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I am reading an article about dognapping during the pandemic. The article is from 1843 magazine. I don't know whether I read the phrases in bold right.

There’s anecdotal evidence that the mutt market is now softening. Several pet-store owners told me that almost everyone who thought about getting a dog during lockdown has done it. And as offices reopen, “some people are rethinking those pandemic puppies.”

I am not sure whether the phrase has done it means they finally got their own dogs?

Does the phrase rethinking those pandemic puppies mean some people are thinking about not keeping their dogs any more because they may not have as much time as they did when they worked from home.

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  • Yes "it" refers to "getting a dog". "rethinking those pandemic puppies" means that they are now having doubts about their decision to get a dog during the pandemic. It doesn't say why, but I suppose your guess is feasible. Perhaps they're just too tired to walk the dog after they get home after a busy day. Who knows!
    – Billy Kerr
    Commented Jun 11, 2023 at 20:26

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Literally it says "everybody who though about getting a puppy has thought (or finished thinking) about getting a puppy"... that's nonsense, or a pointless tautology. So let's make the reasonable assumption that the writer wants to make sense.

"Has done it" must refer to "getting a dog". But surely not everybody who thought about getting a dog has actually got one! That is also ridiculous.

There's only one possible reading "almost everyone who thought about getting a dog during lockdown has either got a dog, or decided not to get a dog."

I'm reading between the lines here. There are no grammar clues to help me reach this conclusion, but this is the only possible reading that makes sense. And I assume the writer wants to make sense.

Similarly "rethinking those pandemic puppies" must mean "thinking again if getting a puppy was a good idea". As they are unable to care for the dog while at work.

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  • I was thinking about buying a VW, and then I did it. What is the natural interpretation of that?
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Jun 11, 2023 at 20:40
  • I think you bought the VW.
    – James K
    Commented Jun 11, 2023 at 20:48
  • "almost everyone who thought about getting a dog during lockdown has done it" and a few did not.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Jun 11, 2023 at 21:13

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