From the onset of the pandemic, Americans have increasingly turned to furry-eared companions for some additional comfort and stability. But it’s not all belly rubs and walks in the (dog) park — particularly for the thousands of first-time owners getting the hang of pet parenthood while stuck at home in quarantine.
On Wendesday’s Boston Public Radio, Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman, a senior staff veterinarian at Angell Animal Medical Center, joined the show for an inaugural edition of “Ask the Vet.” For 40 minutes, she talked training and care and responded to questions from listeners on issues like separation anxiety, pandemic-era weigh gain, deciphering your cat’s meows and much more.
"I think we’ve all learned the value … of that companionship of a pet,” she said, reflecting on the takeaways of animal ownership during COVID-19. "They’re so non-judgmental, and never [at] anytime in my life have I ever wanted to be around a non-judgmental being [more].”
