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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

142 replies

BeyondMymymymyCorona · 29/03/2020 12:32

"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?

OP posts:
SarahTancredi · 29/03/2020 18:07

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

Many people despite their best efforts and extensive research will still somehow end up with a puppy farm dog these monsters are good and know how to get round every giveaway clue.

Even a comfortable off family who can afford a dog right now might end up in a situation where they have ab extremely sick dog an struggle to get an appointment and be lumbered with emergency call out costs when at a time when it woyod he a regular appointment .

Very worrying for all concerned

Inappropriatefemale · 29/03/2020 18:10

If these folks now “have time for puppies as we’re off work” then what the hell will happen when they’re back to work?! Puppies just won’t be looked after properly?Shock

isseywith4vampirecats · 29/03/2020 18:12

I know its not dogs but the cat rescue I work for is in lockdown and all the cats that they could they moved over to known to them foster homes the only cats at the centre are ones that couldn't be fostered out and no adoptions happening at all stupidly two people went to the centre this week to ask if they could adopt got very short shrift from our ceo who lives on the premises and is looking after the cats that are there and I would imagine a lot of rescues are doing the same thing, sadly it will impact on dogs and cats outside the system as they wont be able to go to rescues and unscrupulous backstreet breeders and puppy farms are the ones that will cash in on this way of thinking

MulticolourMophead · 29/03/2020 18:13

We were going to get a cat at Easter, and I'd started looking at the rescue websites. Have decided to delay until later this year to see how everything settles down after lockdown has finished.

cabinfever2 · 29/03/2020 18:23

But you're assuming these people are not going to look after their animals because they will go back to work? That's not true at all. It's just judgy . Judge those who put their animals in shelters fine , and those who breed breed breed but people can work and be very good pet owners too!

maddiemookins16mum · 29/03/2020 18:25

There will be an increase in unwanted pets in six months, plus the daft sods that still haven’t neutered their cats will have another reason not to do it and their will be kittens galore.

DianaT1969 · 29/03/2020 18:26

I would have liked to use this time to foster a dog, but understand that rescue centres can't do their usual checks. I'm sure there is a dog in a centre somewhere who would much rather be on the sofa with me every evening and having one good daily walk. Plus I have outside space.
I'll be sure to register as a foster person when this is lifted, so that I'm a ready option for a rescue centre.

maddiemookins16mum · 29/03/2020 18:27

@isseywith4vampirecats do you help at CHAT?

Elieza · 29/03/2020 18:29

One thing I know from my next door neighbours who got a puppy and were around it 24/7, is that when you go back to work a few months later the dog will be left alone at home.

It’s not used to that. It barks for its family as it’s lonely and scared.

Being the neighbour of that I can advise anyone thinking of getting a puppy that you will end up getting letters from the council noise people when your dog’s barking disturbs the neighbours.

I’ve listened to my neighbours little barky bastard through a decade of annual leave spent at home as I’m on a limited budget and can’t afford holidays. So I lie out the back and relax. Only I can’t over that racket.

Apart from the times she was at home on mat leave when the dog was obviously fine as not alone.

It’s not fair on the dog or the neighbours. They are lucky I haven’t gone to the council.

Yet.

But I’ve had enough.

PinkiOcelot · 29/03/2020 18:30

I think it depends on the pet tbh. Yes your friend with the puppy is daft, but a hamster or a rabbit not so much.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 29/03/2020 18:31

I saw a local cat rescue in the news saying they were desperate to rehome cats a couple of weeks ago, or they were going to be moved miles away because the rescue here was going to temporarily close. We have a much-loved cat, and had they not all been reserved by the time I looked on the centre’s page would have definitely considered it. We are responsible owners with a lovely big garden.

Stompythedinosaur · 29/03/2020 18:34

I sort of agree 're getting a dog being difficult if you can't walk it, but we are incubating duck eggs. We already have ducks, didn't have to travel for the eggs, and it's nice to do it while everyone is around.

