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Larissa Wohl, best known for her pet-parent and adoption segments on the Hallmark Channel's morning show Home & Family and her 'Adoption Ever After' initiative, has become the go-to animal authority as a news anchor, field reporter, and journalist. We talked with Larissa to get her perspective on these COVID-19 adoptions.
Larissa Wohl is a household name in the animal world, celebrated for her pet-parent and adoption segments on the Hallmark Channel's morning show and her "Adoption Ever After" initiative. As an anchor, field reporter, and journalist, she's become a trusted voice for animals—having already helped more than 2,000 pets find their forever families. Her reporting has exposed an animal dumping ground in Arizona, spotlighted the struggles of Central California shelters, and championed the cause of senior dogs in San Diego.
Right now, the biggest story in the rescue world is that during the Covid-19 pandemic, animals are flying out of shelters. People suddenly have time on their hands, don't want to be alone while distancing, and are adopting and fostering in numbers some organizations can barely keep up with. Good news on the surface—but Larissa frets about how durable these placements will be once the pandemic ends. We caught up with her to dig into these COVID-19 adoptions.
Modern Dog: Tons of people have been celebrating shelters emptying out. On the surface that sounds fantastic—but do you worry about the long-term stability of these placements?
Larissa: Thank you for asking such a great question! Sadly, as rescuers, we often hold our breath until we're 100% sure an adoption will stick before we actually celebrate. It's a tough truth, but plenty of wonderful adopted animals do get returned—days, weeks, months, or even years later—because the adopter made a snap decision, got overwhelmed, or didn't know how to handle a problem that popped up.
So, to answer directly: I'm thrilled and grateful for all the incredible people stepping up to adopt right now, and I'm certain a huge share of these will turn into lifelong adoptions. But there is a real concern that once some people's lives return to "normal" and work ramps back up, they'll find their adopted animals less convenient and send them back to the shelter/rescue—or try to re-home them, which carries its own dangers as well.
Modern Dog: For people feel compelled to adopt a dog right now, what advice do you have about whether they actually want a dog for life—or they're just lonely while social distancing?
Larissa: Absolutely! Adopting right now is a brilliant move if you're truly ready for a lifetime commitment. I'd strongly advise against adopting if it's a purely impulsive decision just to have company during isolation. You have to remember this animal will depend on you for its entire life—you can't just treat it as something to fill your time right NOW. If you want something short-term, I'd highly recommend fostering instead! It's a win for both you AND the animal. It's temporary, usually free, and helps shelters figure out exactly who'd make the best forever home for that animal!
If you're still on the fence, I'd pose a few crucial questions to yourself.
#1. Do you genuinely have enough time for an animal (even once work picks back up)?
#2. Can you comfortably afford their food and everyday supplies?
#3. Can you cover routine vet exams as well as the emergency vet visits that will inevitably arise (and trust me…they do)?
#4. If this animal develops a problem behaviour, are you willing to invest in a trainer?
#5. If you travel or vanish for long hours daily, do you have backup lined up—or are you willing to hire someone?
If you feel equipped to take on this responsibility, I'll be the first to cheer you on! Adopting is a total win-win. And if you don't feel you can handle all of it, you can still help by fostering, volunteering, or donating!
Modern Dog: Are there ways rescue groups and shelters can better screen adopters right now to figure out who's ready for a life-long commitment?
Larissa: I believe it's absolutely critical that shelters and rescues ALWAYS screen potential adopters thoroughly. Unfortunately that doesn't always happen, thanks to limits on funding, resources, and manpower.
Government-run shelters often are restricted in how much screening they can do, while nonprofit rescues have more freedom. As an adopter, you'll definitely notice the difference between a shelter and a rescue in terms of requirements, fees, home visits, and the like.
Right now, many rescues I collaborate with are taking applications very seriously and doing everything they can to confirm adopters are in it for the long haul. That said, if an adopter changes their mind down the road, the rescue organization is still the best place for the animal to land.
What I think shelters and rescues can realistically do best right now is sit down with each adopter and get a genuine read on the commitment the family is actually seeking. My hope is the staff can then steer them in the right direction—whether that's adopting a dog/cat or fostering. It's so important that people walk into a shelter or rescue and leave with a positive experience. Whether they leave with an animal or walk away feeling educated enough to realize it's NOT for them, they should feel heard, respected, and helped. Shelters still carry this stigma of being "scary," and one person's interaction with an employee can make all the difference.
