Will pets be OK when owners return to office?
Dear Pet Talk: How can cats, dogs, ferrets, birds, etc., best be helped as all readapt to humans returning to work away from home, post-pandemic? — Mary Barclay, Royalston
Dear Mary: Of all the changes that the lockdown and quarantine wrought, the increased presence of humans has been much appreciated by our pets.
Dogs received more walks, and cats have had more time on their own “lap top.”
Some folks coped with quarantine by adopting a new buddy and buying more toys, cat trees and dog beds.
Patti of Townsend adopted a second Italian miniature greyhound to join Lucy, who’d lost her mate, Desi, two years ago. Because Patti was home, little Vinny and Lucy got extra attention.
This helped them to adjust to one another.
“Now that I’m back at work, they are still at home with my husband and daughter, but when I’m home, they bark, run, jump, kiss me and then go outside to do their business,” she said. “Then Lucy ignores me because she realizes she’s still mad at me.”
Jenn of Fitchburg has dogs, cats and a turtle, but her beagle, Arya, had the biggest adjustment. “I started crating her even if I was home,” she said. “Just for an hour or two but long enough so that she would start to get used to being crated again. She gets a treat every time she goes in her crate so she’s loving going in.”
But artist Kathy of Leominster has the best solution. She works two minutes from her house, so she can check on her cats frequently.
“Occasionally, I’ll bring one of my kitties with me to the studio,” she said.
Do you bring your pet to work? We want to see photos! Post at “Be Pawsitive Therapy Pets” on Facebook!
Sally Cragin is the director of Be Pawsitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions to sallycragin@verizon.net.