Coronavirus Panic: Mumbai Residents Abandon Pets After WHO's Hoardings Crop Up In The City

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 this advisory and are going ahead with a wrongly placed notion about pets spreading the disease. According to an outlook report, this problem is particularly pronounced in Mumbai after the civic body put up various posters quoting WHO to maintain distance from animals.

The report states that 17 civic bodies in Mumbai started making announcements and putting up hoarding and pamphlets,that warned people to stay away from animals. This immediately triggered worry among some residents who took 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, ¡°This was ridiculous, wrong and very irresponsible of WHO especially since just a few days prior to this they had categorically put out a message that there was no reason to believe pets could be carriers.¡±

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope also expressed concern over the worrying trend of people abandoning their animals saying, ¡°In Mumbai we already have a count of more 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 all the shelters already flooded with cases.¡±

The Outlook said that they have reached out to WHO regarding the hoardings warning against pets and are yet to get a response.

Apart from people abandoning their pets, the lockdown has posed 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 do not suffer as owners shut shops.

Source/ctinsider.com

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 shops or¡­breeding facilities where animals and birds are kept for sale are now shut down due to lockdown/curfew.¡±

¡°All such pet shops are to be evacuated by the State Animal Welfare Boards through SPCAs (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)¡­Where there are no SPCAs available, the district administration shall ensure to check and evacuate all animals¡­,¡± the letter reads.