According to a report posted on the 24Pet ShelterWatch website, at least 294,959 new animals arrived at the 1,191 shelters nationwide monitored by the 24Pet ShelterWatch Report between March 13 and June 12. The report states that the number is expected to increase, but the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is seeing the opposite effect.Gretchen Pressley, community relations manager with the HSPPR, said they have not seen an increase in the number of relinquished pets since the coronavirus pandemic. Owner surrender numbers are actually below what they were last year; and, overall, fewer animals are being brought to the shelter, she said.ìOur adoption is always based on the number of animals coming in,î Pressley said. ìWe can only adopt out as many as we can get in. We are seeing fewer animals coming in, but we are still seeing them getting adopted very quickly.îHowever, Pressley said the HSPPR is seeing an increase in animals being brought in for medical care. With people losing their jobs or being temporarily out of work, some pet owners cannot afford to get the veterinary care they need for their animals so the HSPPR is helping those families out on a case-by-case basis, she said.Additionally, June, July and August are considered ìkitten season,î and Pressley said that means the HSPPR is seeing many underage kittens being brought in. To deal with the influx, the shelter uses nursing mother cats to help care for the kittens; and more foster families than ever before have stepped up to help out, she said.ìOur ëDonít KitNap Meí campaign is going on, which says do not immediately pick them (kittens) up and bring them to us,î Pressley said. ìThey have a better chance of survival with their mom, and she might just be waiting for you to go away to come back to her kittens.îWith people returning to work, newly adopted pets and pets who have become accustomed to having their owners home during the day might need help transitioning to being alone more often, Pressley said.Miguel Gonzales, behavior programs manager at the HSPPR Pueblo location, said there are a few ways to make that transition easier. First, start by getting up earlier, getting dressed and going through the same routine you would if you were going to work, including leaving at the appropriate time for a quick trip out for coffee or to the grocery, he said.ìMany of us like to ritualize our comings and goings by making a big deal of coming home,î Gonzales said. ìA better thing to do would be to come home after that short jaunt, have a seat, do whatever you would have to do and make it a no-big-deal sort of thing.îFor others, Gonzales said hiring a dog walker or someone who can provide care that can slowly be scaled back as time goes on might be the best option.Sometimes, scaling back on taking extra walks with pets is necessary before returning to work, he said. ìIt is possible that in this time at home you may have found new chances to fit in walks or training or play, and there is no reason not to continue that schedule if you can maintain it,î Gonzales said. ìBut if it is not something you can maintain after returning to the office or work, start to slowly cut back on it and ease into your old routine.îPet proofing your home can also help make the transition more seamless, he said. With everyone home all the time, animals have fewer opportunities to destroy things; so be sure to remove temptations. Doing so can protect your things and your pets, Gonzales said.On the other hand, creating a play area ñ- especially for dogs who need stimulation ñ- can help them remember that fun things still happen even when you are not home, he said. Chew toys and dog food puzzles are good ways to entertain them and help them feel more independent, Gonzales said.Pressley said this pandemic has been difficult for many people, but she said the community has stepped up to help the HSPPR; and everyone at the humane society is grateful for the assistance.ìWe want to thank the community for continuing to adopt,î she said.
