Since the pandemic, it appears that pets have become quite the commodity.

Amanda Lipton, Foster Coordinator and Secretary on Board at Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue, says the number of adopters has increased significantly this year.

“It’s gone up a lot,” says Lipton. “I actually just did a count a week ago and our numbers from the previous year, right now are doubled.”

Lipton says their animals are being adopted before they even have them to offer. “We’re out of kittens right now,” she informs, “we’ll have some more in five weeks.”

Adopters must fill out an application explaining why they would like a pet, and Lipton says a number have admitted their interest came after being able to work from home.

According to Lipton, the organization has meet-and-greets to determine if the animal is going to a suitable home, but that their system has changed. “We used to do a home visit, especially for dogs, but because of Covid no one really wants to go and look around in a stranger's home.”  

Instead, Lipton says they ask for photos of the home and will set up meet-and-greets to occur in a doorway where physical distancing is possible.

Another occurrence that Lipton is noticing is pet selling scams listed on local buy and sell pages. “There are always scams going on, especially when you’re looking for a more purebred animal,” she informs. “One of the things I’ve heard is that the prices of these scams are kind of ridiculous, like, two or three thousand dollars for mix-breed puppies, which is crazy.”

Lipton suggests adopters always meet the animal and breeders before buying and that they request documentation.

On the plus side, Lipton says they have received a lot of foster homes for pets and even people offering to volunteer in the wake of the pandemic. Something they may need as they are also being inundated with an increase of intake calls.

“People aren’t going to the movies, they’re not shopping in the malls, so people are just spending a lot more time outside and we’re getting up to ten intake messages a day right now.”