Second Covid wave leaves pets orphaned
The second wave of Covid-19 has wreaked havoc in more ways than one can imagine. Many animals have been orphaned, losing their humans to the pandemic. As families struggle to cope with the loss of loved ones, these pets suddenly find themselves abandoned.
“There are lots of requests for dog adoptions and foster care as their humans have died or are recovering from the infection,” says Anuradha Dogra from Animal Hospital and Shelter, Noida. For those who can’t foster, Dogra suggests passing on the information to animal welfare associations and animal-care volunteers, instead of directly posting on social media. She says, “There needs to be a thorough check before giving pets for adoption to avoid them going to a breeder, or getting re-abandoned.”
Dr Vivek Arora, veterinary surgeon, says being overexposed to its former owners in the last one year and suddenly losing them can compound a pet’s stress. “In the last 10-12 months, what was meant to be six to eight-hour contact became 24-hour contact [between pet and parent] and then the pet suddenly lost them. So it takes a little longer to settle and a new family needs to be patient,” he says.