How are our four-legged friends affected and how can we best look after them during the current pandemic? William Murray looks at what the experts are saying in this article for commonspace.eu.
A 2016 study by the 'Growth from Knowledge' network showed that over half of the world's population own a pet, with this as high as 80% in certain countries [1]. With so many of us with animals in our care, it is important to know how best to look after them in order to keep us all safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There are a number of questions that pet owners are likely to have and it is often difficult to know what best to do when there is so much conflicting information and fake news. In some areas, there have been reports of owners abandoning their pets due to a fear that they can spread the virus to human beings [2]. However, although we will never condone the abandonment of animals, are such fears founded in anything?
Although it is too early to know conclusively where the virus came from, many in the scientific community have suggested that it likely originated in bats before moving onto human beings, possibly through an intermediary [3]. Since then, The World Organisation for Animal Health has reported several cases of the virus found in dogs and cats in close contact with COVID-19-infected human beings [4], and one tiger in a New York City zoo [5]. So, with evidence that animals are able to catch the virus, how careful do we need to be about them spreading it?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that although there is evidence of certain strains of coronavirus spreading to animals, there is yet to be any firm current evidence of the virus spreading from domesticated animals to human beings. "The first infections were thought to be linked to a live animal market, but the virus is now primarily spreading from person to person," it has stated. Despite this, the CDC recommends that dog and cat owners take the following precautions:
- Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household;
- Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people;
- Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people and animals;
- And avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.
The CDC has also advised pet owners showing virus symptoms to:
- If possible, find someone else to look after their animal for the duration of their recovery;
- Or if necessary, wear a cloth face covering and wash hands before and after interaction with them.
Although there is currently no solid evidence of animal-to-human transfer, the CDC recommends constantly practicing good hygiene with our pets, as they are always capable of carrying germs that can make people sick [6].
For many currently in isolation, pets are playing an invaluable role in keeping loneliness at bay [7]. We all must do our bit to return the favour and ensure that we act responsibly to keep both ourselves and our animals safe during this uncertain time.
Source: William Murray, Project Officer and Coordinator at LINKS Europe, for commonspace.eu
Featured References:
[1] Growth from Knowledge - 'Pet Ownership Global Study': https://www.gfk.com/fileadmin/user_upload/country_one_pager/NL/documents/Global-GfK-survey_Pet-Ownership_2016.pdf
[2] BBC News - 'Pets in Middle East abandoned over coronavirus fears': https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-52234128/pets-in-middle-east-abandoned-over-coronavirus-fears
[3] The Guardian - 'How did coronavirus start and where did it come from? Was it really Wuhan's animal market?': https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/how-did-the-coronavirus-start-where-did-it-come-from-how-did-it-spread-humans-was-it-really-bats-pangolins-wuhan-animal-market
[4] World Organisation for Animal Health - 'Questions and Answers on the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)': https://www.oie.int/en/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/
[5] The Guardian - 'Coronavirus: Bronx zoo tiger tests positive for Covid-19': https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/bronx-zoo-tiger-tests-positive-for-coronavirus
[6] CDC - 'If You Have Animals': https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html
[7] Tufts NOW - 'How Animals Help Us During the COVID-19 Pandemic': https://now.tufts.edu/articles/how-animals-help-us-during-covid-19-pandemic
