
March 23 2020
Bay Area pets, rescue groups suffering from coronavirus shutdowns
The threat of coronavirus has forced rescue groups to curtail activities, leaving them short of money and pets without forever homes.
This is an extraordinary time. Businesses closed, people facing financial hardships, people sick and many dying. No one is immune from COVID-19 or the changes it is making in our lives. And that includes pets and the people who care for them.
Forced to cancel or revamp regular adoption and fund-raising events, rescue groups still are working to care for the pets. We can close our doors against the virus, but there’s no putting animal lives on hold.
Larger pet rescues are using cadres of volunteer foster families to care for shelter pets in their homes, arranging for one-on-one adoption appointments, and offering online programs to help train new foster families. …
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, which specializes in finding homes for older dogs, has been doing one-on-one adoption appointments and all their animals are sheltered in private homes. More needs to be done, says Patty Stanton, public relations director and board member for Muttville. The dogs need to find permanent homes, she says, and a lot of people feeling the stress of COVID-19 fears and trying to work from home, could benefit from the comfort and company of a pet. …