Modern Dog: Can you talk about your concerns around the massive numbers of animals being fostered right now, and how that might impact rescue/shelter populations once this all ends?
Larissa: Honestly, this is the scenario I'm dreading, because rescues and shelters are going to be completely swamped if everyone returns their foster animals at once.
The biggest advice I've been handing out is to be brutally honest and upfront when fostering right now. Tell the shelter or rescue your true time commitment so they can plan ahead. I can foresee a grim situation where every foster parent suddenly returns their animals at the same time, forcing life-or-death decisions.
On top of that, many rescues are foster-based only. You might commit to three weeks, and then they need to find someone else to take the animal afterward. That's usually manageable as long as they get a heads-up to begin their search. So please communicate your schedule and be realistic.
In the meantime, this is a golden window to work with your foster animal and set them up to be the best pet possible for someone! Use this time for some basic training (endless videos online), network them to friends and family through online platforms, snap fun photos or videos, and spread the word!
That way, even if they aren't the forever pet for you, you just might help them find one before this is even over—so they never have to go back to a shelter or rescue.
That said, whenever you're fostering, the adoptions HAVE to go through the agency the animal belongs to. You can't handle adoptions on your own, so always connect a potential adopter directly with the agency!
Modern Dog: Since most shelters run very limited, by-appointment-only adoptions, how can people tell if a dog is right for them when COVID-19 restrictions cut into their time and access?
Larissa: It's a tough situation and not an easy question to answer, but there are a few moves you can make to help ensure a good match.
#1. Seek out shelters and rescues doing virtual adoptions and "meet and greets." It lets you watch animals online and get a feel for their personality.
#2. Look for animals currently in a foster home, so you get a clearer picture of how they behave in a home, around kids, other animals, and so on. That's the beauty of fostering—it lets a future adopter make a far more informed (and hopefully lasting) decision.
#3. Remember adoption isn't only about you! You're signing up to help an animal in need, and you don't always know everything about them or their personality. To me, that's part of the adventure, but you have to stay open to it.
#4. Unfortunately COVID-19's impact will linger. Even after social distancing ends, people who've been laid off or lost income will surrender pets. So if you want more interaction with a potential pet, know there's always time. Once this immediate threat passes, we can return to shelters and interact. A new pet should never be an impulsive decision—wait a bit and find your perfect furry family member in a few months.
#5. Instead of adopting, foster right now. It's a great way to gauge an animal and decide if they're right for you and your lifestyle! It still helps the animal even if you don't adopt them—just be upfront and honest with the agency and stick to the time you committed. It's still a commitment, just not a lifetime one.
Modern Dog: Any other thoughts on how to make these Covid-19 adoptions stick? Or on adoption/fostering during the pandemic in general?
Larissa: I think it's vital to remember your animals depend on you for safety and protection. There's still so much unknown about Covid-19 and I completely understand people's fears, but please don't abandon or harm your animals. According to experts, there's no evidence so far that domestic dogs and cats can transmit Covid-19 to humans. Dogs and cats DO get certain coronavirus strains—they always have—but those are species-specific and not the same as Covid-19.
That said, always use common sense with your animals and stick to good hygiene. If you're fostering, I suggest giving them a good bath right away and using your own leash/collar if possible. That puts your mind at ease about any germs entering your home!
I'd also urge you not to let others interact with your animals right now—out of an abundance of caution, to keep any respiratory droplets from landing on your pet. Otherwise, remember that in these uncertain, frightening times, our pets bring us incredible happiness, laughter, companionship, and meaning. Please consider adopting or fostering today, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. I can't always answer everyone, but I always do my best!
Lastly, if you're not in a position to adopt or foster, remember many shelters and rescues are seeing a huge drop in monetary and supply donations right now. As more people face financial strain from Covid-19, they're giving less. So if you can donate, go online and seek out shelter or rescue "wish lists." Most live right on their websites, and you can donate directly over the Internet—no contact required!
Sassafras Lowrey is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor and author of "Tricks In The City," "Healing/Heeling," "Bedtime Stories For Rescue Dogs," and the activity book "Chew This Journal," out Summer 2020. Follow Sassafras and her canine adventures on Twitter/Instagram and at SassafrasLowrey.com
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