Best friends in a time of crisis
N.Y.ers adopt pets, find solace
Just because you’re isolated, it doesn’t mean you have to be alone, not with dozens of dogs and cats looking for a home.
Before coronavirus fears had people self-quarantining to curtail the spread of the disease, 9-year-old Nena was floundering in an animal shelter cage, an unlikely candidate for permanent adoption.
Now, she’s a spoiled pooch in a loving Brooklyn home with two owners desperate for a distraction.
“When it became evident that not only were we going to be staying at home for extended periods of time but we weren’t going to be able to travel, it was a good time to open our home to a dog that would probably be overlooked from an adoption standpoint,” said Jack Wyrick, 37, who has been working from home.
Wyrick and his wife, Cait Moldenhauer, 31, saw a pet fostering plea from Animal Care Centers of NYC on social media and knew they had to get involved.
“Nena has provided a perspective change,” Wyrick said.
“She’s a distraction. You get a very rewarding distraction from everything that is going on. If you are looking for a way to give back in an isolated way, this is a phenomenal option at no cost.”
Since the coronavirus outbreak, Animal Care Centers has seen a rise in foster applicants from millennial roommates, and hopes its campaign for new emergency foster volunteers would keep the momentum going.
“People want to help,” said spokeswoman Katy Hansen. “Since our callout we have seen more than 1,462 people sign up to be emergency fosters here in New York City.
Since Friday, to date we have been able to place 50 animals in foster care.”
“The whole process is taking around two days once your application is approved,” Hansen said.
“We give you everything, leashes, collars, food. And having something new and novel aside from the virus to concentrate on is a good distraction.”
Among the happy homebodies is Katherine Lee, 32, who welcomed a 5-year-old tabby cat named Glow into her Manhattan apartment.
“Glow has been great company during this time and a source of joy during all this,” Lee said.
“It’s a gift to have a little buddy with me while we all transition to working remotely from home since I live alone.”