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Social distancing could be the pawfect time to foster pets

By Wesley Coburn

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: An English Cocker Spaniel and its handler share a moment on the sidelines during sporting group competition on the final night of the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at The Piers on February 13, 2018 in New York City. The show is scheduled to see 2,882 dogs from all 50 states take part in this year's competition. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: An English Cocker Spaniel and its handler share a moment on the sidelines during sporting group competition on the final night of the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at The Piers on February 13, 2018 in New York City. The show is scheduled to see 2,882 dogs from all 50 states take part in this year's competition. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /
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This time of social distancing could be the pawfect time to foster a pet from your local shelter.

During this time of social distancing due to the spread of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus, animal shelters across the US are urging people to consider fostering a pet.

This not only helps your local shelter in providing one less mouth to feed and tail to clean up after, but also could provide a distraction for you and any family members forced to stay at home for the time being.

“If you don’t have a pet and are thinking about getting one, now is the perfect time to ‘try it on’ by fostering from your local shelter,” Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle told People Magazine.

Best Friends, the largest no-kill animal shelter in the US, is based in Kanab, Utah, and they recently opened up the Best Friends Roadhouse, which Dog O’Day’s Kareem Gantt wrote about recently.

When things settle down, that could be one of many dog-friendly travel destinations worth exploring in the future.

Actress Skyler Samuels (The DUFF, The Gifted) recently adopted a pup that she and her mom were fostering, and Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart also just became a dog mom as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, dogs cannot get the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, though they might carry the germs on their coats, so it’s a good idea to wash your hands after petting them.

“It’s not only safe to keep pets in the home, but also beneficial, as they can serve as a source of comfort during a crisis,” Castle told People.

This source of comfort even works outside our own pets through social media, as the Dogs of Twitter and Dogs of Instagram work to reassure people that there are still impawtant things like hope, love and cuteness out there.

Bunsen the Science Dog, a Bernese Mountain Dog from Alberta, is an especially good follow at this time, as he mixes his extensive science knowledge with doggy love.

Perfect Parker and his pawrents took in a Newfoundland called Boomer for the time being, and it’s working out pretty well so far.

Next. Keystone Light mascot contest wants your dog to apply. dark

To pass the time while social distancing, we have a whole bunch of dog movie suggestions and reviews, and it might be a good time to teach sitting on command or playing fetch as well.

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