Kids and Pets: More Time for Best Friends
0
Votes

Kids and Pets: More Time for Best Friends

Tytus, 10, Orange Hunt Elementary, and brother Maksyn Jacewitz, 13, Irving Middle School, Springfield, with rescue kittens, Marigold and Lily. Along with their younger brother Justyn, the boys fostered 11 cats during the Covid quarantine. Asked why is adopting/fostering important to them, Tytus told us, “Personally, if you save animals from shelters that’s good. You save lives. They die if you don’t adopt them.”

Tytus, 10, Orange Hunt Elementary, and brother Maksyn Jacewitz, 13, Irving Middle School, Springfield, with rescue kittens, Marigold and Lily. Along with their younger brother Justyn, the boys fostered 11 cats during the Covid quarantine. Asked why is adopting/fostering important to them, Tytus told us, “Personally, if you save animals from shelters that’s good. You save lives. They die if you don’t adopt them.” Photo by Susan Laume/The Connection

By Susan Laume/The Connection

Saturday, January 9, 2021

photo

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Earle

Claire Earle, 3, St Anthony’s Day School, Alexandria, with dog Lily. Asked what’s best about having a dog, Claire answered “zoomies”, (referring to sporadic manic running); and “lots of walks to the choo choo train and to see the owl.”

photo

Photo courtesy of Giovanna DiBiccari

Michela Zoe Babb, 10, Mason Crest Elementary, Annandale, with rescue dog, Willie. Why not buy a dog from a puppy store? Michela said, “I think you should get dogs from shelters because they don’t hurt dogs and you can adopt instead of buying. You should adopt, not buy, a dog who will be in your family.”

photo

Photo courtesy Michael Bradley

Kids throughout the area await Santa’s arrival, increasingly with a pet at their side. TJ Bradley, 13 months, and his dog, Penny, share in leaving cookies and milk for Santa. Is it difficult to save the cookies for Santa? TJ did not respond, but was holding a cookie; Penny’s watchful eye tracked the cookie.

Families throughout the area adopted pets in record numbers during 2020 as a reaction to Covid-19 restrictions. More time at home and fewer social interactions created the perfect pet opportunity for many. Shelters reported more than double the normal adoptions, and breeders reported long wait lists. Virginia’s Attorney General alerted citizens to Internet scams related to sales of non-existent puppies. Connection asked area kids to take pictures with their pets and answer questions about pet ownership.

More like this story