Human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: booming dog adoption during social isolation

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to uncertainty and severe health and economic concerns. Previous studies indicated that owning a companion animal, such as a dog or a cat, has benefits for good mental health. Interactions with animals may help with depression and anxiety, particularly under stress-prone conditions. Human–animal interactions may even improve peer-to-peer social relationships, as well as enhance feelings of respect, trust, and empathy between people. Interestingly, it has also been shown that stress and poor well-being of dog owners negatively affect the well-being of their companion animals. However, a dramatic increase in dog abandonment could potentially occur due to COVID-19 related health, economic and social stresses, as well as due to the inconclusive reports of companion animals being potential COVID-19 carriers. Such a scenario may lead to high costs and considerable public health risks. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related social isolation, might lead to dramatic changes in human–dog bidirectional relationships. Using unique prospective and retrospective datasets, our objectives were to investigate how people perceived and acted during the COVID-19 pandemic social isolation, in regards to dog adoption and abandonment; and to examine the bidirectional relationship between the well-being of dog owners and that of their dogs. Overall, according to our analysis, as the social isolation became more stringent during the pandemic, the interest in dog adoption and the adoption rate increased significantly, while abandonment did not change. Moreover, there was a clear association between an individual’s impaired quality of life and their perceptions of a parallel deterioration in the quality of life of their dogs and reports of new behavioral problems. As humans and dogs are both social animals, these findings suggest potential benefits of the human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the One Welfare approach that implies that there is a bidirectional connection between the welfare and health of humans and non-human animals. As our climate continues to change, more disasters including pandemics will likely occur, highlighting the importance of research into crisis-driven changes in human–animal relationships.

Dog Walking before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: Experiences of UK Dog Owners

“…This study was approved by the University of Liverpool Veterinary Research Ethics Committee (VREC957) and was distributed via social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Many people acquired new pets during lockdown (e.g., "pandemic puppies" or rescue adoption [27]); however, our study recruited only those who had their dog both before and during this time, so that changes could be assessed. Dog owners also had to live in the UK and be over 18 years of age to be eligible to participate.…”

Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Spark a Public Interest in Pet Adoption?

“…Our study revealed that the web interest on adoption of cats and dogs increased during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (35) and appeared to be sustainable for that of cats but not dogs. The affection between human and companion animals is well-recognized as an effective way to minimize stress during an uncertain period and help alleviating depression and anxiety upon social isolation (7,26,36). In face of disasters, the majority of pet owners are not willing to surrender their companion animals (37).…”

“…In face of disasters, the majority of pet owners are not willing to surrender their companion animals (37). Although there are reports of increasing pet abandonment during the pandemic, it appeared that the increased rates of adoption have canceled out the number of surrendered pets (7,10). Other than adoption, studies have also reported an increase in the number of foster families for the temporary stay of animals pending for adoption and a shorter length of stay for animals in shelters (6,7).…”

“…Along with an increased unemployment rate, the average hours per day spent at home for the general population has considerably increased after the pandemic as compared to the corresponding seasons in 2019 (4). Sporadic news reports have indicated an increase of dog and cat adoption from animal shelters (5)(6)(7)(8). The United Kingdom has even witnessed an emptied shelter because of an ever-high adoption rate (5).…”

Animal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the Welfare of Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Another potential welfare benefit pertains to a decrease in euthanasia of sheltersurrendered companion animals, concomitant with an increase in adoption rates during the pandemic [22][23][24] as people facing mandated social isolation for unknown periods of time sought nonhuman company. China also reclassified dogs as "pets," rather than as livestock, in a move towards reducing consumption of these animals [25].…”