COVID-19 - Our Lives Five Years On: Social Impact

Respondents were asked if they got a new pet during the COVID-19 pandemic. If they answered ‘Yes’, they were then asked what type of pet they got and whether they now regret getting this pet.

Almost one in six (16%) survey respondents report they got a pet during the pandemic. A dog was the most common pet acquired with two-thirds (67%) of relevant respondents getting one, followed by a cat, at 30%. Other common pet types obtained included rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chickens, and fish, while more unusual pandemic pets listed by respondents include ferrets, mice, rats, lizards and snails. See table 7.1.

The propensity to acquire a new pet during the COVID-19 crisis declined with age. Nearly one in four (23%) respondents aged 18-29 say they got a new pet, more than three times the proportion (7%) of those aged 70 and over. See figure 7.1 and table 7.1.

Employees who did not work remotely from home prior to the pandemic but now work remotely from home at least half their working week were more likely to get a pet compared with employees who do not usually work from home (20% versus 16%).

Just 6% of all respondents who got a pet during the COVID-19 crisis regret their decision now. Twice the proportion of respondents report they regret getting a dog compared with those who got a cat (6% and 3% respectively). Interestingly, three-quarters (73%) of those aged 70 and over who got any type of pet during the pandemic say they got a dog. However, one in eight (12%) of these respondents say they regret it now. See table 7.2.

Over one in ten (11%) of respondents who got a pandemic dog and who rate the current financial situation of their household as bad regret getting a dog compared with 7% of respondents who rate their current financial situation as good.