Dalgona coffee, Instagram challenges, banana bread – these are just a few of the many trends which became popular at the beginning of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. However, another ‘trend’ which people succumbed to was bringing home pets. But what many of them didn’t consider is that taking care of a pet is a full-time job.
Which is why, when the lockdown was lifted, several pet cats and dogs were found abandoned in public places like markets and parks or in front of rescue centres. According to TOI, in a study conducted on pet homelessness, 50% of pet owners, who brought home an animal, gave their pets up from the onset of the pandemic. This includes two groups of people – one, who were scared that their pets could carry the virus and two, those who brought an animal home during the lockdown but couldn’t take care of them later.
There were 9 countries that were studied, including Mexico and South Africa, and India recorded the worst number in pet homelessness.
“Impulse pet adoptions were already quite common. But during the pandemic, it went through the roof, as people craved companionship without giving enough thought to what would happen when they went back to work or resumed their old lifestyle,” said Kirti Bhardwaj, a member of Animal Adoption & Care, Mumbai.
“One has to understand that they’re bringing home a life, not a use-and-throw toy, said Aditi Nair, founder of Pet Owners and Animal Lovers Foundation, who further added that the common excuse given by owners while giving up their pets are “return to office”, “couldn’t find a full-time carer”, “moving cities”, and “allergies”.
When the news was widely shared online, several people slammed the pet owners who abandoned their pets.
People buying pets for their entertainment and dumping them once the need is over are the worst from india
There is a special place in hell for people who abandon their pets.