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Pandemic Pets
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2021-01-26
Pandemic Kindness
The pandemic has caused so much death, destruction, and sadness. I wanted to share something positive that has happened to me during this difficult event. While this begins in tragedy, I promise it turns around... My service dog passed away suddenly from cancer one month after his first birthday. It was April and the virus was spreading rapidly so there were new restrictions being imposed everywhere. I had to go through the process of my dog passing away all on my own and my dog had to spend a lot of the time alone in a cage in the vet's office while I was forced to wait in my car. My mind was plagued with thoughts of my dog long after he had passed. I could no longer ride in my car that I had spent so much of my dog's last hours in. Everything was closed because of the pandemic so I was forced to stay at home and everything in my house reminded me of my dog. I became very depressed and barely came out of my room. I forced myself to get up and get a blanket from the living room and I saw a rock on the table near my daughter's crafts. I don't know what it was, but I just decided to paint one. One had a triangular shape and I turned it into a shark head because it reminded me of a shark tooth. I had never drawn or painted prior to this but I was proud of my work and, at the end of it all, I realized that I had spent hours in my living room! I decided to get up the next day and paint another rock. I did this for a week and once I gathered a small pile, I put a few in my pocket and went for a walk, dropping painted rocks in random places along the way. The rocks had made me so happy at one of the darkest moments of my life and I wanted to spread that feeling to others. The whole thing really taught me how something really small can make a big difference. Painting rocks has helped keep me connected with others during the pandemic. I've found communities of rock artists and we share ideas with one another. I've also discovered I have a talent for drawing and painting and have recently begun taking commissioned art requests. I still make sure to paint plenty of "freebies" and I leave them everywhere from gas pumps to hidden in trees. I am so grateful to be able to spread even a little bit of kindness during this difficult time. -
2021-01
A COVID-19 Puppy
After months of deliberation, my wife and I decided to welcome another dog into our household. We were hesitant about getting a big dog, since we have only had experience with dachshunds together. But I have wanted a German shepherd my entire life and we figured that now is perhaps the only time in our lives that we will have enough time to invest in a big dog to make sure he is well trained (plus to keep him from eating the furniture!). Working from home due to the pandemic enabled us to get another dog, which probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise. While I am looking forward to some normalcy hopefully returning later this year, in the meantime I will be hanging out with my new pup, Oliver. -
2020-05-20
Gia's Soft Fur
I will always remember the feeling of my dog Gia's soft fur and the tickle and wetness of her silky tongue licking my hand during this pandemic. These sensory experiences soothed me during a stressful and anxiety-ridden time during the COVID pandemic. When the pandemic worsened in March 2020 and the state of Utah went into a full lockdown, my family's life changed suddenly. My son's birthday party was canceled. My children began school online. My husband no longer found himself flying to New York or Los Angeles, and I found myself filled with worry and anxiety. How will my elderly parents weather this pandemic? Will I get them sick? Will I be responsible for their deaths? Will my 9-year-old son become depressed because he can no longer play hockey or football? How will my 13-year-old handle feeling emotionally isolated because she can no longer hang out with her friends? All of these worries plagued my mind and made my body stiff, my neck sore, my mood heavy with stress. My family soon found ourselves in a new routine. We spent more quality time together since we were no longer rushing to get to activities. There was more time for dinner and meaningful conversation. However, there was still a heaviness, and everything seemed to be wrapped in a layer of anxiety. An unexpected text from my sister-in-law (who is an animal control officer) changed our lives. A darling 3-year-old black and white miniature poodle had just been dropped off at the shelter. Her elderly owner had died of COVID-19, and this sweet dog needed a home. After a quick family meeting, it was unanimous; we wanted the dog! Gia immediately became more than a pet; she became a source of comfort and calm to me. With a sweet temperament, she always seemed to know when I was full of anxiety. Each night I would sit on the couch watching the nightly news, my body tight and sore, the rigidness seeping into my muscles that comes with prolonged stress. Unaware at first that I was even doing it, I would reach for Gia, who would lay close to me, and begin stroking her fur. Often, her silky pink tongue would lick my hand, and the combination soothed and relaxed my body. Even as worry began to swirl in my mind, the questions continuing: when will it be our turn to catch this virus? Will I have lasting effects from it? Gia was there, her warm body lying beside mine, her soft fur between my fingers relaxing my body and easing my mind. During this COVID-19 pandemic, I had read that almost all the rescue dogs had been adopted across the nation. I guess I was not the only person in need of emotional comfort during this isolating time. This pandemic has taken an emotional toll on everyone I know. I feel so grateful that Gia came into our lives during this pandemic. This sweet dog has become more than a pet. She has become an emotional support dog for my daughter when she is lonely and a physical companion for my son when he needs to run crazy through the house. Gia is there when my nerves are frazzled from worry about the pandemic. She gently lays her warm body next to mine, as if knowing I need her near me to ease my anxiety. I stroke her soft fur, close my eyes, and remind myself to BREATHE. -
2020-11-07
Covid Dog Shows
