COVID-19 is causing a surge of people abandoning their pets for the fear that their pets could have the virus and spread it to them.
*There is absolutely no reason to abandon your pets due to this virus*.
Please do not panic, jump to conclusions, and dump your pets! This is highly unnecessary.
The current spread of COVID-19 is a result of human to human transmission. To date, there is no evidence that animals play an epidemiologically relevant role in spreading the human disease. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures directed at animals, particularly companion animals, which may compromise their welfare
World Organisation for Animal Health
The current spread of COVID-19 is a result of human to human transmission. Isolate yourself from people (if possible), not your pets!
Hundreds of pets have been abandoned since the start of lockdown in the United Kingdom. Abandonment was exacerbated after false claims suggesting that pets could pass the virus on to their humans.
The House Rabbit Society Singapore also saw a sharp increase of cases since COVID – three times their average number of cases per month.
In Canada, rescuers have seen a massive influx of abandoned rabbits. Rabbit Rescue Inc. out of Ontario believes the spike in abandoned rabbits is due to the pandemic; as city run shelters are closed to the public leaving owners no option but to dump their unwanted pet in the wild.
It is recommended that if you become sick, you should limit contact with your pets. Always, practice good hygiene – WASH YOUR HANDS, and cough and sneeze into your elbow. If you see any changes in your pets health, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible!
This is a good time to prepare yourself and your family (including your furry family members) for any emergency, natural or man-made. Stock-up on emergency supplies including non-perishable food items (pet food too), clean water, and first aid supplies. Preparedness is key to staying safe.
For resources, including a list of rabbit rescues around the globe, visit our resources page.
Article written by:
Sasha is an animal welfare advocate and bunny-momma of four! She has a Bachelors of Science in Applied Biology, Honours, from the University of British Columbia. She specialized in animal biology, welfare, and conservation. When she is not doing research or working on her computer, she can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest looking for birds!
