Pets

I think we don't know enough about covid and the virus been carried on dogs coats.. My daughter s a dog groomer and as each dog is brought she uses her own leads which are then put in the sterilizer after each dog.. Dog immediately put in bath and no contact with floor until dry. One dog in so no contact with others.. Then everything sterilized before anyone else arrives.. This makes her not see as many dogs as she would but better safe than sorry as I said we don't know enough.. Perhaps this person was just been cautious for her dog and yours.

From www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals:

There is no evidence that:
coronavirus is circulating in pets or other animals in the UK
pets, other domestic animals or livestock can transmit the disease to humans

In line with general advice on coronavirus, you should wash your hands before and after being around or handling animals or their food.

There is no evidence that you need to wash your pets to control the spread of coronavirus. Never use household or commercial cleaning products, disinfectants or antibacterial wipes on pets.

Notice especially that last bit : cats (at least) can be ill after coming into contact with antibacterial, alcohol based products.

Humptydumpty.. I'm not disagreeing with what's written just as it's a responsibility when dealing with others loved ones.. But I still don't think we know enough. Just recently a baby as died with covid they said send your children to school to mix with 15 others it's still trial and Era.. As they thought that children was less likely to get it it is only what the stadistics are saying.. I don't want to get into a argument about this as everyone will have there own opinions about this. And rightly so.

It is up to you who you invite to your home.

Had I be the dog owner in question, I would have sent my dog indoors too - after all a visitor is entitled to feel comfortable when visiting me.

I put the cat out when my next door neighbour comes in, as she is terrified of cats.

If anyone suggested I put my dog away whilst he or she were visiting they would be shown the door. It’s my house and my dogs - if they choose to visit me in my garden then they do not make the rules.

How rude!!

Normally I would agree that your friend should be able to have her dog around when there are guests. However we are living in a period of heightened stress and concerns about infection so maybe not such an unreasonable request. Of course if the lady in question was so worried perhaps she should have stayed away.

It's been reported that the RSPCA have been taking in even more animals during the Covid-19 crisis, due to people dumping the in case the pet has got the virus. MORONS. Animals might be able to catch the virus from humans, not the other way around.

The RSPCA say:
"In most cases we don't know why pets are abandoned but it's really important to remind people that there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 can be passed from pets to people."

I have always had dogs but I would never, even in normal times, assume that a guest shares my love for them. They may have had a bad experience in childhood for instance. So I would always be mindful and willing to shut the dog away during the visit. Recently, we discussed with my in laws (both in their eighties) the possibility of them coming over for a socially distant visit in the garden. We told them we would be keeping our dog inside and asked them not to bring theirs. It is not about dogs actually transmitting Covid 19 but we are uncertain, at the moment, how long it stays on a surface so, if one individual strokes a dog, then someone from a different household does, there seems to me a possibility that it could get passed. We don't know for certain, of course, but everyone has to do what they feel comfortable with and not be pressured by others.

Basic hygiene if you’ve been around an animal is all that’s needed. Our vet said they are just like hairy door knobs. May carry the virus on the surface of their fur. But wouldn’t you have washed your hands after Touching a dog before covid19? I wouldn’t put my dog out of the area unless someone had a fear of dogs.

I would have put the friend away.

To be honest I don’t think I would like the humans touching my dog. But I am currently very sensitive as mine had to have his final visit to vet last week and W e weren’t allowed to stay with him at the end. Feel like I let him down.

But if you’re not going to touch the people in the group you wouldn’t want to stroke a dog that everyone else was stroking. And then the dog would go in it’s owners house having been touched by everyone. No one except me and DH will be touching my dog for the foreseeable future !

MayBee70 your comment puts it very succinctly.
It’s been hard to discourage my DH from touching the dogs we meet when walking across the fields. They are on extending leashes so the adults are well away, but he loves dogs and they love him.

I'd rather have s dog visit than most people and certainly wouldn't put my dog or cat away (they'd disappear themselves after initial greeting) & my friends kniw that. I have had two visit (separately) for a chat in the garden othet than that just stuck at home with stbxh

The only way a dog can transfer the virus is if an infected person touches the dogs fur. Or a cat.
So owners who have the virus need to be extra vigilant and tell dog walker or groomer etc
The virus can only live on the animals fur for a couple of hours
My vet told me this information

I totally agree with Ph1lomena. It is polite to make guests feel as welcome, at ease and safe as possible when they enter one's home. If that means keeping a pet away from them during their visit, so be it. Otherwise it means your friends are limited to those who like your particular pet! That seems incredibly narrow-minded to me.
I would put it in the same category as providing food acceptable to any guest's dietary requirements e.g. vegetarian, non-dairy etc.
Some replies here show people to be very intolerant of other's needs and indeed downright rude. Politeness and consideration are surely the way forward...?

GrandmaMia1 -

A little girl ran up to my dog the other day wanting to stroke her and I just backed away and shouted ‘no’. The child’s father didn’t seem to realise that I didn’t want a possibly asymptomatic child near to me and stroking my dog. People seem to be forgetting the reason behind social distancing.

moorlikeit

I totally agree with Ph1lomena. It is polite to make guests feel as welcome, at ease and safe as possible when they enter one's home. If that means keeping a pet away from them during their visit, so be it. Otherwise it means your friends are limited to those who like your particular pet! That seems incredibly narrow-minded to me.
I would put it in the same category as providing food acceptable to any guest's dietary requirements e.g. vegetarian, non-dairy etc.
Some replies here show people to be very intolerant of other's needs and indeed downright rude. Politeness and consideration are surely the way forward...?

If someone is scared of dogs or allergic to them or anything like that then I would put the dog away. But on some ridiculous worry they may catch Covid from them???? Just don't come if you're that worried!

I am as polite and considerate as the next person, just not to those who dictate what I do in my own home.

So sorry GrandmaMia1 don't feel guilty about leaving your dog, the situation was out of your control

"Remember that between hello and goodbye there was love, so much love "

Couldn't agree more Shelmiss.

GrandmaMia1, sincere condolences and so sorry that you couldn't be with your dog.

GrandmaMial So sorry you have lost your furry companion
Sodapop That's a lovely sentiment and so true.

I agree with Shelmiss Our dog is part of our family, I wouldn't dream of shutting him away when someone visits. If they don't like dogs then don't visit us! He would probably sense their dislike anyway and avoid them. As far as Covid is concerned the risk of catching it from a pet is probably less than catching it from another person. I'm in a high risk group but it won't stop me petting my dog, his happiness is important to me, the risk is minimal.

The Zoonotic nature of this disease is such that I would want to be careful with both my friends and my animals in case one might infect the other. We know people can be a-symptomatic carriers even if the jury is out regarding animals.

Transmission from humans to dogs, domestic cats, tigers, and lions has already occurred. There are research papers on this. There are also research papers identifying pigs, ferrets, and primates as good candidates for susceptibility.

We know so little about this as yet. What we do know is that domesticated animals can catch it. I wouldn’t want mine to be potentially infected by my friends.