Animal shelters seeing boost in applications to adopt pets, but lots of surrenders expected too

WESTBOROUGH — They’re adorable and don’t care at all about a pandemic. We’re talking about pets.

With so many of us home, animal rescues and shelters are seeing a mountain of applications. But with the economic downturn, shelter officials said animal surrenders are expected as well.

The question is: is now the time to adopt a pet?

One Hopkinton rescue has one critical piece of advice for would-be adopters.

“It’s so great that so many people are thinking about this time being perfect for adoption but you have to look down the road a little bit,” said Michelle Kreell, who fosters animals for Brown Dog Coalition.

Kreell is caring for seven pups and their mother and her busy Westborough home.

"It’s actually been interesting because with everybody being home, you have the 7 puppies, I have my own two dogs I have two teenage boys and a husband working from home," she said.

Any rescue will tell you puppies go fast. Brown Dog Coalition said it has received a staggering 400 applications in three weeks.

While they run virtual visits, Annie Covino of Brown Dog Coalition said people with extra time on their hands who want to adopt must take an extra moment to pause and consider.

“Some of those harder discussions talking about the scary questions, like what happens to my dog if I or a member of my household gets sick?” Covino said.

Timing is tricky. For some, this is the best time to adopt, and for others, the worst, Covino said.

“Within a few weeks, these puppies will be ready to find their permanent homes but there are concerns about pet surrenders during this difficult time,” Covino said.

Mike Keiley of the MSPCA said they’ve seen a 25 percent increase in adoptions processed over the past three weeks. At the same time, people in many industries are losing their jobs.

“We have to expect that emergency housing will be needed and we have to expect that animals are going to come in as a result of surrender,” Keiley said.

Stressed out animals given up can be even harder to place into new homes in the future, said Keiley.

Still want that new puppy?

Covino said think about the free time you’ll have post-pandemic and be sure your entire household is ready to add to the family.

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