El Paso Humane Society advises preparing your pandemic pets for your return to the office
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As more people get the Covid-19 vaccine, more employers are considering bringing back employees in person to workplaces. The transition from working from home will bring new challenges, especially for pets.
When the pandemic first started, Americans flocked to shelters to adopt new pets. A representative from the Humane Society of El Paso warns these pets can be pushed to the side as owners start returning to work. Plus, she said leaving pets alone for long periods of time can lead to separation anxiety in pets, especially if they are not used to be alone at all.
Veterinarians recommend incorporating this transition over time. Try establishing new routines that involve different activities at fixed times. Leave your pet alone for small windows of time before working up to longer periods. Consider leaving toys or treats behind during this period too. You can also incorporate crate training. The Humane Society of El Paso encourages creating a safe space inside the crate for animals, and perhaps offering toys and treats when a dog is inside.
A representative from the Humane Society of El Paso urges pet owners to consider the time and energy required for owning a pet before adopting.
“A lot of stuff goes into owning a pet,” said Kim Lambert. “It’s not just 'Hey this dog is cute I want to take care of them.’ You have to consider the cost of food, toys, medical care, the amount of time it takes. It’s a lot of work to integrate this dog into your household.”
Lambert also recommends researching types of dog breeds before adopting, as each breed can be very different. Lambert hopes pet owners do their research ahead of time so they don’t have to surrender a pet later on.
“It’s super tough,” Lambert said. “The shelter, as nice of a place as we try to make it, it's still really stressful and scary for dogs. When somebody finally settles into a home, they think they find their forever family and they're brought back, it can be very stressful and kind of detrimental to their mental wellbeing.”
