Qualitative exploration of the dog acquisition process during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact on owners' loneliness and isolation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychological toll created by social isolation led people to explore animal companionship via pandemic puppies. Studies have indicated that caring for a companion animal benefits one's mental and social wellbeing especially under stressful conditions . However, with a new pet comes new responsibilities, which could have made the experience more daunting for owners. This qualitative study examines the motivations and experiences of Western Pennsylvanians who adopted dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic to ultimately explore whether animals were significant to reducing the mental effects of social isolation.