"A new best friend": Australians turn to pet adoptions to ward off isolation blues

Record ID: 1467308

  • Title: "A new best friend": Australians turn to pet adoptions to ward off isolation blues
  • Date: 1st April 2020
  • Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (APRIL 1, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PUPPY 'RUE' IN KENNEL ENCLOSURE KITTEN SWIPING AT CAMERA KITTENS IN ENCLOSURES SIGN READING 'DOG ADOPTIONS RSPCA' VARIOUS OF DOG 'BOOTS' IN KENNEL ENCLOSURE SIGN READING 'I AM AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION PLEASE ASK OUR FRIENDLY STAFF HOW YOU CAN MEET ME' 'BOOTS' WALKING AROUND ENCLOSURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS NEW SOUTH WALES, STEVE COLEMAN, SAYING: "In the weekend just gone we saw almost a 300% increase in the adoptions across our state, which is just terrific. So we're going to keep doing what we can to make sure that every animal in our care that can be adopted is adopted, but making sure that people are safe along the way." VARIOUS OF KITTEN 'FLUFFY' PLAYING WITH TOYS RSPCA NSW STAFF WALKING ANIMAL ADOPTER JASON TO ENCLOSURES VARIOUS OF RABBIT 'HONEY' IN ENCLOSURE JASON AND RSPCA STAFFER LOOKING AT HONEY IN ENCLOSURE JASON RSPCA STAFFER HOLDING HONEY RABBIT ENCLOSURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYDNEY RESIDENT ADOPTING RABBIT, JASON, SAYING: "We decided to adopt a rabbit cause our daughter's been asking us for a while to have a pet and we thought a rabbit was a great pet for her to start off with in terms of learning how to properly take care of a pet and the responsibilities that comes with that. We thought rabbits probably just a little bit easier than a dog or a cat and she's super keen on getting a bunny as well. And particularly now with COVID-19 and all the restrictions going on, like everyone, our daughter is kind of stuck inside and we thought now's a great time for her to find a new best friend forever in the form of 'Honey' the rabbit." SIGN READING 'I'M LOOKING FOR A HOME' JASON CARRYING BOX CONTAINING HONEY AND LEAVING RSPCA SIGN DISPLAYING DETAILS OF CAT CAT IN ENCLOSURE VARIOUS OF CAT PLAYING WITH BEADS IN ENCLOSURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS NEW SOUTH WALES, STEVE COLEMAN, SAYING: "Primarily its companion animals, so dogs, cats, pups and kittens. But again it's just really important to make sure people know what they're getting themselves into. But again encouraging to see people turning to animals for companionship whether its just for the next few weeks or months and in many cases an animal for life." CAT ADOPTER CHRIS MOYSA TALKING WITH RSPCA STAFFER NEXT TO 'FRED' THE CAT RSPCA STAFFER MOYSA PATTING FRED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYDNEY SCHOOL TEACHER AND CAT ADOPTER CHRIS MOYSA, SAYING: "I've been hanging out to adopt a cat for a while. We're all going to be indoors for a fair bit, so I figured now is as good as a time as any." SIGN READING 'RSPCA TO ADOPTIONS' VARIOUS OF MOYSA SIGNING ADOPTION DOCUMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYDNEY SCHOOL TEACHER AND CAT ADOPTER CHRIS MOYSA, SAYING: "It's just the companionship, having something around, makes you smile, they do stupid stuff. They hang out with you, they don't judge you, the love is unconditional so what's not to like." MOYSA CARRYING BOX CONTAINING FRED AND LEAVING RSPCA MOYSA OPENING HIS APARTMENT DOOR, PLACING BOX ONTO FLOOR AND REVEALING FRED TO HIS APARTMENT FRED
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2020 10:47
  • Keywords: Australia COVID-19 RSPCA Sydney coronavirus pet adoption pets
  • Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • City: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Human-Led Quirky,Human-Led Stories,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C7NREBR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:With more Australians staying at home due to stricter confinement rules, some are now turning to adopting and fostering pets as new companions to see out their isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.
    The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in the country's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) has seen a surge in applications to adopt pets, a welcome move the charity says that also gives the animals in need a shelter at a time of economic hardship.
    "In the weekend just gone we saw almost a 300% increase in the adoptions across our state, which is just terrific," Chief Executive Officer of the RSPCA for New South Wales Steve Coleman told Reuters on Wednesday (April 1).
    Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed the need for continuing strict social distancing measures, including restricting the number of people meeting in public to just two and the closure of parks, beaches and gyms.
    "Now with COVID-19 and all the restrictions going on, like everyone, our daughter is kind of stuck inside and we thought now's a great time for her to find a new best friend forever in the form of 'Honey' the rabbit," adopter and Sydney resident Jason said.
    Sydney school teacher Chris Moysa said that he had been planning to adopt a cat for a while after growing up with them. But with the onset of the coronavirus social restrictions, he thought that now was as good a time as ever.
    "It's just the companionship, having something around, makes you smile, they do stupid stuff" Moysa said. "They hang out with you, they don't judge you, the love is unconditional so what's not to like."
    New South Wales remains the epicentre of the disease in Australia, accounting for almost half of the nation's confirmed cases, which now exceed 4,800. There have been 20 deaths.
    (Production: James Redmayne)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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