Throughout the coronavirus lockdowns, with a work-from-home revolution, many families have decided that now is the time to buy or adopt a pet.
Much of this was a result of boredom, being locked in all day, in some cases on furlough with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Many families believed that a pet would make the lockdown a bit more interesting and with no end in sight it may have felt like the right thing to do at the time.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite the case with many families giving their new pets up for adoption only months later.
Many weren’t ready for pets and the responsibilities that come along with them, it seemed to be a nationwide impulse decision to jump on the pet bandwagon.
While reality quickly set in for some, others who were either ready or willing to quickly become ready for the lifestyle changes that come alongside pets stayed true to their commitment and still have their pets a year on.
With the dust now settled, there is now a new wave of pet owners who have kept caring for their lockdown pets, and this is where local businesses come in.
New pet owners, dogs, cats, and otherwise require expert advice and with a great number of experienced and credentialed pet businesses in Yorkshire, it is important that the lockdown newcomers are properly educated.
Local businesses owners can help guide these relative novices through the needs and wanted of their pets with more options available than ever before.
Earlier this year, Yorkshire Live reported a story in which kittens were abandoned in a sealed box.
There will always be bad pet owners, but Yorkshire businesses can step up and help the post-covid pet owners care for their new family members and make sure that everything is being handled properly so that no rash decisions are made by overwhelmed newcomers.
It may be worth brushing up on certain topics to make sure new pet owners feel comfortable making informed decisions with help from experienced experts.
Feeding
Feeding will be a big area of interest for newcomers, with an increase in different feeding options for both dogs and cats it is likely that owners will have done some research.
It is key not to disregard their stance, but instead to find a way to best feed a pet according to the owner’s desires.
Most feeding models, if done correctly all have their benefits, but it is key that the feeding is carried out correctly, with the right nutritional balance.
Outdoor cats, for example, may benefit from a raw diet as they likely already eat raw food while out and about and it can have major health benefits (for more click here).
Meanwhile, dogs that have a sensitive digestive system may be better off with dry kibble – it is important to listen to owners and help guide them to their own best option.
Grooming
Samoyeds have wildly different grooming requirements to Spaniels, it is important that owners know about their pets’ coats and how to maintain them, whether it be regular brushing or a cut every three months.
Some pets have double coats and cant be shaven, some have irritable skin and hate being groomed, each animal is individual, and it’s important that an owner knows exactly what will and will not work for them.
Exercise
Once a day up a hill or three short walks around the park? Exercise requirements vary too and those in the pet industry will have to advise newcomers whether they are over or underexercising their pets and how to help exercise them properly.
Health
Help owners identify when something is off, how serious it is, and how best to handle it. Unnecessary trips to the vet can be costly but not picking up on a serious health risk could be much more costly down the road.
