Pandemic Pooches
With more time at home, more and more people are finding the time to get and train dogs.
SBHS Principal Mrs. Brown’s new dog Deebo as a puppy
February 19, 2021
As the pandemic has drastically reduced our ability to socialize, the aloneness of quarantine has made people yearn for another heartbeat in the room. Even if that beat isn’t human.
This year, the number of people adopting or purchasing dogs has skyrocketed. Breeders, as well as rescue and adoption agencies, are struggling to keep up with the demand for animals, particularly dogs.
SBHS Principal Patricia Brown is one of many people who decided to add a furry member to their family. Back in December, she and her husband drove all the way to South Carolina to pick up their Bull Mastif puppy. They named him Deebo, after a character in the film called ‘Friday’.
“The pandemic influenced us to get a new dog since we are able to be home more, “said Brown.
Buying a furry friend, whilst typically a solid emotional investment, is also a pricy one. The most popular breeds are Labs, Pit Bulls and x. A dog purchased from a reputible breeder can run any where from $1,500- $3,000, depending upon if you want a champion blood line or just a pure-breed pet. Hollywood resident Evelyn Gottman bought a Portuguese Water Dog from a local South Florida breeder. She chose the breed because she wanted one that fit her life-style.
“We spend most of our time at the beach, so it was important to get a dog that loved water,” said Gottman.
They looked for a rescue at first, but in the end, they fork over almost $3,000 for an eight-week-old male.
Luckily, for those of us who don’t want to spend a fortune on a fluffy friend, adoption is a more economically friendly approach. Sylvia Glickman, an advocate for animal adoption, has fostered animals until they are able to find a home. She has rescued, fostered, or adopted a menagerie of over 50 birds, 20 dogs, 60 cats, and 1 pig.
“I have spent around 20 years as a volunteer, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, even through the most difficult times,” said Glickman.
In the state of Florida, dogs are being adopted at such high rates that they actually had to import dogs from other states to fill the kennels here in Florida. Sheri Stitt, the marketing manager of Broward County Humane Society, attests to data that demand has most definitely outstripped supply.
“Just the other day, we had a Maltese come in from Georgia. It has already been adopted,” said Stitt.
An equally important fact is that people are not surrendering their dogs as they had in the past. According to the Humane Society, many dogs surrendered are from people who moved and were unable to keep their pet. Because of Covid-19, people aren’t moving which means fewer people are surrendering their dogs. Therefore, the lack of mobility is partially responsible for the lack of rescue dogs.
“We got most of our surrendered dogs from renters who moved, unfortunately people aren’t moving now due to Covid,” explained Stitt.
If you have a preference on a specific pup that you have in mind, buying from a breeder is probably more for you. while these pups are more expensive, going around the price of about 1,000 US dollars, you get a better choice in what dog you take home. But even there, dogs are flying off the shelves. Melissa Stokes works at Forever Love Puppies a pet store in Pembrooke Pines and Miami. She says that her store has been experiencing a spike in sales.
“We have almost set a new record in sales this year, people can’t stop buying,” said Stokes.
And, she isn’t wrong; according to national statistics, new puppy registrations are up 26%.
Unfortunately, dogs are in low stock and hard to get, lucky for you, Mrs. Brown is bringing Deebo into school every so often.
“Dogs are fabulous in that they eat whatever you give them, eat the same thing every day and never complain. They are always happy to see you, never talk back, never complain, and are never embarrassed to be with you – unlike teenagers,” said Brown.