I have shown dogs for thirty-five years, which is my hobby and passion. Before Covid going to a dog show was a social event for all humans and canines involved. Exhibitors would greet each other with high fives and hugs. Ring stewards handed armbands to exhibitors, and judges would give placement ribbons to exhibitors and shake their hands when leaving the show ring. Both winners and losers were hugged in congratulations and condolences. Dogs could cue off of their exhibitor's facial expressions and were not leary of strangers who approached them. Dog shows were a laid back and social environment. When the pandemic created shutdowns in every aspect of life, dog shows all but disappeared in Arizona from the middle of March until early November. A few kennel clubs have opted to offer hosting dog shows with "Covid Rules" in place. Starting in November, showing a dog became "different." An exhibitor had to sign a "Covid survey and waiver form," have a scan temperature taken when entering the show grounds, wear a mask at all times, pick up armbands set out on tables and verbally declare the armband was received. When entering the show ring, a specific entry point and exit point was utilized, and exhibitors had to be six feet apart while in the show ring. After a judge examined each dog and determined placements, the exhibitors would stand six feet apart by placement placards and then exit the ring taking their placement ribbons off a table by the exit. There was not any physical human contact made between exhibitors, ring stewards, and judges. The physical challenge of running with a dog while wearing a mask restricted breathing, making showing a dog difficult. If a dog won at the show and a picture was taken, the photographer would offer to "photoshop" the judge into the photo with the dog and exhibitor or everyone socially distanced. In addition to no human interaction, dogs were unsettled by people wearing masks. Showing a dog in a Covid environment has become tiring and stressful, and going to a Covid dog show is not fun even when you win. -
2019-06-08
My New Puppy
The picture that I am sharing is that of our newest family member, Petey. He is a Catahoula Leopard Dog who has webbed feet and was bred to go into the bogs. My husband and I found him online from an animal rescue in which we found out he had been abused which made us love him evermore. We have been wanting to get a new puppy for a while in order for our other two fur babies to have a playmate. As a result of the pandemic, we thought now would be the best time since I am working from home and it affords me to be able to train and work with a puppy. This is important to me because he has become a vital part of our homemaking. We keep our sense of humor, even more, bringing new adventures, and allowing for us to make a home for a dog that had not seen love before. To say the least, Petey has fit into our household great and is now part of the pack. -
2021-01-17
New Year Same Year
Starting off this year I was dogsitting for a friend. 2020 was hard on me as it was for everyone else in the world but there was something peaceful about ending a year with comforting a bed hog of a dog that was scared of fireworks. Waking up the next day to feed her and go about my first day of 2021 I felt at peace, almost like perhaps this year would be drastically different for me. I'm about to graduate college, we have a new governmental administration that I hope will be more favorable to me, and COVID vaccines are on their way. Then we had an insurrection and I refused to open canvas for the first week of school because every time I tried I was gripped with terror at the thought that this would be my last semester in college meaning that I had to be a real adult soon. There is no functional difference that the exchange from 2020 to 2021 brought to my physical or emotional state. Like everyone else, I'm excited for COVID to be over but I know that the changes I need have to come from myself and won't be ushered in by a new year new me mentality. Throughout 2020 I spent time trying to reach out for help with my mental health and other things I had been struggling with. I think the thing I'm most excited about in 2021 is continuing the work I've started in a world that isn't so hard to be in. I want 2021 to be a year that I am able to spend working on myself and building into a fully functioning member of society. -
2021-01-15
Learning virtually
I woke up on a warm California spring day at 7:30 a.m. to my mother bantering on about something. I got up and walked to my dresser half asleep, ready to collapse. I put on a blue nylon t-shirt with some black shorts and walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Then I slowly walked downstairs pretty anxious and excited to start online. My Dad was already downstairs cooking my up some scrambled eggs and toast to start the new day. As usually my sister was complaining about something, I just tuned her out. My dog the lazy thing he is climbed onto the couch and my mom somehow found something to yell at me about. It might of been about getting on early, but I am not quit sure. any way after breakfast I walked into the living room to get on zoom. It was pretty boring trying to sit through math we were talking about pre-algebra, but I managed to get through it. My dad was super load laughing over the phone, I could hear him perfectly through 2 doors and in another room. My mom was on meetings all day and my sister was in the same boat as me. All the while my dog was sleeeping on the couch next to me without a care in the world. My next 2 periods flew by I don't know why because I had English as one of those. And my last period was rocketry which was fun in the fact that I got to build things, but it would of been a lot more fun in person. Overall the day went by pretty fast ending at approximately 2:45 p.m. After school was finished I slipped by with no homework for the day but I would much rather be in person. The rest of the day was fairly normal I turned on the Television to watch my favorite shows until my sister came down and started bossing me around that I need to get off the T.V and do something productive, shesh she is like a mini mom. Anyway I decided to go for a walk with the dog, and just my luck before I could slip out the door she saw me and made me wait 10 whole minutes to slip on a pair of shoes. When she finally got downstairs she snagged the leash from me and we were on our way. My sister is incapable of controlling a small 40 pound dog so you can only imagine how this walk went. I tried to take control of the leash, but she snatched it back and threw a fit, classic. My dog has a habit of peeing on 14 things in a trip so it delayed it even more. When we finally turned the corner to go up our hill it felt like we've been walking forever. We walked in the door took off the dog's collar and sat on the couch. mom walked in the room and asked us how it went, we said it was pretty good. And after that it was pretty much the end of the day we ate dinner sat in front of thee T.V. and then went to bed. -
2021-01-14
The Horrors (and Benefits) of Remote Learning
