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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore
the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of
the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion
animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and
mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had
regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with
non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged
over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended
free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their
human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis
of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal
interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal
ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health),
concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals
carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the
impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings
complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both
companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal
during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted
support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context. |
