How COVID-19 is Affecting this Animal Rescue in Pottstown, PA

April 16, 2020.

Written and photographed by Lauren Fisher

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly the entirety of the United States, with Pennsylvania having over 32,000 cases confirmed and over 1,000 deaths recorded. Each state has taken measure to provide safety and security for its citizens, as well as set regulations. Despite the known fates of Americans during this time, one aspect has been overlooked: pets. More specifically, pets that have yet to become pets. The number of animals in shelters or rescues across the country is estimated between 6 and 8 million each year. So how are these animals being treated during these deadly times?

I decided to head to my local animal rescue, Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, to ask them how their business has been going and how the animals are being treated during the pandemic. The results shocked me.

Many stores across the nation, not just pet stores, had turned online when it comes to shopping. This is unfortunate for Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, as they are only able to sell food and supplies in-store. “All of my usual customers have turned to online shopping because of this pandemic,” Diane Dietch, the owner of Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center says. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to stay in business because of it.”

The lack of business for food, toys, and supplies had taken a hit on the small business. They had offered services such as curbside pickup, but it still did not bring customers in.

Shelves are stocked with pet food as customers have turned to online shopping.

Despite this, there has been one positive aspect out of all the negatives being thrown their way. All of the dogs but one have been adopted from the rescue.

“There’s been a major spike in adoptions since the COVID-19 pandemic started,” Diane says.

This spike in adoptions is caused by the one thing humans fear greatly: loneliness. With an animal companion by their side, the fear and anxiety caused by the virus slowly dissipate.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says that they “have seen a 70% increase in animals entering foster care in their New York City and Los Angeles programs compared to this time last year,” (ABC News).

Kennels that once held dogs for adoption sit empty in the cold weather.

The adoption rate for dogs has skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Diane, the owner herself. Only one dog remains at the shelter, awaiting adoption.

The only remaining dog at Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center was Gloria. She was incredibly sweet, following the staff members around the store and not hesitating to ask for ear scratches. It was evident that she had had a litter of puppies, but they were nowhere to be seen in the store. According to staff member Lindy Shiffler, Gloria did not come with her puppies.

All of the dogs at Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center come from kill shelters down in Tennessee. It isn’t unusual for a mother to be shipped up without her puppies, because they are typically taken to continue breeding.

She is a short-haired Chihuahua mix, with the other part of her gene pool unknown. Based on statistics nationwide, Chihuahuas are the second highest breed of dogs that are placed in shelters annually.

Gloria is the only remaining dog left at Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center as of April 16, 2020.

“We get a lot of Pitbulls and mixes that come up from Tennessee,” Diane Dietch says. “They are the hardest to get adopted, next to hounds.”

Gloria is super loving towards the staff at the store. “She’s really one of the sweetest dogs ever. I’m surprised no one has adopted her yet,” says worker Lindy Shiffler, 19.

Along with dogs, Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center has cats in the store as well. However, they are not readily available at the rescue themselves. To be adopted, Forever Home Rescue must be contacted. “The cats technically are not ours, we just provide a place to stay for them,” Diane Dietch says.

There were two cats in the shelter when I visited. “The adoption rates for cats were much slower than the dogs from what Forever Home Rescue has told me,” Dietch says.

According to the No Kill Advocacy Center,

45% of cats are killed in kill shelters annually in the United States. This is due to the growing interest in kittens versus adult cats. “About 82 percent of kittens get adopted, but as they get older the likelihood drops, and once they pass around 18 months old, only 60 percent of cats get adopted,” according to Priceonomics.

Jojo, a domestic shorthair, is among one of the two cats Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center provides shelter for.

That number has dropped slowly over the past number of years, thankfully, giving hope to many cats around the nation in finding a good home.

Josie, a domestic shorthair, peeks her head out at the sound of the camera shutter. She is part of the feline duo being housed at Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center.

Pets that are also being adopted during the outbreak are rodents (hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, etc) birds, reptiles (snakes, lizards, etc), and fish.

Because many of these animals cannot be sold in pairs, there is a lesser demand for them.

A ferret lays in a hanging bed in its cage.

A grey parakeet perches on a piece of wood

One reason these pets are going quickly as well is that some are relatively cheap and are easier to take care of than a cat or a dog. At Diane’s Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, dwarf hamsters were being sold for less than $10.

The impact the COVID-19 virus has left on society today is detrimental. But with this stressful and uncertain time, people have turned to animals for compassion when human connection is unavailable.

Whereas the virus has caused much pain and confusion for some, it has allowed others. These animals needed loving homes with loving families, and this outbreak was a ray of hope for them.

We can only hope this attitude is continued when the world returns to normalcy.

The sign hanging from a bird enclosure indicates that these cockatiels have been sold and are waiting to be picked up.