Dogs are not as susceptible to COVID-19 as humans or even other domestic animals. (SPCA/Facebook)

By Rob Mahon

COVID-Free Pets

COVID in pets? Not so fast, says SPCA manager

Jun 28, 2022 | 5:00 PM

You may have seen a study recently that showed an increase of COVID-19 in animals. While that’s enough to make any pet owner worried, one local organization is saying there’s no need to panic.

You’re unlikely to find any COVID-19 in the animals at the Prince Albert SPCA. Their cleaning protocols have been so strict from the opening of the pandemic that they’ve not had any cases of the virus in any of the animals at the shelter.

“The reality of it is, the concerns of giving COVID to animals is almost our least concern,” said Ashlee Bober, shelter manager with the Prince Albert SPCA. “It’s not something we’ve had any reliable information to go off of.”

According to Dr. Rebecca Archer, a clinical instructor of small animal medicine at the University of Calgary, the chances of a pet getting COVID-19 appear to be very low. Dogs in particular are not easily infected by the virus.

In speaking with the veterinarians they work with closely, the SPCA has found a lot of studies offer contradictory conclusions on the subject. But the protocols for taking in animals at the SPCA are so stringent that COVID isn’t very likely to reach their animals anyway.

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“Our cleaning protocols have not changed at all,” said Bober. “For the animals here, we have to keep it extremely sanitary and clean anyway. There is a high risk of animals coming in with diseases and illnesses and passing them between each other as well as there are illnesses that could pass from animals to people. You’ve got to think of us as a bit like a hospital here.”

When asked if there had been any examples of COVID-19 in animals at their shelter, Bober said she did not know of any in the shelter or in the local area. With the protocols they already had in place, their shelter was perhaps one of the most prepared places for the start of the pandemic.

“We do everything we can to minimize the risk here,” Bober said. “Between people to animals, people to people, however we can. We keep strict protocols for cleaning and sanitation as there are high risks here regardless.”

“I don’t think there is enough study to prove that it is really as big of an issue as some studies are saying,” said Bober. “That’s just my personal opinion of it, but that’s not something that’s a huge worry of mine.”

Bober added she encouraged people to do some of their own research when studies come out revealing data on COVID-19 in animals.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP