Pets and the Pandemic

Hello everybody.

I have something to say about the joy of pets during the despair of the pandemic. I can tell you that things are a little less stressful if you are staying at home with a loving pet.

This is my crazy poodle, Roxy. She’s still a puppy and makes me laugh when I might rather cry.

Like other canines and felines, she doesn’t know anything about the horrors of the coronavirus. All your pets want is food, a walk, some playtime and plenty of sleep. Ah, but even more, they want you to join in the fun: their very best friend.

They love you.

How anxious can you be when your cat crawls onto your lap and starts purring. It’s so calming. Or when your dog stares at you, with his tail wagging and a squeaky toy in his mouth?

In March when the national stay at home orders took effect, there was a run on animal shelters all over the country. Shelters in Los Angeles and New York had a 500 percent increase in applications for cats and dogs to foster. Shelters with animals to adopt were overwhelmed.

People stuck at home to avoid catching the coronavirus, don’t want to be alone. They want company. They need emotional support, even if it’s provided by a creature with four legs and a furry coat.

Until next time.