Back-To-School Week: Even Family Pets Have Separation Anxiety, Experts Say

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — With kids heading back to school, families are in a state of flux, adapting to hectic schedules and leaving the lazy, hazy days of summer behind for the hustle and bustle of autumn activities.

While parents and children often experience a sea of mixed emotions in September — pets are impacted, as well, according to Southampton Town officials.

A little preparation can make transitional times a lot less stressful for everyone, officials added.

Southampton Town Animal Control, in conjunction with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, sent out a reminder to residents regarding tips that can ease the transition and schedule change for pets.

Tips include:

• Keep the greetings and goodbyes calm. Pets can feed off of, and react to, the energy of the goodbyes and greetings from their humans. Staying calm and keeping these interactions somewhat predictable can help your pet learn that it is just part of the daily routine.

• Keep them occupied while you are away. Giving your animals some toys, puzzle feeders, or providing other forms of enrichment for them, can keep them occupied while you are away. A little play time, or walk time, before departure can also help some animals cope more easily.

• Make sure to dedicate quality time. A change in schedules and the distractions that come with the new school year should not lead to neglecting your four-legged family members. Make sure to dedicate some quality time to play with, and/or care for them, so that they still feel the love and connection.

• Stick to a routine. Do your best to try and keep to some sort of routine or schedule. Try to adhere to that schedule (feeding, walks, bathroom time) even on weekends or holidays, too, so that your pet can maintain some sense of normalcy and consistency.

• Be mindful of signs of stress or separation anxiety. Look out for things such as excessive licking or vocalizing, changes in appetite, hiding, accidents in the house, or destructive behaviors. If you encounter these types of behaviors, be sure to speak to your vet.

Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, the Southampton town board liaison to Animal Control, reflected: "Our pets are part of our family. It is important for us to consider their wellbeing and stressors on them, the same way we would other family members."

Curtis Johnson, director of training and behavior at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, encouraged residents to ease into new schedules with pets whenever possible.

"Give them some practice being alone for short periods, and make sure they’re getting a good walk or some playtime before everyone heads out for the day so that they’re tired and ready to settle down," he said.

That sentiment was echoed by Jill Mulvey, the cat care manager at the Foundation, who reminded people that cats are creatures of habit.

"If the house is going to be quiet during the day, make sure they have places to perch, scratch and play while you’re gone," she said. "And spend some extra one-on-one time with them in the morning and evenings."

Councilman Michael Iasilli reminded residents: "While back to school is here, we also anticipate Animal Welfare Week in early October. It's important that families do what they can to ensure their pets have adequate resources while kids and parents are away more frequently. I want to thank our public safety team and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation for helping us raise awareness of this important issue."