“Dogs are a man’s best friend”. Rather then a rumourful saying, this statement has been proven to be an accurate fact. It describes the emotional connection between dogs and humans which cannot be found in any other animal. The way dogs greet their owners upon their returning home or how once trained, dogs stay close to their owners, even when given full freedom off the leed during walks all provide evidence for this saying. Due to the lockdown resultant of COVID-19, government restrictions on certain freedoms (eg. the right to be outdoors) is causing strains on people’s mental and physical health. Dogs have played a major role in lessening these stresses and are helping keep those who own them as healthy as possible during lockdown.
Dogs are proving to be life savers during lockdown. They provide an outlet from stress and anxiety due to the fears people are having to face as a result of COVID-19. People are facing the very real possibility of loss of work as well as fears about their health and having to be separated from family and friends. Dogs provide companionship, unconditional love and friendship which can be a great comfort during these challenging times. They also quell boredom and require walks at least once a day so allow owners to distract themselves from their worries. The owners experience the outdoors which is good for relaxation and mental health. . Those who live alone are being confined without the chance of physical contact with family members or friends. Hence dogs can provide invaluable company for those with none.
Dogs trust has reported a 25% increase in adoptions of dogs from shelters during the pandemic. This evidences the therapeutic value of dogs and that they are a successful method for coping with lockdown. However it has been highlighted that those who adopt dogs must be willing and able to care for them after the lockdown. Dogs are not a temporary strategy to be dropped after the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Hence owners and future owners must have plans in place for after as well as during lockdown.
Dogs are also benefiting from lockdown. Whilst they may previously have been left alone for long periods of time while owners go to work and school, now they have company almost every moment of their day. They may go for more walks or play more with their owners due to more free time. When lockdown ends, it is highly likely that dogs will miss all this extra attention and an ‘exit strategy’ for dogs will be as important as an ‘exit strategy’ for society.
It is clear that dogs and humans both benefit immensely from being in each others company during lockdown. They are a prominent part of daily indoor and outdoor activity for owners and it can be said they are truly “man’s best friend”.
Max McFarlane
