Abstract
Simple SummaryThis investigation explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and following alert levels on pets in New Zealand. Pet owners were surveyed during the last week of the first Alert Level 4 lockdown (highest level of restrictions) and then three months later during Alert Level 1 (lowest level of restrictions). During lockdown, just over half of those surveyed thought that their pet’s wellbeing was better than usual, and most owners could list at least one benefit of lockdown for their pets. These included more company, play and exercise. Owners expressed that they were concerned about their pet’s wellbeing after lockdown, with pets missing company/attention and separation anxiety being major themes. The Alert Level 1 survey indicated that owners continued to play with their pets more but that higher levels of exercise were not maintained. Just over one-third of owners took steps to prepare their pets to transition out of lockdown. The results indicate that pets may have enjoyed improved welfare during lockdown due to the possibility of increased human-pet interaction. The steps taken by owners to prepare animals for a return to normal life may enhance pet wellbeing long-term if maintained.The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on human-pet interactions within New Zealand, particularly during lockdown, was investigated via two national surveys. In Survey 1, pet owners (n = 686) responded during the final week of the five-week Alert Level 4 lockdown (highest level of restrictions—April 2020), and survey 2 involved 498 respondents during July 2020 whilst at Alert Level 1 (lowest level of restrictions). During the lockdown, 54.7% of owners felt that their pets’ wellbeing was better than usual, while only 7.4% felt that it was worse. Most respondents (84.0%) could list at least one benefit of lockdown for their pets, and they noted pets were engaged with more play (61.7%) and exercise (49.7%) than pre-lockdown. Many respondents (40.3%) expressed that they were concerned about their pet’s wellbeing after lockdown, with pets missing company/attention and separation anxiety being major themes. In Survey 2, 27.9% of respondents reported that they continued to engage in increased rates of play with their pets after lockdown, however, the higher levels of pet exercise were not maintained. Just over one-third (35.9%) of owners took steps to prepare their pets to transition out of lockdown. The results indicate that pets may have enjoyed improved welfare during lockdown due to the possibility of increased human-pet interaction. The steps taken by owners to prepare animals for a return to normal life may enhance pet wellbeing long-term if maintained.
Highlights
The World Health Organisation declared Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a pandemic on 11 March 2020, WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction
Survey 1 was designed to inform CANZ’s social media information inventions to address pet owner concerns during and after the Alert Level 4 lockdown that were highlighted by the data collected
The results from this study indicate that pets may have enjoyed improved welfare during the Alert Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand due to the possibility for increased human-pet interaction, with both adults and children spending a lot more time at home in line with the self-isolation directive from the Government
Summary
Caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a pandemic on 11 March 2020, WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic [1]. In New Zealand, the first COVID-19 case was reported on the 28th of February 2020, and the country’s borders were closed to all non-residents from the 19th of March 2020 [2]. 11:59 pm at which time the country moved to Alert Level 3, partially lifting some of the lockdown restrictions [2]. On the 13th of May 2020, New Zealand moved to Alert
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