WelcomeToShootingStars · 29/03/2020 18:35

If I were getting another puppy I'd think now would be a perfect time. I can get raw food online easily enough, we're home for 12 weeks so plenty of time to train and establish a routine, and walking for a young puppy is very limited anyway.

supadupapupascupa · 29/03/2020 18:35

We have been on a waiting list, visited our pup and were due to get her next week, we have her bed, food, collar EVERYTHING ready here for her and we're so excited. I don't know what will happen now. She's meant to be a therapy dog for our children. I'm heartbroken at the thought of not getting her for months, besides which all her equipment will be outgrown and it's pressure on the breeder right now.

tabulahrasa · 29/03/2020 18:37

It’s a really bad time to get a puppy... vets aren’t doing vaccinations, the next 6 months are going to be some form of lockdown/social isolation - so you’re going to end up with a dog completely unused to normal life.... traffic, people, other dogs...

Smaller pets, not so much of an issue really and they’ll not be as bothered when you go back to work

BabbleBee · 29/03/2020 18:42

One of the breeders I’ve been waiting for has emailed the waiting list to say she will not be having any litters for the foreseeable future as it would be completely irresponsible of her to do so as many vets aren’t able to see puppies for vaccines etc. She also says that it’s an awful time to get a puppy as many people will eventually return to work and she believes that further down the line owners will have to deal with separation anxiety and potential difficulties securing dog day care. Most importantly when people have returned to work and realise it’s not easy juggling dog / work / life she could see more puppies ending up in shelters or back with breeders which she did not want to be a part of.

supadupapupascupa · 29/03/2020 18:56

I understand but this is our puppy. We have been visiting since it was tiny, regular photos, deposit paid. You can't expect that we say no thanks and give her up now? It's a shot time yes but as far as I'm concerned we already made the financial and emotional commitment. She is part of our family.

mencken · 29/03/2020 19:03

dogs are 15 years of restrictions, picking up excreta and expense. So maybe 10 times the length of this crisis. There are going to be so many dogs barking and destroying for hours at home once this is all over.

on the bright side, the fuckers near us who keep dogs to put out to bark clearly don't like having to live with it as there is near silence now. Serve them right.

Seeitsortit · 29/03/2020 19:08

Our dcat died a few weeks ago. I would love to adopt now as it would be easier to get an older cat to settle now but we said we would wait until our planned holiday.
Even if the holiday has to be cancelled the CPL have put a hold on adoptions understandably

blackberrysoup · 29/03/2020 19:11

YABU, of course nobody should be travelling to get a pet. The only places who should be getting animals now are rescue centres and animal fosterers. We foster animals and would take one if it was an emergency situation such as the owner being in hospital and to prevent cruelty to animals but we'd only be travelling to collect an animal after asking for permission first from the local police.

Darbs76 · 29/03/2020 19:12

As long as they are prepared for the costs of dog walking when they return to work

SoapIsYourFriend · 29/03/2020 19:12

There are going to be a bunch of very unsocialised dogs around.

LazyFace · 29/03/2020 19:14

Vets are only doing emergency care at the moment. No vaccinations, no neutering. A new pet might need both.
We've already seen people selling kittens too young.
I don't think a responsible breeder would sell to anyone without meeting in person. (I wouldn't. I have a litter of kittens here.)
I'd also worry they're thinking short term.

frostedviolets · 29/03/2020 19:26

I am shocked and disgusted that people are buying puppies and pets and disgusted at people selling them.

Quite aside from the fact that picking up a pet isn’t an essential journey I honestly can’t think of a worse time!
I think it’s massively selfish and irresponsible and stupid.

Who is going to look after these dogs if the owner gets seriously ill?

What happens when the owner suddenly goes back to work and the dog freaks out and barks and howls all day and chews up everything and pisses and shits everywhere because it can’t cope with suddenly being alone?

Who looks after the dog if it becomes unwell considering most vets are now closed for non emergencies and there has been talk of vets giving over their human compatible medicine and equipment?

How are these dogs going to be adequately socialised?

Disgusting and irresponsible on all levels.

supadupapupascupa · 29/03/2020 19:30

These dogs you speak of already exist and the problems you lost also could happen regardless. Some of us have been planning for this for a very long time. Not everyone has problems with work for example. Disgusted? Unfortunate yes.