Pandemic Pets – Where Are They Now?

A puppy lying in a crate next to an empty one. Photo from Canva. 

COVID-19 and Increased Animal Adoption 

For many of us, reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic feels like a fever dream. Hunkering down and social distancing became the new normal for those privileged to work or attend school virtually. Those first two months of the pandemic were incredibly isolating, and during that time, we saw trends that arose to bridge the gap of the lack of social connection. 

Many turned to TikTok, which saw a dramatic increase in downloads and users at the beginning of 2020. Some people had designated social distancing buddies, in which you’d isolate with someone you know to keep company (and sanity). Many, however, turned to adopting animals. Animal shelters saw their populations at the lowest level that our country has seen in decades. 

The pandemic hit shelters hard, similar to many businesses struggling to stay afloat. Unprecedentedly, however, people were ready to come to the rescue of struggling shelters. In addition to helping with donations and resources, adoption and fostering rates were through the roof. This isn’t a surprise, considering how many people felt the effects of the loneliness and isolation of social distancing. For many, owning a pet was a way to feel that connection again. 

Were these Animals Returned to the Shelters? 

When shelters started seeing increased entry rates again, many blamed the pandemic’s pet parents. It was assumed that many families, in over their heads, would opt to return the animals. Many also stated that, with many slowly returning to the office, pet owners no longer had the time to care for the pets they once took in. 

According to the ASPCA, at least 87% of the 23 million American households that adopted an animal in 2020 were not considering rehoming their animals. Humane World for Animals corroborates this evidence, finding that animal return rates remained steady at 25% between 2019 and 2022. All of this suggests that while shelters have since seen a resurgence in shelter populations, it’s not because of careless adoptions during the pandemic. So what is it? 

Why Have Shelter Rates Since Skyrocketed? 

First and foremost, inflation from the pandemic made animal care too expensive for many households. According to expert credit analysts, as of 2023, at least one in four American households has taken on debt from pet care. Rural areas were hit even harder, with more families looking to rehome than to adopt. In this case, existing pet owners who were once able to afford their pets no longer could. 

Another reason for the rise in shelter rates could be the actual lack of shelter operations during the pandemic. Struggling to stay afloat and care for the animals they do have, many shelters had to scale back their operations and the “nonessential” services they provide to the public. 

Trap-neuter-and-release was one service suspended for many shelters with insufficient resources and personnel to carry it out. It got to the point of a nationwide deficit of more than 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries expected to be carried out. For that reason alone, shelters have seen a rise in the number of cats entering their doors. 

Dog adoption rates have been suffering the most, with a higher intake of dogs and fewer adoptions than cats. In fact, shelters saw animal intakes reach a three-year high in 2024, and there seems to be no end in sight. 

Although we saw the encouraging trend of adoption rates at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, it only took two years for shelters to see the same housing rates in 2019. However, something important to take away from this phenomenon is people's willingness to save shelter operations and adopt animals. 

Many shelters noted the outpouring of support at the beginning of the pandemic, so the problem has never been a lack of support from people looking to help animals. Rather, it is the flexibility with which people can spend their income on animal care—an issue many American families face right now. If Americans had a better quality of life and more comfortable finances, we might see a resurgence in animal adoption rates once again. 

Until that happens, shelters continually rely on the support of good-hearted citizens to help keep their operations afloat. This can look like building extensive foster networks to help shelters find permanent homes for animals. It could also be a matter of donating to shelters to ensure that pets get the necessary resources. The Philadelphia Citizen shared an article on 10 ways to help our city’s animal shelters, which serves as a great starting point for those looking to get involved. Just remember that even if you don’t have the financial stability and resources to own a pet, there are ways to connect with furry friends while helping support shelters and the whole community!