North Bay Woman

Clockwise from upper left: "Going home" photos from Marin Humane: Sophie, now called Daisy, was adopted by Ariana Tiwar and on the right is sister Alisa Tiwari; Freida the Chihuahua was adopted by Jill Muttera; Teddi was adopted by Dana Haragitay. – Photos courtesy Marin Humane Starting far right, middle photo: Cuddling with a furry feline helps with tension; playing at a park gives you and your pet exercise; fur buddies for seniors are wonderful compan- ions; A new dog adds life and comfort to the household. – Photos Getty/istock photo Human-Pet Bonds Provide Vital Support During Pandemic Having a fur-buddy is especially important to our mental health Courtesy of Lisa Bloch Marin Humane A s we emerge from one of the most difficult times many people have ever known, a few important aspects have become apparent regarding our mental health and emotional well-being. One of those is the human-animal bond. With people spending more time at home than ever before, interest in animal adoption skyrocketed. Record numbers of people across the country welcomed all kinds of pets into their homes — and into their families, many for the first time. "I've been in the animal wel- fare world for 38 years and I've never seen anything like it," says Marin Humane CEO Nan- cy McKenney. "It was surreal to be in a position where demand couldn't meet our supply — but it's a good problem to have! We've been able to shift our focus on keeping pets happy and healthy and in their homes through both our Pet Safety Net program for struggling pet parents and our award-winning Behavior and Training department which was able to continue support- ing people and their pets during the pandemic." A 38 NORTH BAY WOMAN S P R I N G

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