Contrary to early reports suggesting millions of Americans would welcome “pandemic pets” into their homes, dog and cat ownership did not increase during the Covid-19 shutdown. In fact, it saw a slight decline from pre-pandemic numbers, according to a new study by Christy L. Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC).
The pandemic also appears to have resulted in some changes to how pets were acquired. Hoffman’s research found that the proportion of cats and dogs adopted from pet stores and breeders increased throughout 2020-21 while those acquired from shelters and rescues decreased.
“This may have been due to reductions in the overall number of animals available for adoption from shelters during the pandemic, as well as the public’s limited access to shelters during this period,” she notes.
Of those who did adopt pets during the pandemic, the majority were younger individuals and those in households that included children.
Hoffman’s research was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. She co-authored the study with Melissa Thibault, senior manager for research strategy and research at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
