Priceless Pets Rescue Cultivates Companionship in a Climate of Discord
Barks echo off the shelter’s ocean-blue walls. Meows chime in. Together, a melody fills the silence of Priceless Pets Rescue adoption center in Chino Hills on 2587 Chino Hills Pkwy. Once the “closed” sign swivels to “open,” families stream in hoping to find a furry friend amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across the globe, COVID-19 amplifies fears of transmitting the virus to loved ones, co-workers, neighbors and friends. The never-ending quarantine and restrictions on socializing is overwhelming for many people.
To combat this, Priceless Pets Rescue warmly welcomes anyone in need of companionship. At the same time, shelters hope there will not be a rush of surrenders and no cases of animal to human transmission.
As a result, COVID-19 propelled a surge in pet adoptions and fostering nationwide. High demand for supplies at local pet retailers continued to skyrocket. Petpoint, a software program with over 1,200 shelters in its database, reported that fostering and adoption rates are up to 700 percent from last year. Priceless Pets Rescue, which operates out of multiple adoption centers known as “The Orphanage” reported that from 2019 to 2020 alone 2,682 adopted dogs, cats and the various found their forever homes.
“There has been an increase in volunteering and adoptions because people have more time on their hands and want the companionship. It’s the perfect time to bring these little lives into theirs,” said Richard Rodriguez, an advisor of Priceless Pets Rescue in Chino Hills.
Despite COVID-19’s lethal nature, it does not discourage animal lovers from harmonizing and pampering the animals. Every Friday and Sunday morning, Priceless Pets Rescue hosts hikes for the community to walk the shelter’s rescue dogs.
The organization meets state mandate and safety guidelines.
“When the people show, we dispense the dogs out to them and make sure they have a mask. The volunteers at the front and back monitor the dogs. People get to see the whole personality of the dogs,” Rodriguez said.
As owners shower their new pets with love, people’s mental health improved during the pandemic. According to the Home Healthcare Now journal, pets can increase physical rehabilitation goals through behavior such as “bending, reaching, ambulating and using both arms in a functional manner to provide food, water and grooming.”
Not only does ownership of a pet boost the spirits, but Priceless Pets Rescue and other animal shelters hope that there won’t be wide-scale pet surrenders after public health guidelines are lifted. Currently, Priceless Pets Rescue regularly handles surrenders. The process is done by email and the directors make a ruling or approve surrenders.
The probability of sheltered animals contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to humans is slim to none. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, “cats have shown clinical signs of disease including respiratory and gastro-intestinal signs” coupled with cats’ ability to transmit the virus to other cats. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to people.”
Pets provide a distraction from the chaos unfolding. Volunteers, advisors and customers can interact with the animals of all shapes and sizes. Dogs happily tread along Chino Hills’ trails. Cats bounce off the walls and snooze off in their cushy beds. Bunnies chew their daily grains. Rarely, a chunky pig is brought in. It would snort and flop on the tile floor.
Nothing says happiness than cuddly creatures in uncertain times.
