Last Updated on October 9, 2022 by Pets Feed
In recent days, the actions taken by governments around the world to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have aroused irrational fear among many. This reaction leads many people to the incomprehensible decision to abandon their dogs or cats.
Remember: dogs and cats do not transmit the disease
When the coronavirus health crisis started in China last December, many Chinese citizens abandoned their dogs and cats on the streets. In recent days, the coronavirus problem has become more serious in Italy and Spain: the closure of schools and universities, and several other measures to control the spread of the disease. And in recent days, animal associations have detected an increase in the abandonment of dogs and cats in these countries, Italy, Spain and France. But why ?
Fear of the coronavirus: animal abandonment is increasing all over the world
At the time in China, which was unknown (we now know much more than at the time, there are already prototypes of vaccines against coronaviruses), the situation was so desperate at first that even videos were published on how people threw their dogs and cats out the windows. And all this out of pure fear, an irrational fear.
This irrational fear spread among a large part of the population almost at the same time as the virus. There are confirmed cases in much of Asia, Australia, North America and Europe. Several countries are therefore completely isolated until further notice, more than 2,000 cases of animal abandonment have already been recorded in Spain for example. In France we expect the worst, according to the SPA, who estimate that if 10% of owners abandon their animals, we will then speak of 300,000 and 400,000 animals on the street.
Neither dogs nor cats are Covid-19 transmitters
Many Chinese people took this unfortunate decision from their pets because they said that the origin of this new strain of coronavirus came from animals, but it was unknown. It was said that this was due to the consumption of reptile meat and they prohibited its sale. Then they thought it was from wild animals and along the way, dogs and cats fell. Currently, the most common theory is that it comes from the consumption of bat meat, although it is not confirmed either.
In fact, this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that: “There is no evidence that pets such as cats or dogs could be infected with the virus and could pass it on to humans. “
Likewise, the WHO recommends that “it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with animals”. These types of recommendations are especially important now that governments are recommending staying home for the next few days so that together we can bring the virus down.
What if I have to take my dog to the vet?
Something may happen to your dog or cat that needs to be taken to the veterinarian. Clinics generally follow, without the need for a health crisis, a rigorous and high-level cleaning and disinfection protocol (bactericide / fungicide and viricides). And also, they received the necessary instructions to follow.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. With these measures, the goal is to stop the spread of this virus among everyone so that we can soon return to normal. Social hysteria does not help in these situations, which can have horrible consequences for your dog or cat. If you are quarantined, leave it with someone you trust, but don’t abandon it. There is always another alternative.
