To think that lockdown is not the time to get a pet

[BeyondMymymymyCorona]

"as I'm home for the next however long, I decided it was a good time to get a puppy"

This is a friend of mine, and I've seen multiple others who have decided now is the time to get a smaller cage/viv-living pet.

The one who just got the puppy is in the shielding group, so not supposed to leave the house at all. How they plan on walking it, I have no idea. Nor how they plan to feed it given they have had so much trouble getting food for themselves.

I realise the animals have to go somewhere if nobody buys them, so I don't know what the answer is. But AIBU to think that - on a household level - now is a bad time to get a new pet?

Ah bollocks I missed a bit. Those I've seen with smaller pets have said they have bought them now as "while they're off work, they have the time to look after them"

Yes. Yanbu.
I’ve got a cocker spaniel- I’m on several spaniel owner pages and the amount of people who have got a cute cocker puppy whilst they’re off is unreal.
Also the amount of people who think they can pick up a puppy whilst we’re in fucking lockdown is bonkers too.

I think it depends.

If you were going to get one anyway, then enforced time at home does give you a chance to get them settled etc.

If it's just an idle thought as something to do, then not such a good plan.

They shouldn't be making the journey to collect them, vets are closed to 'routine' procedures like vaccination and microchipping at present and what on earth happens when they go back to work...?

Depends, we have a greyhound & the local greyhound sanctuary has been looking for foster homes as they are struggling with resources, they can only use homes they already know. We picked her up 2 days ago, she will never leave, our old boy is totally smitten!

Completely agree. BIL has got just a puppy. They both work full time (before lockdown) and have a 5 year old relying on PIL for weekend care. And gave their previous dog to PIL to look after as it became too hard for them - the dog then went blind. Arseholes.

@Smoothyloopy Oooh that's interesting- our local dogs trust has closed temporarily, but a dear friend had her dog pts on Mother's Day, so she's now really struggling being alone at home.
She has experience of greyhounds too, so I'll suggest Greyhound Rescue

I have already paid a deposit for a puppy that isn't even born yet. If all goes well we were supposed to collect it at the end of June. Not sure what we do now

Going to go against the grain and say it's actually the best time- people are at home so the dog can adjust and actually a lot of rescue centres are saying you can book an appointment as the dogs still need homes. If a dogs wrong for a person there's no right time, otherwise I don't see the problem, especially a puppy, they surely need more playing than long walks?( If I'm wrong sorry, we are petless!!)

It's not going to be the best time to socialise them is it

Surely some people would have paid and visited etc already?

Lockdown does provide an ideal opportunity to house train sleep train etc

But given theres a small window in which to socialise then it's a bit silly to suddenly just decide to get one.

Not sure what those who already arranged it all before have are meant to do though

YANBU.

Unless you were going to get one anyway and have everything planned, getting a pet now is highly irresponsible and no decent breeder would be letting pups go to new homes now unless they'd been on a waiting list with them.

The socialisation window is roughly 8-16 weeks. We're likely to still be in lockdown in June so how are people gong to socialise their puppies? I predict there'll be a huge surge in people looking to rehome once this is over.

It's actually quite a good time, you have the time to settle them in etc and going back out is likely to be phased

YABU, having a pet, caring for a pet and loving/caring/nurturing a pet gives most pet lovers a sense of purpose and eases anxiety. So I think we do our best when we can and I think being home dedicated for the introduction phase is a great time to get a pet.

To go slightly off thread, when we had our puppy, a manner of strangers would think it perfectly acceptable to come and stroke him.. even when I’m my arms.
He is now just over a year old and , despite social distancing, people still feel that they can ruffle his head. I do ask people not to but get glaring looks or comments along the lines of “ ooh! Pardon me!” Etc... I also don’t want my dog to socialise with other dogs either, at the moment.
I’m probably sounding too ‘precious’ but my husband is very vulnerable and I don’t like the thought of him stroking our dog if others have touched him.

Both yanbu and yabu. Depends on the situation for them, depends on the pet and if they planned to get one before this all.

The example you gave above yanbu. However my nan's friend got a cat this week, a great companion for her in isolation which will help her mental and emotional health no end. Her last old boy died in summer and she hadn't felt ready for another but now with 12 weeks in she's so thankful she's been got her new baby.

I'm getting a new rescue dog, best time for me

Unless they're asking you to help care or pay for it then yabu :) people can do what they like :)

@cabinfever2 that's not really the case when there are live animals involved, though.

This isn't buying clothes on a whim. Dogs and cats can live for upto 20 years - buying one shouldn't be something you do because you're stuck at home for a few weeks.

@adaline I don't really understand what business it is of anyone else though if they're not involved at all? Out of your control and totally up to the other person who you would like to hope is being adult about it .

I just feel sorry for dogs especially. They’ll be spoilt at the moment and used to entertain their owners. Then they’ll go from having people around all day to being left alone for hours when the current situation calms down and everyone is back to work and socialising. I wonder how many will be got rid of then. ☹️

Also many people are struggling financially or may be in the future. Lots of people will take a dog on without researching costs of food, vets, insurance and then have to rehome the poor dog.

Oh my God OP. I'm so glad someone else feels this way.

One of my dearest friends and his girlfriends have just bought a Jack Russell puppy because "they're going to be at home for the forseeable future"

But when they DO go back to their jobs in different towns to where they actually live... what happens to the dog then?!

I've heard about 4 other friends mention they were thinking about it too.

So so so selfish.

YANBU OP. I've also heard of people considering getting reptiles because "they're cool and I'm home now to look at them". Well i hope those people have properly researched the diet required as well as the lighting requirements etc.

I've kept reptiles for years, right now it's stressful sourcing food for ours as we have to get their insects from a specialist (pets at home don't stock what we need) - luckily the shop is still open. Oh and ours can live 10+ years, not a short term commitment.

Just to confirm he only has the one girlfriend

I don't really understand what business it is of anyone else though if they're not involved at all

Because some of us care about animal welfare. Pets are not things you get on a whim because you're stuck home and bored. Shelters and rehoming centres are already massively overwhelmed with animals - the last thing we need is more irresponsible owners adding to the problem.

How many of these dogs will end up back in shelters or up for sale on Gumtree once the owners are back at work and the dogs are bored and eating their house?