Quarantine Puppies

Quarantine Puppies

Sophie Struyk

Everyone knows that a man’s best friend is a dog. But what happens when that best friend spends months with the man, only to be left in an empty home after quarantine is over. Quarantine puppies were an addictive drug between March and July. Loneliness hit everyone like a brick, causing the increase in adoption of puppies. Now, at this time, these dogs are extremely happy with the love and attention they receive everyday, but that might end in just a few months. Most experts are expecting a vaccine to be largely distributed by mid-2021. 

 

Claire Macellaio, ‘21, states, “During online school, they [dogs] spend the whole day with me, and when I leave the house even for just a minute, they go crazy. I’m worried about how they will adjust to my family members being gone for much longer periods of time when the pandemic ends.” Dogs have gotten used to this new “normal” of immense attention everyday, and will be shocked when it goes away. Some puppies also need dog training, and during a pandemic that may be a bit difficult. A lot of online classes are taking place to help train these dogs, and youtube also has some helpful advice. Sonya Ko, ‘23, explains how she sets up a schedule with her dog, “I try to think ahead and keep a schedule everyday that would be similar to life post-covid. That way, my dog is comfortable with me leaving the house sometimes and not being with him 100% of the time.” Sticking to a schedule and leaving your dog alone sometimes will help your dog transition into a world where they aren’t constantly receiving attention.

 

Rowan Symanski, ‘22, describes her new puppy, poppy, “She cries whenever we leave and already has separation anxiety, so we have been sending her to doggy daycare a couple of times a week to help her adjust to us going back to school/work.” Hopefully, when the vaccine becomes widely distributed, these dogs will still receive the love and affection they deserve.