school was cancelled, I got a call from my mom where she told me that she was being laid off due to COVID safety measures. She went back to this job after a few months, but was soon permanently let go due to lack of business and down sizing. Our situation is not very unique, however; many Americans have lost their jobs during this pandemic if their position could not be done from home.

Meanwhile, we still have expenses that need to be paid. Thanks to unemployment benefits, along with her income from selling collected toys on ebay, we have been lucky enough to keep up with those expenses, including pet food, veterinary bills, adoption fees, vaccinations and medication.

Burghard was found on the streets of Texas with rough and itchy skin, crooked teeth, and an infected ear. I had been emailing the shelter with inquiries on other dogs that had been either unavailable or bad with cats; the latter was unacceptable because we already had a cat, Rikki. They eventually emailed me back with some information about him, and my mom and I fell in love. There was only one worry: Nobody knew if he had ever been around cats, and he did not seem too fond of the other dogs.

After talking with the volunteers at the shelter, we decided to foster him first to be safe. Thankfully, after he settled in, he began to ignore the cats altogether. However, there was already another roadblock. Both my dog and cat were due for their vet appointments. Burghard needed medicated shampoo and Rikki needed ear drops to treat an infection, and it ended up costing my mom a pretty penny, which has definitely been one drawback of adopting another pet.

COVID-19 has had plenty of people feeling anxious, especially at the thought of interacting with the public. This has caused me to become very comfortable with staying cooped up in my house. However, dogs aren’t designed to operate this way, and neither are humans. We are social creatures who also need exercise. Burghard has been my main source of motivation for getting fresh air and my blood flowing by taking him for walks multiple times a day.

The feeling of anxiety can also cause people to lay awake at night consumed by their thoughts, rather than sleeping. But in combination with my exhaustion from daily life, Burg’s nightly snuggles help put me into a sound sleep. Even when he’s just sleeping in my bedroom, I feel more safe and secure with the knowledge that he would protect me if he had to.

Fast forward to December of last year, when my mom saw a post with information on a little orange tabby kitten who was almost ready to be adopted. One of her friends had been fostering her, and my mom fell in love all over again. As the kitten grew, my mom continuously asked for updates, even though she didn’t think that it would be a good idea to adopt another pet.

Meanwhile, I was trying my hardest to convince her that bringing a kitten into the house would indeed be a good idea. We had both been feeling down due to the events of 2020, and she couldn’t deny it when I said that a kitten would help improve our mental health.

On the day that we adopted Shelby, I had no idea that it was on the agenda. My mom was out running some quick errands when my friend texted me to come outside. I was greeted by my mom’s Facebook friend holding Shelby in a crate along with an adoption application with a line through the “Fee” section.

They came inside and I held Shelby for a little while before my mom got home. I had been so wrapped up in the chaos that I forgot to mention the news to her. Needless to say, she was very shocked. Now, however, we both love having Shelby in our home.

If you are feeling down or lonely during this pandemic, I can definitely vouch that adopting a pet will not only bring you more company, but you could also save an animal’s life while building a strong bond. Stability and routine bring peace and relaxation to living beings. When dogs are in the process of being adopted, they’re transferred from shelter to foster home until they hopefully find a forever home. This causes anxiety in not only humans, but common household pets as well.

Do not be deterred by the looming fees and possibility of rejection. Fighting to become a pet’s owner will make your bond grow stronger and the long-term priorities should always be general health and happiness. There are also centers where you can find donated pet food for free, and there are free drives through rabies vaccines set up in the community.

Adopting pets gives you a loyal friend who will be there to soothe you when you’re feeling tense or sad. Since those two emotions are prevalent these days, having a household pet can improve your overall mental health. They may cost money, but the payoff of their eternal love is more than worth the number on the price tag.