When my school shut down in March, I welcomed remote learning. My life had become so busy and stressful and I never got enough sleep. I would be a nice two week break before I went back to school for the last two months of school. I had no idea how wrong I was. Within 4 days, the novelty had worn off. The long hours (5 1/2) on Zoom were horrible. English was the worst. We were reading Shakespeare (in 7th grade!) and it move so slowly. Being the fast reader that I was it was my worst nightmare reading at this slow, slow pace. We had 80 minutes of class. We spent all of those 80 minutes reading and only got through 5 pages. We had a block schedule. Four classes one day and three the next with chapel. For the last three months of seventh grade, I sat at a picnic table in my parent's room. I got one half and my brother got the other. During these three months I was miserable. Three days after the end of school I got a new bed for my room. It was a loft and it had a desk underneath. All summer I would do something educational at this desk for three hours, eat lunch, workout, and go outside to hang out. All that summer, all the kids in the neighborhood wanted to do was Nerf war. I was lucky that the summer before I had received a pink and purple strongarm with pink and white bullets. These six bullets were quickly lost in the grass and replaced with some of my friend's classic orange and blue ones. When summer was over I had to go back to my desk for those 5 1/2 hours a day, except this time I would have homework. The previous year the teacher had done their best to make sure that we didn't have to do work outside of class (my English teacher of course made no effort to do this). Now I was in 8th grade with one of the hardest possible course loads. I was taking Geometry, Conceptual Physics, Spanish 2, and all of the other required classes. I would regularly work for an hour and an half after school before working out. I would do yoga or a random HIIT or strength class I found on Peloton. During all of my breaks I would walk my dog (a yellow lab puppy). In October, we got a Peloton stationary bike and my brother got to go to school to do his Zoom classes (weird, I know). Now I would be home alone from 9am to 11:30am every day. My schedule looked like this. 6:45 - get up and get ready for school 8 - go to my first class 9 - walk my dog and practice piano 9:45 - go to my next 2 classes 12:35 - lunch 1:25 - my last class 4 - workout I was glad when it was over. Now that I think about it, I didn't actually list any benefits. -
2021-01-12
My favorite things
This document contains several of my favorite things that have helped me get through the pandemic, such as video games, music, my banjo, cooking and my dog Dobbs! I submitted this from the ASU HST 580 internship course. -
2020-12-25
How Christmas Was different for me in the year of 2020
This year, with the pandemic going around Christmas was a little different. There were several new situations that occurred one of them being the fact that my grandparents couldn't stay long. Due to the fact that COVID-19 mainly only affects people with preexisting conditions or old age, my grandparents had to go before we opened presents. Another new thing this year caused by COVID is that with the free time, my sister who would've been in college spent her free time training a puppy that got to be with us at Christmas time. Besides for situations such as those we had a normal Christmas with family, presents, and church. With church however, to keep things outside and moving with groups separated they die a tour where you met volunteers who told stories dressed as people who were present for the birth of Jesus. -
2020-12-24
My Christmas of 2020
During the December of 2020, my Christmas was different for me this year because I was socially distanced and I was careful when I was with family. First, when my family arrived at my cousin's house, my cousin and I decided to walk his dog and I went with him. We wore masks during our walk and we stopped by some houses to deliver presents. We had to be outside, socially distanced, and we had to wear masks to deliver the presents. After, we went back and ate lunch, We had sushi and some grilled chicken and it was great! We hung out and my cousins and I played video games together. Also, my dog played with their dog and it was great. I sang some Christmas carols but we had to be outside and socially distanced. We opened presents inside but we were very careful. I got socks, clothes, Airpods, Apple Pencil , etc. We did not give hugs or any other physical contact which helped us stay safe. Overall, this Christmas was very different than the others, because of how we had to stay outside, be socially distanced, and wear masks. I enjoyed this Christmas a lot, and I am thankful I could spend it with my family. -
2021-01-06
My Christmas Corona Virus Story
This year's Christmas was pretty similar to a regular year Christmas. We always spend Christmas Eve with my mom's mom, sister, and her husband and daughter so my aunt, uncle, and cousins are Sam who is 19 years old, and Sarah who is 17. Every year we switch off whos house we have Christmas Eve at this year we had it at my aunt's house. We always get all dressed up and eat prime rib for dinner then open our presents from each other but not our presents from our immediate family. We also always bring our dogs so this year we had 4 dogs on Christmas eve my dog Elli, my cousin's dog Sadie, my nanas dog Max, and Snorkel who was a dog my cousins were puppy sitting. We also always go to the Christmas Eve church service which we did not go to because the churches were closed because of the virus. We did not social distance or wear masks and we have been with each other a lot over the quarantine. Then we left at around 1:00 am and went home. Next on Christmas morning we woke up at about 9:45 and went downstairs to open presents and eat breakfast. Halfway through opening presents, we stopped for Breakfast and we always eat cinnamon rolls and bacon. Then we continue to open presents and chilled until 5:00 when my nana, cousins, aunt, and uncle came over with the dogs. My nana made her clam chowder like she does every year and we ate dinner and hanged out. They left around 10:00 and we went to bed. This year's Christmas was very similar to a normal year's Christmas. -
2020-12-18
Overall lIfe
During this pandemic I got really bad anxiety and depression. I ended up getting 2 gerbils and a cat. I needed to snuggle with them and make myself feel better. The world is so scary still. Everything is getting shut down again, even schools. We are not allowed to leave our house, when we do we have to wear a mask. Grocery stores are almost always empty. Also people feel like they need 20 packs of toilet paper, so getting that is hard. This is important to me because the next generations need to know what happened. History repeats itself, so the next time this happens, they need to know that we can get through this. You are stronger than you think you are <3 -
