By Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice
How much is that doggie in the window?
Remember this cheerful tune? It’s a jingle from another era, when the dream of a family pet felt as simple as a walk past a shop window. But today, that question echoes with heavier meaning.
In the aftermath of COVID-19, animal shelters across the country are overwhelmed—not with hopeful adopters, but with returned, surrendered, and abandoned dogs. What was once a feel-good moment, the impulse to bring home a furry companion during lockdown, has for many turned into complete heartbreak.
Behind the catchy melody lies a more sobering truth: the real cost of pet ownership goes far beyond the price tag.
The surge in pet adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented. Nearly 1 in 5 households welcomed a new pet into their homes, seeking companionship during periods of isolation and uncertainty. Shelters, once struggling to find homes for animals, experienced a temporary reprieve as empty kennels filled with eager adopters.
However, as the pandemic’s grip loosened, the dynamics shifted.
The initial wave of adoptions gave way to a concerning trend: many pets—particularly dogs—were being returned to shelters. This reversal has placed immense pressure on animal rescue organizations, which are now grappling with overcrowded facilities, exhausted staff, and limited resources.
Stephanie Filer, Executive Director of Shelter Animals Count (SAC), emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Shelters are quite literally at crisis, and some of them are making the decision to close their doors or reduce hours of operation or reduce the kind of animals that they bring in.”
Filer, pictured with two shelter dogs, has spent her career turning data into life-saving action for animals across America.
The reasons behind these returns are multifaceted. Economic challenges, such as rising costs of living and veterinary care, have made pet ownership increasingly burdensome for many families.
As Filer noted, “How we got to this point is truly a three-year snowballing trend. It’s a perfect storm of the shelter system taking on all of the crises at once.”
But let’s not forget who bears the quietest burden in this crisis: the dogs themselves.
These animals did not choose their circumstances. They offered loyalty, companionship, and love when the world felt uncertain, and now…many wait behind metal fences, confused and displaced. Some were once cradled in beds and featured in holiday cards. Today, they sit in overcrowded kennels, unsure of what they did wrong.
The cost of that doggie in the window is not just measured in dollars, but in broken bonds, overlooked lives, and silent suffering.
If there’s a lesson to carry forward from this pandemic-era story, it’s this: love, that is true, responsible love, is never impulsive. Before adopting a dog, ask not just, “Can I afford this today?” but “Am I willing to commit for the long haul?”
Because every wagging tail comes with a beating heart, and every pet deserves more than a moment, they deserve a lifetime.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.