Another ramification of the pandemic - pets being given up to shelters
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342670)
Rockingham, Australia
January 20, 2021 12:57am CST
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes/problems/benefits that couldn’t have been foreseen when the world was first hit by the scourge.
My state, Western Australia, has had it very easy compared to many areas of both Australia and the rest of the world. However, there have still been plenty of problems. Tourist areas are open for business but operators are having trouble finding staff. Many people who would like a job, and many who have a job, cannot find accommodation, in particular pet-friendly rentals.
Pets are being surrendered to animal shelters as people are forced to give up their four-legged companions in order to find rental accommodation. In Broome, in WA’s north, a tight market and high rental prices has seen one man decide to buy a house rather than give up his two dogs. Of course, not everyone is in a position to buy rather than rent.
The photo is of our friends’ poodle playing frisbee.
21 people like this
21 responses
@Fleura (30596)
• United Kingdom
20 Jan 21
We have the opposite problem here - people stuck at home deciding to get a dog. Thefts of pets are up, and dogs are selling for close to double previous prices. We are expecting to see an increase in unwanted pets when lockdown ends and people have to go back to work and have less time, or maybe lose their jobs when the furlough scheme ends and have less money, or just realise that a cute puppy needs a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved pet and not a liability and they haven't done that!
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108954)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Jan 21
Its sad when pets get given away like that.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108954)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Jan 21
@JudyEv I have said I would live in a box first.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Jan 21
sadly that sorta thingy 'tis happenin' here'n the u.s., too. folks 'dopted pups 'n cats when the pandemic started 'n now 're strugglin' 'fter so many months 'f lock downs to keep a roof o'er their own heads.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Jan 21
@JudyEv so very true. i know that many thought takin' a shelter pet 'twas a good idea. give 'em somethin' to care fer, the critter a lovin' home. not thinkin' to the future. then 'gain, who would'a believed 'this' 'd gone'n fer so long?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342670)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 21
@crazyhorseladycx And who would have thought they might lose their housing and virtually be out on the streets?
2 people like this
@xFiacre (13218)
• Ireland
20 Jan 21
@judyev Here we’ve had a brisk trade in puppies. It seems that people are bored / lonely at home so seek canine company. And the trendiest breed to go for in my area is the Husky. For some sensible people it’s a great idea - company and exercise. But we know that for a lot of folk the novelty with grow off. I would love to have a dog to take for long walks along the river but I draw the line at poop-scooping so I’ll pass on having a dog.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (183275)
• United States
20 Jan 21
Cute picture. If we still had our dogs, I would do just about everything to keep them. We had to surrender them; and it was heartbreaking.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183275)
• United States
21 Jan 21
@JudyEv We still miss them terribly.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
20 Jan 21
It is so sad, it is happening all around the world. The organization we work with has twice its normal number of dogs in the system right tnow.
The other side though, many more people are adopting now also.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342670)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 21
@DocAndersen Everyone expected houses to be hard to sell but everyone seems to be buying.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
21 Jan 21
@JudyEv So housing is funny where I live. Right now (presidential turn over) there are 100s of houses for sale. so the market goes down around the inauguration. Then it starts back up again!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182873)
• United States
20 Jan 21
It is the opposite here. Lots of pets are being adopted.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (138414)
• India
20 Jan 21
That is the saddest situation giving up one's pets.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6884)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 21
When you used the word 'ramification', I was expecting to see a picture of a sheep.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81194)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 21
That is sad news and so sorry for the pets.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342670)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 21
Lots of things have gone topsy-turvy since the pandemic hit.