2020-12-17
My Experience With Lockdown
The biggest challenge I faced with corona was not being able to see people or do anything. I wanted to be with friends so badly and being stuck inside my house made me crazy some days. Covid 19 was stressful for my dad because during the begging of quarantine he couldn't have his clinic or perform surgeries. This made my parents stressed about money because just bought another house and have a lot of expenses. However, there were some positives of quarantine. I got so bored I worked out and got in shape a little. I also feel like I got a lot closer with my family, even though I definitely did get tired of them. Quarantine also made me anxious and stressed. I am more of an extrovert and being with people energizes me and makes me happy, so not being able to see people definitely affected me. Quarantine also allowed me to learn new things in the kitchen and I realized that I don’t hate hikes as much as I thought I did. I also found new TV shows that I loved and we also got a cat to entertain us. -
2020-09-22
Journey of Quarantine
This journal entry was written as a part of the American Studies class at California High School in San Ramon, California. Throughout my journey of quarantine and covid-19, I have realized that I have changed a lot since before quarantine. I have also realized that I figured out new things about myself, and I also figured out how to never be bored. I have picked up many new hobbies such as fishing and doing DIY projects. Also, I have gotten much more into lifting and working out, because that was the main part of my life during the quarantine. Over quarantine, my friends and I cleaned my garage out, and made it a chill spot with a couch and also a lifting cage for working out. This did cost a lot of money, so we all pitched in to the cause because we were all going to use the cage on a daily basis. After a month or two, we had completely finished it and it was amazing. I used this place every day for the rest of the summer. Another hobby I picked up was owning a fish tank. I have realized that I am fascinated by fish. I have one freshwater tank right now, but I am looking into getting a saltwater fish tank. This does cost a lot more money, but in my opinion, the saltwater fish are much cooler. -
2020-11-25
My Bed
I never imagined spending the end of my high school senior year in bed. I always expected and looked forward to the social gatherings, late nights with friends, prom, graduation, spending time with my class, all the things you see on TV. Instead, the class of 2020 and the rest of the world switched to online learning/work, hand sanitizer, masks, and social distancing, along with the constant fear of the COVID-19 virus. Cases rose, along with time at home and persistent anxieties. Will I get it? What if I spread it to my parents? Or worse, my grandparents? School stopped. Work stopped. My family stayed home, isolated. Due to the complete halt of social interaction, and nothing else to do, I ended up spending too much time alone in my bed. My bed, like many teenagers, has always been one of my favorite places and most frequent visitation. But how much time in bed is too much? Due to COVID time, my bed transformed from being a place I slept and left every day, to a type of addiction. A place I was bound to and could not escape. There were some positives to being in my bed during these unprecedented times. At first, spending time in my bed was nice, I got more sleep than in the normal school year, and I got to relax during the day. My bed before COVID had always been a place for me after school or work to go and be alone. It’s a warm inviting space where I don’t have to impress society or anyone. It is like an oasis, with comfy blankets and pillows, lit candles around. I like to bring my cat into my room after a hard day and cuddle in bed with her if she allows it. Although my relationship with my bed changed during COVID, my relationship with the rest of my family did not. On a positive note, my bed and other beds in my house became gathering spaces. A joy of lockdown was that my older sister came home and stayed with us for two months. One of our favorite things to do together is to watch movies and tv shows with my mom too. My bed became a space for all of us to be together and watch movies and chit chat. We would all be so happy that we were all reunited again. Because we never expected this to happen. Once hours without school turned from weeks to months, time in my bed increased way more than usual. I had way too much time to spend in bed, and nothing to do in the outside world. My bed had once been a place for me to go when I craved alone time. But once I had nowhere but my house to be, my bed became the only place I spent time. I laid there for hours on my phone lazily. During my time in bed, I felt lazy and bored. I was unproductive and unmotivated. I wanted to go to places with people. I started to hate my bed, and hate what I had become because of my bed. At one point it got so bad that I was spending so much time lying in bed that my back started having problems from slouching so much. Strange right? That really was a sign for me to get off my butt and do something. I changed my attitude and realized I had to get out of bed and go outside. When the weather got warmer and sunnier, I was finally able and wanted to leave my room and go spend time outside. This allowed me to feel the fresh air and feel productive outside in the real world. Being able to leave my bed and return to it later in the day, made my bed rewarding again, instead of never leaving and being mad at myself and the bed for drawing me in. A bed is meant to be somewhere to sleep. But for me, during the pandemic, it was a place to relax, read, socialize, be warm, watch tv, even eat. However, because of its spell on me, I needed to learn to interact with my bed with caution and moderation, for my sanity. Like anything during these COVID times, my bed and I had good experiences and bad experiences. I had to learn how I needed to cope with my emotions concerning my bed. Before COVID, my bed was a place for me to unwind and feel better. But during the lockdown, I realized that my relationship with other people was better for my mental health, over spending time in bed. Overall, it provided me a safe space to rekindle my energy. But because of the circumstances, it might have been too much. It inhibited me from leaving it like I was tied and stuck. But it also made me grateful. To feel comfortable and safe in my room away from the uncertainty of current times. -
2020-12-15T10:44:45
What is Covid?
