How do I adopt a pet during lockdown? Everything you need to know about bringing a rescue animal home during the pandemic

Read the Scottish SPCA's must knows if you want to adopt a pet during lockdown.

We all need company in these times and there are few more reliable companions than animals.

In the past year, pet prices have soared due to an increase in the number of people working from home or furloughed in need of a furry friend.

Instead of purchasing an animal, many Scots are turning to animal rehoming centres to give rescue pets a home.

The process has changed due to lockdown restrictions but, as the Scottish SPCA attest, their are still ways to adopt an animal into your home despite the current pandemic.

A pet is for life, not just during the months we are forced into our home, but if you feel ready to give a long-term loving home to a loveable four-legged pal you can.

We spoke to Kirsty Morrison, senior communications and engagement officer at the Scottish SPCA to answer all the questions you may have about how you can adopt in 2021.

Are you able to adopt pets at the moment during lockdown? If so – are they any restrictions?

The short answer is yes.

"We are still rehoming animals and have been since May 2020” advises Ms Morrison. However, with the public not able to access each rehoming centre across Scotland, alongside strict travel restrictions, they are having to work within the guidelines.

“Due to government guidelines we are prioritising rehoming within the local authority area of each of our animal rescue and rehoming centres.”

Rehoming a rescue pet can be classed as animal welfare during the pandemic so you can adopt animals “up to 60 minutes” drive from the centre where the animal is located’ say the Scottish SPCA.

Since the pandemic, how much of a demand has there been for rescue animals?

“We saw a slight reduction in the number of animals we rehomed in 2020” said the charity, though they admit this was largely down to the month or so at the beginning of the first lockdown when they were unable to rehome at all.

The animal welfare charity say they haven’t seen a large increase in the number of animals they have rehomed, but admit ‘the demand for animals is very high and we do receive lots of applications via our website for most animals.’

With an increase in demand for animals during the pandemic, Ms Morrison added: “The teams at our centres are extremely careful about matching each animal to the home that’s right for them”, so be sure to make sure when you apply to adopt an animal, you have fully read the animals requirements.

How many animals a day are being rehomed currently?

Despite restrictions, they centre are still able to find new homes for “between 10-20” animals per day.

How do you assess if the animals chosen are going to the correct home without home visits able to take place?

"We are still conducting home checks but at the moment they’re being carried out via video call” said Ms Morrison, but they do advise before an adoption is finalised, they may “organise a meet and greet where our staff would take the animal to meet their potential new owner outdoors in their garden or similar outside space”, although limited appointment slots means this often only do this for animals where they “have determined there is a need to do so.”

What advice would you give to people who may be looking to rehome an animal for the first time?

Just like us humans, animals come with a variety of needs and requirements – and as cute as they may look on the photo, some animals definitely require more care than others.

“We would always advise people to research the species of animal they are looking to rehome so they have a full understanding of that animal’s needs before they take on a pet.

“We are urging people to think very carefully about taking on an animal as we would strongly discourage anyone from rehoming a pet or buying an animal simply because they are bored or lonely during lockdown,” Ms Morrison says.

Remember, while we are all stuck at home currently, the lockdown is not permanent, but an animal in need and love and care is: “Once the restrictions end, people will return to work, school and socialising as normal and could find that an animal may not fit into their life as easily as before,” Ms Morrison says.

If you can offer a forever home but feel a little daunted adopting for the first time, the Scottish SPCA say they “are always available to offer advice and support to anyone on an animal they’ve recently rehomed from us” – so don’t feel like you’ll ever be alone if you need advice once adopted.

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