Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many people have had doubts about animals being carriers of the virus.?
To clarify this misplaced notion, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed in a statement that canine companions and their feline counterparts cannot contract the COVID-19.??
And yet, there are people who refuse to pay heed to thisadvisory and are going ahead with a wrongly placed notion about pets spreadingthe disease. According to an outlook report, this problem is particularlypronounced in Mumbai after the civic body put up various posters quoting WHO tomaintain distance from animals.
The report states that 17 civic bodies in Mumbai started makingannouncements and putting up hoarding and pamphlets,that warned people to stayaway from animals. This immediately triggered worry among some residents whotook the drastic step of abandoning their pets out in the open.
Speaking to Outlook,Anand Siva, animal activist and member of the Animal Welfare Board said, ¡°Thiswas ridiculous, wrong and very irresponsible of WHO especially since just a fewdays prior to this they had categorically put out a message that there was noreason to believe pets could be carriers.¡±
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope?also expressedconcern over the worrying? trend ofpeople abandoning their animals saying, ¡°In Mumbai we already have a count ofmore than 100 pets abandoned due to the fear of getting infected by them.Everyone is trying to do whatever one can in the limited capacity but with allthe shelters already flooded with cases.¡±
The Outlook saidthat? they have reached out to WHOregarding the hoardings warning against pets?and are yet to get aresponse.
Apart from people abandoning their pets, the lockdown hasposed a separate challenge to people who run pet stores.
According to The Print, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)Tuesday urged state governments to ensure that animals kept in pet stores donot suffer as owners shut shops.
The letter by AWBI Chairman O.P. Chaudhary reads: ¡°It has(been) brought to the notice of the board that a large number of pet shopsor¡breeding facilities where animals and birds are kept for sale are now shutdown due to lockdown/curfew.¡±
¡°All such pet shops are to be evacuated by the State AnimalWelfare Boards through SPCAs (Society for Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals)¡Where there are no SPCAs available, the district administration shallensure to check and evacuate all animals¡,¡± the letter reads.