Quarterlifers and Their COVID Cars & Dogs

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COVID-19 attacked, and as the world shut down, quarterlifers (Millennials and Gen Z) adapted with creativity and flexibility. Some of the adjustments they made resulted in what has now become a sales craze. While some people hunkered down in their suburban homes and looked to welcome a new furry friend, others looked for an easy and safe way to get out of the city (one that didn’t rely on public transportation). COVID cars and dogs are just some of the ways that Millennials and Gen Z have coped with the ongoing global pandemic. Here’s what you should know.

Is a new COVID dog the solution?

According to the Washington Post, “What began in mid-March as a sudden surge in demand had, as of mid-July, become a bona fide sales boom. Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores – all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. Some rescues were reporting dozens of applications for individual dogs. Some reporting waiting lists well into 2021.”

For a country that typically has shelters filled to capacity, this heightened demand for dogs, signals a collective mindset. During this pandemic, many Americans have decided to get a pet as a way to minimize the isolation they’ve been experiencing.

They may be working from home with more time on their hands. They may be unemployed. They (or their children) may be lonely or lacking socialization. Any way you put it, quarterlifers were excited and ready for this change at home because so much of their lives, and the rest of the world, were put on hold. Not to mention, having a dog provides opportunities to socialize, whether it’s walking with a friend or flirting with someone at the dog park.

Adoptions in June were occurring at twice their usual rate, and even the way adoption has occurred has changed throughout the pandemic. The Washington Post stated that Animal Care Centers of NYC had an increase in their foster-to-adoption rate. While this rate is normally at 10 percent, it more than doubled to reach 25 percent. This means that individuals who initially took on a pet as a foster arrangement ended up offering them a permanent home.

How are cars changing how quarterlifers experience the pandemic?

Pets aren’t the only addition in Millennials’ lives. The Atlantic has noted that car sales have also changed dramatically for both Gen Z and Millennials over the past few months.

“Back in the early summer, there was this interesting phenomenon where car sales, on the whole, were down, but car sales among 18-to-35-year-olds were up. Relatively young adults like you and me, who live in cities where we haven’t needed cars or where a car has just seemed like more of an expense than it’s worth, are suddenly deciding to get cars.”

Why is this? Well, it’s another way quarterlifers are adapting to the pandemic. Cars are now being seen as the ultimate form of PPE. There may not be a lot to do right where you are in a crowded city, but there are plenty of areas nearby that are safe to social distance in. The problem? Previously, the only way to get there was on public transportation. Having a safe and convenient way to travel became a necessity, and quarterlifers wasted no time in getting a car when that became clear.

Final thoughts

Have you felt an urge to get a car or a dog over the past few months? Even if you haven’t, you may have noticed your friends or family members making the leap and using either or both to fill the void that the pandemic is creating.

At the Quarterlife Center, our goal is to help you navigate some of the tough challenges that come with this stage in life. COVID-19 certainly hasn’t made it any easier. Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer.

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