By Stephen Appezzato
As members of the Two River community continue their return to in-person work more than two years after the first COVID-19 lockdowns, some pets and their owners are facing new challenges at home.
Since March 2020, many pets enjoyed the luxury of extra time with their owners throughout the day, providing comfort and companionship while employees worked from home.
But as businesses continue to reopen, it is important to prepare a pet for life revolving around an in-person work schedule. Pets who have grown accustomed to having company all day may be in for a shock. Concerned pet owners can take steps to help keep their pets occupied and content while their human companions are away from home.
When pets are bored or anxious, they can get into mischief. Keeping pets’ brains active can reduce instances of boredom. PetMD – a pet health website for pet owners and veterinarians – suggests food puzzle toys that can be stuffed with treats and involve brain power to unlock the food rewards. Another strategy might be to keep a cache of new toys and rotate them on a regular basis. Pets may become so interested in the bevy of new toys that they fail to even realize their owners are gone for much of the day.
Alongside the rotation of toys and puzzles, many opt to provide their pets with white noise. Since pets may have grown accustomed to the sounds of an active house, white noise can fill the void that owners’ absences create. Turning on the television or radio may suffice, but there are also specific products such as pet fountains and fans that can create noises to keep pets content.
If possible, prior to leaving for work or school, pet parents can also help pets expend some energy so they’re more inclined to sleep during the day. The Animal Behavior College suggests an extra 20 minutes of walking each day may be enough to tire out most breeds. Though working dogs, such as shepherds, pointers and hounds, may need 40 or more minutes to burn off energy. Hiring a local dog walker may be a good investment to keep your pet healthy and happy during the long days. Cat owners can play with their cats indoors, but generally cats will lounge around during the day anyway.
For pets that have difficulty being alone for even short periods of time, alone time training can be incorporated into their daily schedules, gradually increasing the duration of alone time to ease your pet into your work schedule.
The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) is a great resource for worried pet owners who are unsure of how to prepare their pets for the transition to in-person work. On its website, the MCSPCA provides strategies and pointers for pet owners returning to work, such as an explanation of alone time training technique.
“Pet/owner retention is just as important as our adoption program. We’re happy to share tips and tricks with the public to help acclimate their pets to staying home when their humans return to work,” explained Lindsay Sanator, media and marketing manager for the MCSPCA. Pet owners preparing to reduce at-home work schedules are encouraged to seek MCSPCA guidance if they have further questions or concerns. For Sanator and her peers, “Keeping pets out of shelters with simple techniques makes a huge difference in the animal welfare field, and we’re happy to help anyone who needs it.”
The article originally appeared in the April 21 – 27, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
