Animal Shelters Are Warning People About Adopting Pets In Lockdown

There has been a spike in the number of animal adoptions along the east coast of Australia.

While that is definitely good news for those pets who now have loving homes to live in, it's sparking concern amongst experts.

Parts of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have been in lockdown and there are fears people are getting furry companions to stave off the boredom.

There's no doubt training a pooch or cat or any other sort of animal will keep you preoccupied during the stay-at-home orders, however adoptions need to be for the right reasons.

Lost Dogs Home in Victoria witnessed a large increase in the number of people giving pets back when Melbourne ended its lockdown in early June.

Shelter supervisor Allie Small said there can usually be a spike in pets being surrendered around the middle of the year, but it certainly doesn't amount to the 30 per cent jump that was seen two months ago.

She said: "It's concerning for us that now that people are going back to 'normal life' - seeing their friends and going back to work - they can't accommodate their pets as part of that process."

Ms Small explained how calls asking about how to manage a dog have fallen and there are now more enquiries about surrendering the pet. She said the latter should be a last resort not a first resort.

Animal Adoption Agency owner Fiona Amiti said similar scenes have happened in Sydney.

"This mainly happens after the restrictions are lifted and people are returning back to work," she said.

"They find that their animals become so attached to a lifestyle of having their owners with them 24-7 that once they return to work, the animals are simply not able to cope with being left alone."

Those who get a pet and stick with it need to be careful about the potential of their dog developing separation anxiety when you go back to the workplace.,

Some people might have been working from home for weeks or even months and your pooch has probably lapped up all the extra attention.

While we have no clue when some of us are getting out of lockdown, it's important to ensure you prepare your dog for you not being around to feed it all the time and take them on walks.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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