A silver lining of the current pandemic is that rescue dogs are finding foster homes at higher than normal rates right now, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance, an animal welfare organization in Washington, DC.More people have also reached out about adopting than was the case pre-coronavirus, says Ashley Valm, director of adoptions at the organization’s two shelters. Lucky dog Just ask Tom Drescher and his wife, Becky Nolin, who, after browsing online for a few months, finally settled on a terrier Pitbull mix named Goldie. “My wife and I had been talking for quite a while about the idea of adopting a dog,” Drescher told VOA during an interview via Zoom. With both now working from home, they decided it was a perfect time to make the move. “We kept coming back to Goldie’s profile because the photos were charming and there was a streamed video of her and we decided that it would make sense for us to get over to the Humane Rescue Alliance shelter,” said Drescher. WATCH:Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can
A dog waiting to find its forever home in its kennel at a Washington-area shelter operated by the Humane Rescue Alliance. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)Valm said while the shelters are doing everything they can to prepare for more animals, she hopes people will use this opportunity to help ease that burden. “I think right now a lot of people are struggling with anxiety, uncertainty, maybe an adjustment in their routine, workload, working from home — there’s a lot to be focused on,” she said. “And adopting an animal – or taking an animal into your home as a foster – can provide some relief just in the form of having something positive to focus on.” Tom Drescher couldn’t agree more. “I think for all of us, there’s a lot of uncertainty about how our lives look now, and that continues to be true in lots of ways,” he said. “But having Goldie around and as a companion, it’s given us something to do that feels really rewarding.” Drescher added, “If you’re wondering whether or not it will in fact provide the boost of enjoyment and entertainment and love in your life, for us it definitely does and it’s definitely worth it.”
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