The Pandemic Pet Problem: Are pets adopted during the pandemic being returned?

DAYTON — During the pandemic, many people thought this was a perfect time to adopt a pet, but some have reported that many of them were returned to shelters.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, one in five households in America adopted a pet at the beginning of the pandemic.

That is roughly 23 million houses with new pets.

A survey conducted by ASPCA shows there is no backing behind the supposed surge in owners putting their pets up for adoption.

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SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center in Washington Township said that they’ve had the most adoptions on record in 2020, and the rate of adoptions carried over into the next year.

Kaitlin Becraft, outreach and education manager at SISCA in Washington Township, said they have also seen a handful of returns.

Because of this, Becraft said that SISCA offers post-adoption behavioral support and sliding scale medical options in their clinic.

In the hopes of preventing pets from being returned, adoption centers like SISCA take extra measures during the adoption process.

“Our adoption consumers will go through and try to make sure that we’re making the best match for somebody,” Becraft told News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott.

For example, Becraft said if someone tells them that they work long hours a more self-sufficient pet like a cat would be better.

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But SISCA is prepared in the rare case that a pet is not a good fit and is taken back to them.

Including multiple resources on their website about rehoming your pet.

SISCA does not euthanize for space, so are not always able to immediately take pets into their adoption program.

To learn more about SISCA and rehoming a pet visit their website.

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