January 2020 is when I first got knowledge of some pandemic in the world. My school at the time didn't give a Honors Science class for 7th grade so I was stuck with people who messed around a lot. They would always talk about themselves passing on what they called Covid. It wasn't though until 3-5 weeks later when my entire district was pulled out of school because of Covid, they thought it would only last a few weeks, but me and my friends already knew it would last much longer. 2 weeks went by of no knowledge at all being given for me to learn and being bored with my entire family in the house. We are very fortunate so far, as my parents worked at companies that were benefiting from Covid. My Dad's company benefited from more people using Wi-Fi and my Mom because she worked at a Drug Company where she right now is releasing a treatment for Lung Cancer. Eventually School went into remote learning, we almost learned nothing as the entire system was wack. We always talked about how when the election came, it would get better, it did, for a week. When it came to Summer my parents made the smart and expensive decision to move me and my brother to a private school, after getting into it we started finally relaxing as some loose end were getting tied, we also got a puppy mini labradoodle the is black, we call him Leo and he is our 'Covid baby'. With Covid regulations changing all the time we had to not only learn new rules, but even sometimes had to get certain masks and coverings. Like when you pick up food, or when you dine out, it was all changed, and will still change. Everyone I meet believes that we (U.S. government) could have done better, I agree, but the past is the past and we just have to live with those decisions. Finally we might go back to school again in January after Winter Break, I hope we do. That is how so far my life had went with a Virus that encroached us from all possible angles. -
2020-12-11
Pandemic Puppy
This is a photograph of the puppy that was gifted to my family in March when the pandemic began to really impact our lives. Duke Has grown so much and brightened our days. -
2020-11-30
Remington the Chocolate Lab
Remington got more attention on this extended break that I got due to the pandemic. She loved all the extra attention and love that she got when she would usually be the only one at the house while everyone is at school and work. Me and my cousins found it fun to make her pull us while riding the hoverboard. She also got the most exercise during this break as well. -
2020-05-01
Group of Risk
I have epilepsy and I take medicine for it, this medicine lowers my immune system, so I am considered a group of risk for convid, my life got very limited because of that, also because of my seizures I can't have a drivers license, so I was the only one in my family that couldn't get out for the small chance I would catch convid in the uber passenger seat, or in my way to the tabaco store, I stayed 5 months in my house without being able to go outside. The depression was horrible, but when things got a little better I could TAKE MY DOG FOR A WALK. -
2020-10-01
Interview by Dr. Juilee Decker and Alicia Evans, educator and Fiber Artist
Alicia Evans describes her busy life before COVID. She was a professor at City University New York as well as a fiber artist and medical actor. She describes how her work changed due to COVID, and how virtual learning has changed the way things are taught. She shares her art and stories about how she is impacting lives through her work and art. -
2020-11-15
COVID 19 - PETS
Pictured in the photo is my 2 year-old mut, Nala. Like many dogs during the pandemic of COVID-19, she was happy. The governor of Massachusetts issued a stay-at-home order that forced many businesses to begin operating online, employees to work remotely, and students to be taught through a screen. This left residents with not much to do as facilities closed to stop the spread of the virus, and so, people turned to the shelters and pet adoption. It seemed like the perfect time to welcome a new family member into the household-- people were able to spend more time taking care of puppies who might have needed extra training or surveillance at home. Shelters all across America were being flooded with adoption applications during the pandemic, and other shelters even ran out of dogs to adopt. Nala’s smiling face in the photo represents the simplicity of the happiness one can get from spending more time with family. It was a silver lining during these uncertain times. -
2020-11-18
How COVID has changed my home life
The initial stages of COVID were almost surreal. I was in Key West, Florida when I first got the email from my college that we were going to be all online from mid-March to the end of the Spring 2020 semester. This carried into the Fall semester and that changed how my girlfriend and I were going to live. We decided that if we are going to be at home all the time we need a place big enough for us to separate our bedroom and our school stuff. So we moved from Fenway’s backyard to Somerville and from a studio apartment to a one bedroom. Instantly everything felt better. There was space for all of our stuff, we were able to spread out, and most importantly, we were able to get a dog. We previously had two cats but having an animal that needs to go outside and see the light of day more than once a week has made everything easier. It forces my girlfriend and I to take breaks from the mountains of school work we have and it gets us out of the house for more than just spending money or making money. Finally we got our second dog and she has made life even better because now our dogs get to play together and we get to go out more often to places like dog parks without having to worry about other people and their dogs being there. In the picture you can see Oakley (grey and first child), Tucker (orange and second child), Millie (blue Pitbull mix and third child), and Zoe (white and brown Pitbull mix and fourth child). These little creatures have made everything worth it. Without the pandemic I would not be able to say that I am as blessed as I am now to have four adopted animals that I get to call my world. -
2020-12-01
Interview with a Cat
During the pandemic, I have been home much more than I ever thought I would. It has given me a lot of free time, that I don't know what to do with, but my cats could not be happier to have their people around more. It has allowed us to gain a better understanding of each other and the things that they help me with emotionally during this time. My cats, Waffles and Hugh, are very special to me. I adopted Waffles from a humane society three years ago, and Hugh from the side of the road 2 years ago. They have been very helpful to me as emotional support animals through a lot of my college career, and they are both very sweet boys. During the pandemic, they have each gotten a little closer to my heart because their personalities have really started to shine through because I am able to be home and watch and interact with them more. Waffles is a 14lb grey and white longhair, and Hugh is a 10lb black and white short hair. Hugh is rambunctious. Waffles is not. It has been heartwarming to watch how they each take care of each other, and piss each other off a bit (as brothers and all family do) and it has made me realize how important my cats are to me. When I have bad days, they are so much more responsive to me. They come cuddle and bug me so that I get out of bed and start doing things, rather than lay there and wallow as we so often want to do. It really makes me wonder what is going on in their heads. My cats have been my saviors through this whole thing, they have been a constant that doesn't change. They have been sources of comfort and entertainment, and I could not imagine getting through this without them. -
