Everyone's New ISO: a Dog to Adopt During COVID-19

As time ticks on and we continue to exercise our responsibility to stay at home during this pandemic, the “new” is wearing off of the “new normal.” For a lot of us, normal is now juggling working from home and trying to homeschool the kids, masked walks around the neighborhood, early dinners, more TV time and a sprinkle or two (or three) of boredom. With all the extra time to scroll on your phone, you’ve probably seen a handful of news specials and online articles on how shelters all over the country are cleared out. In some shelters there are literally no dogs left to be fostered or adopted. Dogs posted in Facebook groups or online marketplaces are scooped up instantly and the demand for adoptable pets seems to be skyrocketing. Hallelujah! The prayer that countless shelter volunteers have made for decades is finally being answered and it is cause to celebrate. But what happens to those of us who are still searching for our forever four-legged friend? Those of us who’ve filled out countless applications and just can’t seem to get the timing right. Every time you fall in love with an adoptable dog, they’re gone before you can bring them home and your resolve is running out. Don’t lose hope!

While it’s true that shelters and rescues in the heart of some of this country’s bustling cities are genuinely out of dogs for adoption, in places like Texas, Georgia and other areas that aren’t as densely populated as ones like New York, California and Chicago there is still a lot of need. In more rural places where dogs are not adopted out as quickly, many shelters rely on transporting their animals to cities and places where they are in demand in order to find them homes. With the current COVID-19 situation, transports have become difficult to schedule. Owners continue to surrender their pets to shelters and the cages stay full. If it’s possible for you, expanding your search radius for an adoptable dog can make a huge difference. As stay at home orders begin to be lifted, in time, it will again be safe to travel. A road trip to get your new dog is the perfect light at the end of this tunnel.   

The next option may not be exactly what you want to hear but its important…. You may need to wait a little while to find the right dog for you. While It’s easy to lose hope when it seems like there are no dogs available right now, remember this - no matter where you live, there will always be pets in need of good homes, you might just need to be patient. Sometime soon, our current normal will shift again and many dogs that have found temporary homes during the pandemic will be back available for adoption and searching for their forever person. If you haven’t already, sign up on How I Met My Dog and take the comPETibility survey. We’ll email you every time you have a new match and our algorithm is always working (literally 24/7) to find you your canine soulmate.

Hang in there, stay safe and be positive. Remember that rescuing one dog may not change the world but for that one dog, the world will change forever.