Type and Manner of Pet Acquisition during Covid 19 in Serbia

Vučinić, Marijana Nenadović Katarina Vučićević Miloš

The aim of this study was to examine which types of pets (dogs, cats and non-traditional animals) the residents of Serbia acquired during the first year of the COVID 19 pandemic and in which manner (purchase, adoption or gift). If the pets were acquired by adoption, we asked participants from what sources they adopted them. Finally, it was examined which characteristics of the owner and his/her household influenced the adoption of pets. A total of 566 owners who acquired pets in 2019 and 2020 participated in the research. The COVID pandemic has reduced the number of pet owners 2.67 times in 2020 compared to 2019. Dogs were the most favourite pets acquired before (43%) and during (42%) the pandemic. During the pandemic, 61% of pets were acquired by adoption. The probability that a pet will be adopted was higher compared to the other manners of acquisition in 2020 and compared to the methods of acquisition in 2019 (χ2 = 9.59;DF = 2;P < 0.01). During the pandemic in 2020, the share of dogs, cats and non-traditional pets adopted directly from previous owners increased by 32%, 13% and 12%, respectively. The probability of acquiring pets by adoption was significantly increased by the presence of people older than 65 (OR=2.56;P<0.05), absence of children up to 5 years of age (OR=0.17;P<0.05) in the household, lower monthly incomes (OR=0.47;P<0.05), the available free time of the owner (OR=2.09;P<0.05), as well as the year of adoption (OR=2.42;P<0.05).