Wagging tails, curiously perked-up ears and slobbery kisses have made the pandemic all the better for students who welcomed new puppies into their families over the past year.
Business administration senior Kindred Nguyen wasn’t initially looking to bring another furry companion into her life, but a family friend had a litter of puppies and she knew she had to take a dog home.
“Something was pulling me towards him and so if it wasn’t us he probably would have been conveniently taken to the pound,” Nguyen said in a FaceTime interview. “I didn’t know what was going to happen to him so I wanted to take him so I know for sure where he’s going and he’s going to be taken care of.”
She said her dog named Echo Lucien, a German Shepherd and Husky mix, loves adventure, stealing things from people and watching
Golden State Warriors games with her.
Although Nguyen adopted Echo out of convenience, psychology lecturer Steven Del Chiaro said there are many benefits to having a pet.
“Pet owners have shown a reduction in depression, anxiety and stress,” Del Chiaro said in an email. “The companionship can ease loneliness and assist in play and exercise, which has shown to improve physical and cardiovascular health.”
Del Chiaro said oxytocin, a chemical commonly referred to as the “love hormone,” is connected with trust, empathy and relationships and is released in both a dog and their owner’s brain during physical contact between the two.
“Activities like petting and snuggling with your pet releases oxytocin, which can have an effect on depression, anxiety and impact ‘prosocial behavior,’” Del Chiaro said.
Prosocial behavior refers to actions of helpfulness, empathy and concern regarding peoples’ rights and well-being. These actions benefit both the receiver and giver, according to an Oct. 13, 2020 verywellmind article, a website reviewed by health care workers.
Nursing junior Emily Ibarra adopted a pug puppy she named Midnight on April 20.
Ibarra said she’s wanted a pug because she formerly had one and enjoyed the breed’s lazy temperament and loving nature.
“[I like] their little snorts and their pigtails and they’re more human-like compared to any other breed,” Ibarra said in a phone call. “They love food so much, they like to sleep a lot.”
Nguyen said Echo has made her more responsible, helped her cope with stress during the pandemic and lets her care for another being besides herself.
“During this pandemic, it’s been so hard to take care of myself mentally definitely, so having him kind of straightens myself out in my lifestyle,” Nguyen said. “It’s definitely, in a way, a big step in my adult life for sure.”
As life slowly returns to normal, Ibarra said she’s apprehensive about taking Midnight out in public.
“If we want to be in public at like the dog park or something, I really wouldn’t want anyone to touch him,” Ibarra said. “Just because I don’t know where they’ve been and where they’ve touched, they said animals can pass some things to the humans.”
Del Chiaro said many of the emotions people felt because of the pandemic, including isolation, insomnia, anxiety and depression might have driven them to get puppies during the time.
“The surge in pet adoptions may be to fill the voids people are feeling,” Del Chiaro said. “Pets give unconditional love.”
However, he said he’s concerned for what will happen after the pandemic when people who impulsively adopted animals in that
time realize having a dog doesn’t fit into their lifestyle and surrender them to an animal shelter.
Del Chiaro also said it’s important for anyone who’s looking to adopt a puppy to educate themselves before doing so.
“I encourage people to research the type of pet they want and will it fit into their lifestyle,” Del Chiaro said.
Even so, puppies have personalities that fit into the lives of their owners differently and the dog-owner relationship can vary from person to person.
For Nguyen, the loving connection between her and Echo is mutual.
“I feel like we’re benefiting back and forth with each other,” Nguyen said.
