Pandemic dogs are returning to shelters
More than 60% of U.S. dog owners would move for their dog’s needs
During a year and some change of the worldwide health pandemic, social isolation brought about a flood of new pet owners. In fact, it got to the point where animal shelters didn’t even have enough dogs to give away. Euthanasia rates did a significant nosedive because of the increase in fostering and pet ownership. Unfortunately, what goes up must come down — and now a noticeable amount of pet owners are returning their pets.
According to Bloomberg Quicktake, people in places like the United Kingdom are now returning to work and realize that they no longer have the time to be able to properly dedicate to pet ownership. Just like that, pets who’d found happy homes are homeless.
The U.S. reports have not mirrored the U.K. shelter returns at the same numbers though. However, in places like St. Louis, they’re starting to notice the returned or abandoned pet trend.
Being a pet owner can be a full-time job, especially during those mischievous puppy-to-adult years of paper and/or outdoor training. Then there’s the matter of travel enthusiasts who now realize someone has to walk, feed and take care of their pets while they’re gone. Unless they can afford consistent dog walkers, dog boarders or dog sitters, this added expense can make bills stack higher.
Because puppies may be more likely to be adopted than adult dogs, this can make repeat fostering and new ownership even more difficult for still-interested pet owners to do. On an up note, this means those who are still interested in pet ownership now that cities are opening back up and vaccines are available may be able to get the pets they couldn’t find before. The bad news is they’re bringing in a drove of pets who are probably wondering where their original pet parents disappeared to.
It’s not all bad news though. According to a 2021 Zillow and Rover report, 62% of U.S. dog owners would consider moving to a home that better suits their dog’s needs. In fact, 24% of U.S. dog owners have gone as far as moving into a new home since March 2020.
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Knowing how dedicated pet lovers are can be especially interesting in the real estate market. Homeowners who are interested in selling their homes in a housing market that’s on the rise since the pandemic, and lower interest rates, have an additional advantage now.
Recommended Read: “Homegrown podcast: Meet Karla Thomas, Managing Broker of Urb & Burb ~ Step 2 to homeownership: Find a real estate agent who understands your taste”
“Home became more important than ever during the pandemic, sparking the Great Reshuffling,” said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton via press release. “Homes with a dog house sold for 3% more than expected last year, while homes with a fenced yard or dog run sold a few days faster than similar homes without these features, even in a year where the market was moving exceptionally fast.”
So where are these dog-friendly homes? Here are the top 15 pet friendly places:
Top 15 Emerging Dog-Friendly Cities, according to Zillow and Rover:
Denver, Colorado
Orlando, Florida
Anaheim, California
Charlotte, North Carolina
Birmingham, Alabama
Atlanta, Georgia
Boston, Massachusetts
Glendale, Arizona
New Orleans, Louisiana
Tampa, Florida
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fort Worth, Texas
Miami, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Regardless of whether a person lives in these 15 cities or not, a pet owner has to be ready and prepared to own a four-legged family member. As with house-hunting during a child’s younger years and scoping out playgrounds and schools, similar rules apply for dog owners. A large majority (86%) of dog owners surveyed said dog-friendly features like a neighborhood dog park or back door with a doggy door made new homes more appealing.
So it may be safe to say that if pet owners are invested enough to move to a more pet-friendly area, they’re in it for the long haul. But for those who aren’t, maybe consider reaching out to these regions where pet ownership may be as appealing now as they were pre-pandemic.
Shamontiel is a dog lover to her core: 486 completed walks with 82 dogs, eight dog-housesittings and six dog boardings at the time of this publication.
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