Could a return to ‘normal’ life be a challenge for pets?
This week’s “Lost, Found and Looking” column is from the desk of Pope Memorial Humane Society’s Foster Coordinator, Brandi Moore.
Many of us are home, a bit lonely and with extra time on our hands. So why not adopt a furry friend to keep company? Note: Sheilana (above) is one of the many cats looking for a purrfect home this spring season.
In some areas of the country, adoptions have increased by as much as 90%! Between stay-at-home orders and social distancing, many folks rescued a new fur kid, which led to positive results for animal adoption. Some of you might have discovered that it’s actually hard to find a new companion, especially when it comes to dogs.
But what happens to all of these pandemic pooches once the pandemic is over?
Our hope is that the transition back to “normal” life for humans and their furry companions will be a seamless one. But some dogs, used to being with us 24/7, will suddenly find themselves home alone eight hours a day. A bored, lonely dog, especially puppies and adolescents, can sometimes develop behavioral issues or become destructive in your home.
Shelters like PMHS put a lot of thought into the adoption process to make good matches between adopters and our animals. But, as we all discovered this past year, change happens, and it can sometimes be a challenge to adjust. Change, even good change, can also be challenging for dogs and cats.
PMHS is a valuable community resource to help people and their fur kids work through any problems that arise. We can offer information and advice to help people keep their companion animals when life changes happen or issues come up.
There’s also help out there in the form of dog training classes and animal behavior consultants. We continue to offer excellent, loving care to animals that are in need of sheltering while they await their forever homes.
A great option to help animals in shelters, such as PMHS, is fostering! A lot of kind, generous, caring people have applied to be foster homes during the pandemic adoption boom, when fewer dogs and cats needing those foster homes were available.
We always end up with animals that would be happier in a foster home than at the shelter, but have special needs or requirements, like a home with no kids or other dogs or cats; or are seniors; or have medical or behavioral needs. There aren’t ever enough of these very specific and special foster homes available for them.
But kittens and puppies? There haven’t been enough to go around, lately! But that too is about to change with the spring “kitten season” taking off!
If you think you might enjoy helping an animal on their path to a forever home, we here at PMHS would love for you to join our foster family!
Pope Memorial Humane Society is at 25 Buttermilk Lane in Thomaston; due to COVID-19, adoptions are by appointment only until further notice; for questions or to schedule an appointment call 594-2200. If interested in adopting, fill out an application on our “Adoption Application” page. If you are interested in fostering an animal, please fill out an application on our “Foster an Animal” page.
Wish list: scrubby sponges, paper towels, bleach, assorted color file folders, canned cat food (poultry pate); canned dog food and 6” paper plates.
Thank you!