Pandemic pups: Explaining the trend of obtaining a dog during covid-19

ABSTRACT

This research study will illuminate the experiences of individuals obtaining a dog during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone has their own unique life experiences and methods of building resilience. By collecting narrative data from individuals who obtained dogs during the pandemic, this researcher explored the phenomenon of these life experiences. The information obtained builds an understanding of how lives have been impacted by COVID-19 and how dogs have assisted during the pandemic. This study explored several variables that have influenced people's decisions to obtain a dog social isolation, mental health concerns, timing, connection, family companionship, and many other identified reasons. This research was necessary to explore the life experiences of those who obtained a dog to assist in building an understanding of the impact of the human-animal bond during times of uncertainty.Keywords dogs, COVID-19, phenomenology, qualitative, resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)