PREPARE FOR FREEDOM AS A NEW PET OWNER
A huge 11 per cent of households have taken on animals during the pandemic, but with life starting to return to normal, Emma says planning is crucial to ease the transition
Working from home and being isolated has seen us acquire 3.2 million pets, as a way to ease anxiety and soothe stress. That is completely understandable, but the RSPCA estimate they’ve received 40 abandonment reports a day since lockdown started, which is heartbreaking.
START PLANNING
If you’ve acquired a pet during lockdown, you need to start planning for when you’re out at work, on holidays and socialising again. Many companies will want their workers back in the office 9-5, but that could mean coming home to a traumatised animal dealing with separation anxiety, as they may need walking, feeding and stimulating throughout the day. If this doesn’t happen, they can become depressed. It’s why I have to pay a house sitter to look after my animals whenever I’m not there, and we mostly go on daycations rather than holidays, because it is like leaving your kids behind. Look at borrowmydoggy. com, a dog-walking service to exercise your pet, and try trustedhousesitters.com for a professional cat sitter. Guinea pigs need daily interaction, and rabbits can develop abnormal behaviours if left alone for long periods.
QUESTION THE URGE
Discuss a pet share with friends who work more flexibly to split responsibility. Alternatively, consider asking a local family member or neighbour to check in on your pet. If you are planning on getting a pet, wait until life resumes to a more normal pace. This will help you decide whether you have the time, money and space to add a pet, because when you rehome an animal, your life becomes more complicated.
PRACTISE INSTEAD!
Ask yourself whether the time really is right, or if you are simply trying to change the way the world feels right now? If it is the latter, put the brakes on, because it is a decision that is creating a permanent and demanding issue to answer a temporary problem. Instead, offer to walk or care for a neighbour’s pet to enjoy an animal’s company without owning it. You can also support animals by donating to dogstrust. org.uk or rspca.org.uk.