2020-12-01
Beetle Husbandry
In this pandemic, there has been no shortage of people sharing stories of being in quarantine with their pets and companions, however too saturated are stories of cats and kittens, dogs and puppies, and all those other lovely mammalian companions. Invertebrates truly are unique to raise and care for and this pet owner has their beetle perusing the pages of a Japanese-English encyclopedia on itself. -
2020-12-03
A Beloved Job that is Dying
I work at a great dog daycare in West Roxbury. We used to be very busy, and even during the holidays were forced to turn people away. Now my dog daycare is an empty building most nights, we have plenty of vacancy for Thanksgiving break, and I am forced to work an overnight shift so I can still attend college. I go into work at 10 p.m., there I ask, “how many dogs?” Often, I get witty remark like 22 dogs, but 20 are missing. Normally 22 dogs on a Sunday was normal, now I take care of 3 or 4 dogs. Sometimes I am lucky, and I will have almost 15 dogs to care for. I clean the building and I look at the whiteboards, where the dog names should be written. Instead all I see is a blank board and faded Sharpie marker. I miss being able to in on weekends and enjoying Sundays. Now all I do is sleep during the day and work at night. Sometimes I am lucky, and I can get a few hours of rest before my 8am Zoom classes. -
2020-09-24
Jayce, Tonia, and Keiwan tell their COVID stories
Jayce, Tonia, and Keiwan tell their COVID stories as part of the LongIslandStories collection being done at the African American Museum of Nassau County -
2020-05-04
Diamond Dog - HIST 393
Covid really began changing my life when the news broke that I would not be returning to my college campus. I remained home from my spring break with my family in New England and lots changed, both positive and negative. The most positive change in my life since the pandemic began has been my new family member, a mini Australian shepherd named Penny Lane. Penny is my family’s first dog and has been a big part of how we stayed sane throughout the initial craziness of Covid. Having a puppy to unite my family was a huge help because we were all feeling divided and found ourselves crashing more than usual due to the extended time at home. We were all able to bond over the teamwork required to take care of a pet and the happiness that a happy puppy brings to a household. Penny has helped all of us deal with our specific anxieties as well. In my case, I found myself becoming more reclusive, and finding motivation to do school work was more and more difficult. Experiencing a dog being happy to see me when I walked back home helped my motivation tons and made me want to retreat less into my negative thoughts. Penny had been a silver lining because we would not have gotten her if we weren’t spending so much time at home, and she made adjusting to the new way of Covid life much easier. As time has gone on, I find myself reflecting on the positive aspects of my quarantine experience more than the negative ones, and Pennny has been the most positive change in my life during he plague year. -
2020-10-24
Covid: Concerns over 'dogfishing' and abandoned pets
With COVID-19 lockdowns, many people are seeking pets for company. Smugglers, however, are taking advantage of this by selling smuggled dogs for large amounts of money. There has also been an uptick in the number of dogs abandoned due to various reasons including financial struggle. -
10/17/2020
Emily Tyler Oral History, 2020/10/17
Transcription only: In this oral history interview, I sat down and interviewed Emily with a range of topics including: her background, employment, family, household, community, health, information sources, government, and the future. This interview was conducted at Emily’s apartment in Cincinnati, Ohio. Informed Consent was obtained previously before the interview. -
10/17/2022
Sachiko Mortia-Mulaney Oral History, 2020/10/17
This is an Oral History interview with University of Cincinnati student Sachiko Morita-Mullaney. Sachiko discusses her experience as a student at the University of Cincinnati. She brings up her identity as a Japanese-American woman and how that has affected her personally during the pandemic due to anti-Asian racism. She also talks about her small online business, and the different ways her and her family’s employment have been affected by Covid-19. Sachiko, a Political Science major at the University of Cincinnati, is very informed about the government’s response to Covid-19. She shares her opinions about healthcare in the United States and how racism and classism have affected the United States’ response to the coronavirus. Finally, we talked about the future and the quality of the US response to the coronavirus. -
2020-08-26
Grandpa & Gracie
I’ve missed my Grandpa terribly, but we’ve able to bond during the pandemic through a continuous email exchange concerning my dog. I’ll send him photos, and he’ll help me conspire ways to keep her safe from falling in our pool. We’ve been able to connect through our shared love of Gracie, even though we haven’t seen him or my Grandma for months. It’s been one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had in this plague year, especially because Grandpa is mostly deaf and can’t communicate well in person. It’s interesting how technology (and Gracie!) have facilitated connection between us. For a nonagenarian, he’s probably more proficient with technology than I am! -
2020-09-26
Family Fights
HIST30060 My family is pretty large: I have two brothers, a sister….and a whole menagerie of animals! Gracie dog is the best, but we also have another dog, several cats, a rabbit, and a variety of feathered friends. My siblings live interstate, so we’ve been barred from seeing them since February because of border restrictions. During lockdown, we’ve been keeping in touch by having consistent arguments on our family group chat about how to rank our pets from best to worst. My brother frames it like a ‘best and fairest medal’, as you’d receive in sport. The conversations remind me of when we all used to live together at home, and they’ve provided a nice reprieve from more ominous discussions about the pandemonium enveloping society. I think the notion of ‘reprieve’ is central to the power of animals in this plague year: they distract us from our pandemic woes and force us to take a sabbatical from our anxieties. -
2020-09-01
Digital Barkive
HIST30060 I created an Instagram account during Victoria’s first lock-down to chronicle my experiences with my dog during the pandemic. It’s from Gracie’s perspective and purely for fun, but I think it also represents a rudimentary ‘barkive’ with insight into how ‘stay-at-home’ mandates provided refreshed impetus to interact with our furry friends and rely upon them for comfort and companionship. -
2020-07-21
Pets in the Pandemic
HIST30060 It’s been difficult not seeing friends and family, but one stalwart of this year has been Gracie: my beautiful four-legged companion. Gracie’s been a source of much needed support this year, accompanying me on my daily allotted exercise and stopping for regular belly rubs. She’s cut through the pandemonium and provided me with a constant supply of love and laughter. I think pets have outperformed themselves this year, especially when human connection has been sparse due to restrictions. ‘History from below’ might not literally mean below knee-level, but I think considering the experience of pets during the pandemic will be a valuable avenue of historical enquiry. -
2020-08-07
Everyone Needs a Mask!
