York County Medicine Summer 2020 - 32

YO R K C O M E D S O C . O R G

YOUR PETS DURING
COVID-19
By: Steve Martinez, Executive Director, York County SPCA
Kaila Young, Communications Director, York County SPCA

O

n March 16th, 2020, we made the incredibly tough
decision to temporarily close the Brougher Companion
Animal Shelter to the public. Following COVID-19
guidelines, we adjusted The York County SPCA daily operations to
begin scheduling appointments for adoptions, surrenders, or stray
intake. That necessary move allowed us to limit traffic in and out
of the shelter, thereby protecting the health and safety of the staff
and volunteers who have been continuing to care for the animals
every day. However, we worried that adoption rates would drop,
and that our shelter would quickly fill with animals unable to find
homes.
Two months later, we can happily report that did not happen.
At the shelter, we have the capacity to house 110 dogs and 194
cats. By May 1st, those housing spaces were filled with only 12
dogs and 98 cats.
We've always known that York County is a generous
community dedicated to animal welfare, but we witnessed a
new depth to their kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community members reached out every day asking to foster,
adopt, volunteer, or donate. Our plans for responding to decreased
adoption rates turned into plans for keeping up with increasing
adoption inquiries. Many of the families in our community grew a
tail or two bigger, and we are deeply thankful for that.
Though, as more and more of our animals found their forever
homes, it became clear that rescuing an animal was not the only
factor driving adoptions. As the popular adage goes, "Who rescued
who," we realized that it's not only animals who need humans. To
live wholeheartedly, especially during times of crisis, humans need
animals, too.
COVID-19 has many of us turning to the CDC for health
guidance. The CDC also teaches us that pets can improve the
health of their owners. According to the CDC, having a pet
means companionship, opportunities to get outside and exercise,
decreased loneliness and depression, and socialization. All of these
have been put at risk since COVID-19. Social distancing, various
levels of stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and the closing of

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York County Medicine | SUMMER 2020

fitness centers and other businesses have posed a threat to many
people's mental and physical health. Where the pandemic has left
voids in our well-being, animals come in to fill that space with
love. Their physical rescue is our spiritual rescue.
We see this in the stories of those who have adopted from
the York County SPCA during the COVID-19 pandemic. One
example is Harrison. At the beginning of the pandemic, Harrison
was our longest-term dog resident, having been at the shelter since
October 2019. But then, Devin O'Connor stepped in. Here is
what Devin said:
"While living in New Jersey in 2008, my wife Mandy and I
made the fortunate decision of adopting a female Rottweiler/
Pit Bull mix we named Joey. Mandy died in April 2015 from
a rare cancer at the age of 31. My mom was diagnosed with
breast cancer the morning after Mandy passed.
Joey played a critical role in my grieving process as well as my
immediate family's, specifically my mom, who walked her
daily.
Cancer would strike again. This time it was Joey, who was
diagnosed with lymphoma in 2017 and died that same year.
It was only 2020 when I decided I was ready for another
four-legged pal. I fostered Harrison in March, just prior to
COVID-19 changing our lives. Mr. Harrison, as we call
him, immediately began what would turn out to be a very
successful campaign for permanent residency. He has been
such a joy during these challenging times and, living alone,
has been the perfect companion for me.
I first decided to foster Mr. Harrison in response to Samantha
Green at the YCSPCA explaining his situation. He's a sweet
boy who simply doesn't thrive in the shelter setting. I could
see the urgency on Ms. Green's face and saw her empathy for
the big dude. I took him in, and after a couple days the Las
Vegas oddsmakers felt there was little chance he would be
going anywhere. Harrison was a foster fail!
http://www.YORKCOMEDSOC.ORG
York County Medicine Summer 2020

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