The Big Surprises From Adopting A Pet In A Pandemic

OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ADOPTING DURING COVID-19

Updated June 16, 2021

Misty the mama cat had a 106.5 fever. The infection from the mastitis (inflammation from nursing newborn kittens) had returned.

When she was too sick to nurse any longer, she used her last bit of strength to carry her six babies to the top of my parents’ 13’ high terrarium inside her home (while my parents were sleeping!).

Her purpose (I believe) was to give her kittens a chance of survival - off the ground where they would not be vulnerable to predators.

Let me back up.

My parents adopted a cat at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Growing Belly!

Personal protective equipment was in short supply. Spaying would have to wait.

My mom’s new foster kitty was gaining weight quickly. Yep... pregnant!

The Humane Society hadn’t had her very long and didn't know anything about her history. Well, we knew one thing... she met a nice young man sometime during her street adventures. 😻

Once Misty was on stronger antibiotics and could no longer nurse, we were left to bottle-feed the babies and teach them how to use a litter box.

Teaching weeks old kittens to eat, poop and navigate the world was no small under-taking. My 80-year-old parents live in a remote area so the vet visits and Humane Society visits were all an additional challenge on top of the round-the-clock feedings.

I had to binge-watch The Kitten Lady on YouTube and get the help of family members.

After 11 weeks of challenges, snuggles, feedings, training, vaccines, spaying and travels, ALL of the kittens are now in their new forever homes. All of our friends and family who were able to adopt cannot believe their good fortune.

I miss those babies, but it was all worth it.

Misty the mama is back to good health and grateful for her spoiled life with my parents.

If we had to do it all over, would we still want to adopt? We’ll let these precious faces of Daisy, Biscuit, Kicha, Batman, Sydney and Luna answer that question. :)

Certainly our experience wasn’t normal. But it was definitely an amazing adventure we will never forget.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

You won’t get a pregnant cat or dog like we did! They now take care of that for fosters and adoptions. Like everyone else, in the early days of the pandemic, things were not normal and everyone was learning to adapt.

Escondido Campus 619-299-7012

When speaking with the wonderful Kelly from the San Diego Humane Society, Escondido Campus, who helped us through our journey with Misty and the kittens, she said as of this writing, “We are not yet taking appointments for community members to spay and neuter. However, we do spay and neuter the animals currently in shelter care.”

This is good news for those adopting from the shelter.

ANIMAL ADOPTION DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Luckily for our furball friends, animal adoption during a pandemic doesn’t seem to scare most people because animal adoption is still thriving amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

However, if you’re looking to adopt a cat, dog, or any other shelter pet, you need to know that the process of adopting animals has changed due to safety concerns for everyone involved.

Every shelter will have slightly different policies and procedures, different application processes, and these may vary depending on what happens the day you come to pick your pet up.

This is a general guide. Visit your local shelter’s website (resources listed below), or call and speak to a local shelter representative for exact details.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS

Expect to apply for your pet online.

You may even have to apply for each pet you’re interested in individually.

There may also be questionnaires that the shelter will use to determine who they think will be the best parent for each animal.

Once the shelter accepts your application for a pet, there may be a virtual first meeting between you and your potential pet since you cannot have an in-person “meet and greet.” Shelters are also using social media to host online adoption events.

You should expect to receive support from adoption counselors by phone or video chat. They will answer your questions and help make sure your pandemic adoption goes as smoothly as possible. It’s not the ideal way to facilitate a pet adoption, but they’re doing a fantastic job.

There may even be a study guide and test to take before the adoption is complete. This is just to ensure the new owners feel confident in what to expect - and have all their questions answered.

Finally, the days of walk-ins at the animal shelter are gone. Expect appointment-only adoption hours and scheduled interviews with shelter staff. You cannot stroll in anytime during business hours, speak to shelter staff and then view all the animals anymore.

But don’t get frustrated and give up on adopting a new kitty or pup! This new adoption process takes longer, yes, but it’s worth it in the end when you have a brand-new family member.

Think of your application process as applying for jobs; focus on the quality of applications you submit rather than the quantity of applications submitted.

ADVICE FOR NEW PET OWNERS

Be patient with your new pet. Under normal circumstances where the pet has met you before going home with you, it can take two to three weeks to acclimate to its new environment. Pandemic adoptions do not even afford pets the opportunity to meet their new owners before going home with them. Give your animal time to adjust to you and your home.

Consider purchasing insurance for your new pet.

Veterinary costs can be incredibly expensive and some rates have increased during the pandemic. You don’t ever want to find yourself in the position where your pet desperately needs veterinary care, and you cannot afford the treatment. Pet insurance policies provide coverage for situations such as that.

WHERE TO ADOPT YOUR CAT OR DOG

Here are a few shelters and resources you can visit to adopt:

The Ramona Valley Humane Society & SPCA will be a no-kill shelter for Ramona and surrounding areas, a haven for lost and abandoned animals. They also plan to partner with local schools to teach children the importance of caring for animals. They are seeking grant money and welcome all donations as well.

The Humane Society offers discounts for senior citizens. And they include a free bag of food and a certificate for an initial “wellness” visit with participating vets. They have multiple locations throughout California. They note on their website, “Due to COVID-19, consultations will be conducted over the phone. Our adoption counselors are trained to help make the best match for you and can answer any questions you may have.”

Animal Services has a wide variety of options on their website including touchless adoptions, licensing your pet, finding a lost pet and even volunteer opportunities. They also serve unincorporated areas.

Additional animal rescue and pet adoption operations:

Kelly added, “In my opinion the following animal rescues are absolutely amazing 👇 and also worth mentioning.”

“Frosted Faces Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers the promise of family and quality veterinary care for senior animals whose love and lives are in jeopardy.”

Please note, if you’re experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19 and are unable to keep your existing pet, some of these places can help with that, too.

Remember to learn about Pet Insurance for your furry loved one:

Contact us with questions. Ask for Diane Salazar - she’s an insurance expert and bonus, a HUGE animal lover.

Congratulations on your decision to adopt / rescue / foster and save a life! It’s guaranteed to be life-changing once you fill your home with so much love and laughter. 💜 It certainly did for ours.