My mum sent me this very adorable photo of my dog wearing a face mask to gently remind me to wear a mask while in public to keep me safe from COVID-19. In Victoria, masks have been mandated in all public areas since July, regardless of social distancing. My mum sent this photo to some of our friends and family too, to cheer them up during the difficult times Victoria was going through at the time with a strong rise in cases. She had also reminded me, like with how our dog Snowy was wearing it in the photo, to make to cover both the mouth and the nose for the mask to function properly. Snowy did not much like wearing the mask, but he certainly looked extremely cute in it! Although at the time when my mum sent me this picture she had meant it as a joke, unfortunately with the new strain of the COVID mutation rumouring to originate from minks in Denmark, the possibility of dogs or cats contracting COVID-19 perhaps isn't so far-fetched. Remember to wear a mask and stay safe! -
2020-11-09
2020: The Year of The Ring of Steel and Shaggy Dogs
In the series of images depicted above, I portray the imminent changes to both my life and the lives of those I love. The stage three lockdown which dawned on the 8th of July 2020 somewhat replicated a tale of two cities. A ‘Ring of Steel’ enforced between metro and regional Victoria separated a state in the grip of a deadly second wave. For me personally, 2020 changed my life in two notable ways; my two worlds were separated, and as droll as it sounds, I couldn’t get my dog a haircut. The ring of steel meant that I was separated from both my family property and my boyfriend who lives in Regional Victoria, although we could still visit one another it just didn’t feel the same. Like going through customs at an airport you are grilled on your reasons for travelling into a regional zone, and the answer of visiting a partner seemed to also evoke a multitude of other questions confirming the validity of the aforementioned statement. This however was all very necessary as there are regions of Victoria that haven’t even seen one single case of COVID since it reached Australia in January 2020. My first image was taken one day upon my return to Melbourne from seeing my boyfriend in regional Victoria and epitomises how even back in April, COVID-related precautions were widespread. Whilst my second photograph pinpoints the outage which the Vic Roads change of address function encountered a day prior to the announcement of the ‘Ring of Steel’ on July 9, 2020. The third photo is a government document and summary of those restrictions that were also outlined from this date onwards. Stage 4 restrictions also meant that all non-essential services were shut to combat the unnecessary spread of the virus, and this included dog groomers. Our West Highland White Terrier Angus was certainly thankful for this as sitting still is not his strong point, but it also meant that he could hardly see with his hair growing over his eyes like a veranda. There were calls from the RSPCA to re-open these services to the public earlier as they had treated a number of grisly injuries from owners attempting at home cuts on their pooches. Whilst a number of petitions were also got up by dog groomers who were more concerned about the welfare of the animals rather than the business aspect. With continuous lobbying, the efforts of the animal welfare community paid off and on the 28th of September they were able to resume services, a far cry from October 26th the original date outlined. The fourth and fifth photo depicts Angus before and after his much-needed haircut in early October. -
2020-07-20
A Woman’s* Best Friend
This represents what friendship means to me. My dog is my best friend and was the best supporter I could ask for during the 8 months Melbourne was in lockdown. -
2020-10
Pets, the Unsung Heroes: Grad School in Quarantine
I don't know where I would be without my cats, Alvin and Cornelia. This year as been stressful on all of us, people dying, not being able to leave the house, unemployment, schoolwork, the list goes on and on. Without them and their cute, furry faces I'm sure I would have broken down a lot more often than I already have. Alvin (orange) is about 4 years old and is the most talkative cat I know, he's always meowing at us for pets and love. Cornelia (brown) is incredibly anxious, but that doesn't stop her from demanding cuddles when we're about to go to bed. They are a constant in my life, something I am so incredibly grateful for. They don't even know how they make my life better, they just offer the love and want some in return. They are truly the unsung heroes of this pandemic, at least for me. -
2020-07-26
Dogs send love
HIST30060 During COVID it was definitely a comfort for many to have their pets. Whilst the world was figuratively and literally burning down around us, the unconditional love and easy needs of caring for a dog brought a small moment of respite in the day. A dog will always enjoy a treat. It makes one think about the perspective of dogs during this time. For my dog, Goliath, he now gets to see me every single day, compared to me leaving at 7 in the morning and arriving home at 4pm (sometimes later) when I was studying on campus. And he gets more walks because leaving the house with him was some of the only times we actually got to leave the house. A dog will always enjoy a walk. Just having another creature near you who enjoys the little things and isn't weighed down by the dread and despair of the pandemic and who I get to share the company of really helps. -
2020-04-29
Distance Learning with her BFF
My daughter cannot sit still for long therefore did not do well with distance learning. Every morning she had a Zoom meeting with her teacher and classmates to check in. I snapped this photograph as she Zoomed with her class and laid against her dog. She finds comfort with our golden retriever who loves her dearly. -
2020-09-24
Adopting Nugget the Pug
This is my housemate’s dog, Nugget aka Nug. Despite my housemate wanting a dog before the pandemic began, she realised that between working and being a fulltime student that she wouldn’t have the time to train a puppy. However, due to the pandemic we have spent more time at home than we ever have before, meaning we could train Nug without worrying about leaving him alone while we were at university or work. Nug has brought joy to our household, providing lots of laughs and endless cuddles. He has also made being at home every day far more bearable. HIST30060 -
2020-10-06
Pet shortage in SF
The COVID-19 lockdown has forced many people into social isolation, and also provided the free time necessary to care for and train new pets. The resulting surge in dog adoptions has led to a shortage of adoptable animals in San Francisco shelters, and the pet sales industry made a record-breaking $100 billion this year. Since puppies can no longer be commercially shipped, a company called PuppySpot has taken to chartering private jets to transport animals bred in the Midwest to the Bay Area. With no end to the pandemic in site, demand has continued to rise. -
2020-10-28
Human Muzzles...???
