Dave Mackinder and Katie Lynch’s new cat perches herself on their couch. The orange tabby, who hasn’t been named yet, is a new addition to the Michigan-based couple’s home, a rescue welcomed in as they are working from home for the foreseeable future.
And they’re not the only ones trying to name a new furry friend this week.
People across the country are being urged to social distance themselves, stay in as much as possible, and work from home, and many are using the time as a chance to adopt or foster a pet.
“This is a unique opportunity to be at home with your new pet while they adjust to new surroundings,” Lindsay Layendecker, a spokeswoman with the Jacksonville Humane Society in Florida, said in an interview. “Pets keep us in good spirits and help maintain normalcy and routine. Even if you cannot adopt, this is a great time to serve your community by providing a foster home to a pet in need.”
The Jacksonville Humane Society, along with shelters in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Santa Fe, and more, are waiving adoption fees this week to encourage emptying the shelters. Fostering is also being encouraged — and can be more feasible for people who aren’t sure if they can afford to care for a pet. Typically, foster situations provide food for the animal or a stipend for necessities.
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“For those who are working from home, this is a great opportunity to introduce a new pet to your family with lots of time to work on training and getting them acclimated to your home,” the Arizona Humane Society said on Twitter.
The moment has even given rise to some adorable new terminology. In New Jersey, St. Hubert’s is calling their adoptable pets “furry assistants,” while the City Dogs rescue in Cleveland has deemed them “social distancing sidekicks.” There’s also a new hashtag, #QuarantineCats, making the rounds online.
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Dave and Katie's cat came from a Michigan shelter, Faerie Tales, which is doing adoptions by appointment to minimize human contact.
"Though we had plans of adopting anyway," Dave said, "we definitely thought it was a fitting time to have a new feline friend."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s no reason to believe animals can contract or spread COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a dog in Hong Kong was infected, but said there’s no evidence pets can transmit the virus to humans. But the same cannot be said for shelter employees, which is why there’s such an emphasis on clearing kennels now.
“Like animal shelters across the nation, the Jacksonville Humane Society is preparing in the event that COVID-19 impacts our staffing or intake levels,” CEO Denise Deisler said. “People may be staying home, but the animals are still coming in. Caring for animals in our shelter is not something we can do from home, so we need to move animals out of our shelter in order to continue serving our community or others in need, especially in the event that our staff or volunteers become exposed.”
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