Australian pet ownership reaches record high during Covid pandemic

Experts say adopting a pet during the Covid pandemic could help you stay physically and mentally healthy.

A desire for physical touch may be behind a boom in pet ownership during lockdown, experts suggest, as new data reveals more than two million households across Australia have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.

A total of 69 per cent of all Australian households now own a pet, with almost fifty per cent owning at least one dog and thirty per cent owning a cat, according to a survey conducted by Animal Medicines Australia.

Caitlin Molloy from the Central Coast with Harley. Picture: David Swift

New pet parents reported that welcoming a furry companion into the family has boosted their physical and mental health and motivated them to maintain a daily routine.

Caitlin Molloy with seven-month-old. Picture: David Swift

And now that human touch has become something of a health hazard, pets can help make up for a lack of human contact, veterinarian  Anna Quain said.

“Pets bring huge benefits, like companionship. They’re also very tactile, especially in times of social distancing when you can’t give another person a hug, but we can with our animals, and I think that’s lovely,” she said. “People are bonding closer with their animals than before.”

Playful seven-month-old border collie Harley is the newest, and cutest, addition to the Rivendell Park farm in Somersby on the Central Coast where he helps keep spirits high.

“He’s very boisterous and has a lot of energy. It’s really nice to have him around, especially during Covid when we can’t have a lot of human interaction, so he’s like having a friend,” stable hand Caitlin Molloy, 19, said.

“He always greets you. When Michelle [the farm owner] is gardening, he likes to dig as well. He thinks he’s helping.

“He follows you everywhere and he’s very cheeky.”