This is a funny meme of What Dogs could be thinking about all the mask wearing going on lately! #MaskUp -
10/10/2020
Claudia Wall Oral History, 2020/10/10
An interview between Camden Bailey and their aunt, Claudia Wall, whom works as a care provider in an independent retirement community. Mrs. Wall who is in the senior demographic herself talks about providing care for elderly residents while living in a retirement community herself (however, the community she lives in is just for seniors 55+, the one she works for has nurses and staff around to help residents, where she lives does not). Please note, due to the familiar nature between the two, Mrs. Wall will refer to Mrs. Bailey as "Larissa" or "Riss" at times (this is just Mrs. Bailey's middle name/a nickname for it). -
2020-10-27
Finding Ways to Fill your Boredom
As I sit on my bed, debating whether or not to attempt one of the many online math assignments or to find another way to fill the empty time that is left in the day. My mom is downstairs trying to teach a first grade lesson on “Beginning, Middle, and End” of writer’s workshop. I can hear how overwhelmed she is to try and get her students to both pay attention and understand the lesson she is trying so hard to explain. My Dad is in his office slamming his keys on his keyboard as he is very loudly expressing the values of communication to one of his clients. “It is important for you to tell me or Peter when you and your wife decide to…” The many conversations that are happening between so many people in one household checks off the idea of watching TV or reading a magazine article. I can even see the annoyed look in my cat’s eyes as he sits next to me. I can tell that he definitely knows that this is not normal for both Mom and Dad to be on the phone and working at home in the middle of the day. So all I do, is just sit on my bed, finding not the most entertaining but productive ways I can fill this boredom. -
2020-10-17
Meet Ellie! The Pandemic Pup!
This is my beautiful pup, Ellie! Ellie’s story with my family and I begun on March 19, 2020, when my mother and I picked her up from my dad’s fire station. March 19th was an important date for my family. Not only did this beautiful girl enter our lives then, but it was also the first full day of restaurant closures during the pandemic, my school had announced its intention to continue virtually for the remainder of the semester, my birthday had just passed, and COVID-19 loomed over our daily lives, its shadow growing with each passing day. And then, there was Ellie! Ellie is such a joy in my family’s life! She is beyond sweet, unbelievably adorable, incredibly fun, and an awesome companion. It has been a real joy to watch Ellie grow up during this difficult time for our world. Her life has been like a ray of sunshine in an overcast world. I enjoy going on walks with her and my mother at the park, visiting with her on the couch and floor, watching her jump in the pool during a hot day, and of course playing fetch in the backyard with her favorite orange tennis balls. Watching Ellie grow and mature into such a beautiful dog has been a true gift to my family and me during the COVID-19 pandemic. No matter what's going on in the world, Ellie always makes my day better. -
2020-10-15
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Just a couple weeks ago I adopted a nine week old mini australian shepherd puppy, named Ozzy, who is in the photograph. There were many factors that went into adopting my first ever puppy, and a lot of it had to do with the world pandemic: coronavirus. All summer while everyone was staying inside their houses quarantined, I was out working at a breakfast restaurant. Of course, all employees wore masks, but not every customer that walked into the restaurant was aware of the severity of the pandemic. Some would refuse to wear masks, even though it was a state law, cough or sneeze in your face, while being ruthless and careless. Although the government is showing action by recommending everyone to wear masks, it is not necessarily helping the current state of our country. I believe that more action needs to be taken for the pandemic to be resolved or improved. This led me to leave my job, and spend more time at home to protect the safety of me and my family. Scrolling on the internet with all my free time I saw that a lot of dogs were in need of a home due to shelters and pet stores overflowing. This led me to find the most perfect puppy, and now he is a part of my family. Contrary to my beliefs there is always a bright side in unfortunate situations. Ozzy turned out to be the light at the end of the tunnel, providing me with the happiness I was missing in the past few months due to the declining state of the world. -
2020-07-01
Juniper Berries Grant Volunteering at the Santa Monica College Food Pantry
Before the pandemic, my dog, Juniper Berries Grant aka Juni, was on track to becoming a therapy dog and helping stressed out students at Santa Monica College, where I work. But we closed campus and moved all classes online, so Juni was out of a job. After the pandemic happened, I started volunteering at the Santa Monica College Food Pantry. Every Wednesday, we give produce, dairy, eggs, meat, and dry goods to our students in need. It’s all amazing and fresh, if we have extras, we donate it to local resources and staff. It has been great to see the community support students with food insecurities. Anyways, one Wednesday, Juni was able to come up and volunteer. And while students couldn’t give her pets, her cuteness put them at ease from a safe distance. -
2020-10-12
Funny tweet about cats and zoom and teaching
Found this tweet about living in times of Covid zoom teaching and I found it amusing, yet also a bit as the author put it 'dystopian'.