Shelters Are Being Flooded With Pets Being Returned Post-Lockdown, And People Are Furious

It probably seemed like everyone you’ve ever met adopted a dog or started fostering some kittens during 2020. Suddenly, people had a lot of time on their hands, they were at home, and they were desperate for interaction with a living thing. Shelters started emptying as people lined up to adopt which is a beautiful thing!

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But now…see, some people want to go on holiday. And not take care of that pandemic puppy anymore now that it’s a daily dog. It’s a new horrible trend for 2021: returning the animal that got you through one of the most difficult years of your life.

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There are a lot of horrible people in this world who would do this, but on the bright side, there are a whole lot of people who are angry and disgusted about it, so not everyone is terrible. Twitter exploded after a short news story was posted by Bloomberg’s Quicktake, where English shelters were interviewed about the adoption boom:

Lockdowns around the world led to a pandemic boom for the billion dollar pet industry. Now, as Covid restrictions lift and workers return to the office, animal shelters are seeing an increase in pet parents abandoning their pets. Take a look. pic.twitter.com/jfchl7LEAX

— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) May 9, 2021

One of the first sad things a shelter head honcho says is that they expected more animals to come in as people died of COVID-19, actually, but it’s only now as restrictions are lifting that things are filling up again. And it’s not just a problem in the U.K.

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At least they have some defenders online:

I absolutely understand that sometimes pet adoptions don’t work out — if a dog is aggressive with children, for example. But I 100% hard judge people who are returning their pandemic puppies because of totally foreseeable events, like returning to work travel. https://t.co/44MoG3cA0C

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) May 6, 2021

Dogs are living beings who get easily attached to humans. They are loyal to a fault and capable of love. Obviously the same can’t be said for the people who treat them like sweaters that don’t fit. Don’t adopt a pet if you’re not willing to care for it for life. https://t.co/arXTS8pAAy

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 6, 2021

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Idiot people. I cannot express how much it infuriates me to hear about these people returning or abandoning these sweet creatures. I’d never do that to our beloved rescue. pic.twitter.com/t24pLa4Sps

— Wyche Bartles (@WycheBa) May 10, 2021

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This is my quarantine puppy we got him in October. He’s the best thing to happen to me and I could never imagine abandoning him. pic.twitter.com/uPJCs9fwbD

— Ash (@AshterialWoW) May 10, 2021

Awww that’s really nice-she looks so content as well as adorable.

— Katrina (@katrinachalie) May 10, 2021

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We got our wonderful “furson” from a local shelter last August the night before our 8-year wedding anniversary and couldn’t even imagine bringing him back. Milo has given us so much love these past months and life wouldn’t be the same without his cuddles! pic.twitter.com/pvo6hFHLYS

— DP Videography (@DannyPytell) May 10, 2021

If you want to help, donate to your local shelter. They’re gonna need it!

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*First Published: May 11, 2021, 11:58 am