Why Some Pet Owners Are Having Issues During the Pandemic

Although many people seem to have acquired a pandemic pet, new research from the University of Florida and Virginia Commonwealth University finds that some pet guardians are finding things tough. Two studies show the importance of both the extent of attachment to a pet and the role of socioeconomic factors in people’s experiences—and that supporting people with pets would benefit everyone.

Source: Sam Lion/Pexels

One study, published in the journal One Health, found that 10 percent of people with pets said they might delay getting a test to find out if they had COVID-19, or even not get tested at all, because of concerns about who might care for their pet. And just over 10 percent of pet owners said they might delay or avoid getting treatment if they had COVID-19. People with a stronger attachment to their pet were more likely to say they would delay/avoid testing and treatment.

Financial factors were also important, as people with financial concerns due to the pandemic were also more likely to say they would delay/avoid treatment. In contrast, people with more social support were less likely to say this.

Forty-one percent of pet owners said they did not have a plan for who would take care of their pet should they become ill. (This is a long-term plan that every pet guardian should have and is even more important during these times when the risk of getting sick and needing hospitalization is higher.) Forty-two percent had concerns about the quality of care their pet might get (for example, because they had a reactive dog). Forty percent had people-related concerns, such as not being a burden to their friends or not wanting to be separated from their pet.

The survey was conducted in April and May of last year, at a time when the U.S. was encouraging physical distancing because of the pandemic. Testing and tracing contacts is an important part of the public health response, so delays in getting tested could potentially have serious outcomes, both for the individual (not getting any needed treatment or monitoring) and for their contacts in the community as a whole.

Source: Samson Katt/Pexels

Another study, published in the journal Animals, asked 2,294 people if they found having a pet added stress and if they had any difficulties with their pet during the pandemic. They were also asked about the pros and cons of having a pet during this time. Analysis of the written responses people gave to these questions showed a set of concerns related to the pet, the person, and/or the household as a whole.

Over half of the participants (56 percent) said there was something stressful or a con to having a pet during the time of COVID. Difficulties included having to socialize a puppy during the pandemic, finding it hard to avoid people on dog walks, or not being able to take the dog out for exercise as easily as before. Seventeen percent of people were worried about getting supplies for their pet, 13 percent about going to the vet, and 12 percent about behavior problems emerging or worsening.

As for concerns related to people, 12 percent said their pet was sometimes an issue when working from home, for example by barking or meowing during work calls. Eleven percent said that extra time with their pet affected their well-being as their pet’s behavior was sometimes frustrating or annoying. People with this kind of concern had a lower attachment to their pet than others who completed the survey. From this data, it’s not possible to tell whether they had a lower attachment beforehand or if it’s a result of the issues with their pet.

Finally, the whole household was affected as people worried that their pet might affect their risks of catching COVID-19, e.g. having to think about the risks involved in walking the dog or going to the vet. Seven percent were worried about their finances.

This second survey was conducted during Spring and Summer 2020, and as the pandemic has dragged on, it's possible that even more people are feeling these issues now.

Jennifer Applebaum, first author of both studies and Ph.D. student and NIH predoctoral fellow at the University of Florida, told me,

“As the pandemic is exacerbating inequalities and pets are such an integral part of our lives both prior to, but especially during this time, it is clear that we need support for multispecies households via several avenues. In particular, communities should encourage partnerships between human and animal health and social service providers, and public policy should consider pets in terms of allocating funds to support vulnerable families and individuals with the goal of keeping pets with their families through adversity.”

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Taken together, these studies show that although many people have rushed out to get a pet during the pandemic, in fact, a pet is not always a positive and there can be downsides (see also: the downsides to consider before getting a pet).

The results also demonstrate the importance of a One Health/One Welfare approach as our own health and welfare is inextricably tied to that of our pets. Supporting people as they care for their pets also supports the wider public health response.

If you don’t have a plan for your pet in case you get sick, talk to family and friends. Many local humane societies provide emergency boarding or access to other help. For those in financial difficulties, many communities have a pet food bank. And if you’re having trouble with your pet’s behavior, find a qualified dog trainer (or see your vet for any sudden changes in behavior). It’s also a good idea to start preparing your pets for when life gets back to normal, ideally well in advance of when this happens. Of course, a public policy response that helps communities to build resilience would help not just with the pandemic, but with broader emergency planning too.

And finally, if your pet is irritating you right now, perhaps you can take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.