Every day, Katie Delp surrounds herself with puppies. Sheâs created her dream job training dogs at Pandemic Puppy School, a wellness program she launched last year.
As an avid dog foster parent, Delp noticed many puppies born during the COVID-19 pandemic are more afraid of new people, loud noises and other dogs â and experience intensified separation anxiety when left at home alone.
âA lot of people are seeking comfort from these animals,â Delp explained, calling the influx sheâs noticed a âdog boom.â
In 2020, residents registered 1,199 dogs and, according to a city report regarding dog recreation in South Burlington, dog registration in the city has increased 29 percent between 2011 and 2019.