Finding something to do

Owner is ‘winding down’ business, Dogs were not abandoned

SINGAPORE: The dogs at breeding facility The Animal Lodge have not been abandoned, said the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) on Thursday (Apr 2), after messages circulating on WhatsApp claimed that 120 dogs were found at an abandoned dog farm.

“We received feedback that dogs in a dog breeding facility were allegedly abandoned and commenced investigations immediately,” said group director of AVS Jessica Kwok in response to CNA’s queries.

The dogs and the facility in question have not been abandoned, she added.

“The owner is in the process of winding down the business and has been working with a veterinary clinic to care for and rehome the dogs,” said Ms Kwok.

“AVS will continue to work with the owner to ensure that the welfare of the dogs is taken care of.”

According to a message circulating on WhatsApp on Wednesday and Thursday, a vet had found an abandoned dog farm in Yio Chu Kang with 120 puppies and adult dogs.

“The 120 dogs are going to the vet friend now first but he can’t house them all,” the message read. It also called for people to adopt or foster the dogs.

Those who reached out to the person who was listed as a point of contact in the circulated message later received an update to thank them for the response, inviting them to follow Stars Veterinary Clinic’s official Facebook page for more information on the dogs.

When CNA visited the clinic on Thursday afternoon, staff declined to comment on the matter and directed queries to the clinic’s management.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, Stars Veterinary Clinic said it would be posting pictures of the dogs that are up for fostering and adoption on its page.

“However the fostering/adoption process will only be applicable when the dogs are ready. Also, replies will not be immediate so please be patient,” the post read, adding that phone calls, messages or drop in visits at the clinic will not be entertained.

In her statement, AVS’ Ms Kwok urged the public to refrain from speculation while investigations are ongoing. She said members of the public who have information on the case can alert AVS.

“As with all investigations, all forms of evidence are critical to the process and photographic and/or video-graphic evidence provided by the public will help,” she added.

For Veterans loneliness can be deadly.

Legislation already exists to get our service members the help they need through animal companions. We must make sure it passes and soon.

While implementing social distancing and self-isolation are exactly the right steps if the United States is to slow the quickly increasing spread of COVID-19, we need to worry about the impact these new norms will have on the most vulnerable members of society, particularly military veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical health conditions.

These courageous and selfless men and women bear the scars of war — visible and invisible — long after the fighting on the battlefield ends. In fact, even after they return home, their fight continues as they struggle to fully reintegrate into their family, professional and community lives. Far too many feel marginalized and forgotten, which exacerbates their sense of loneliness and isolation.

A recent study by the Department of Veterans Affairs highlights the problem, finding that loneliness among former service members is a considerable issue, because it is directly tied to the highest levels of depression and suicidal thoughts. “Loneliness is also associated with the lowest levels of patient efforts to manage their health and to seek help,” reports the VA.

The risk for veterans is incredibly high

The suicide rate among veterans is already 1.5 times the national average.  In any given 24-hour period, nearly 20 take their own lives. Nearly 79,000 veterans died by suicide between 2005 and 2017. By comparison, 7,000 troops were killed in combat in the two decades of the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. And this is despite years of well-intentioned efforts and billions of dollars spent trying to stem the veteran suicide epidemic.

Sadly, while access to high-quality mental health services is recognized as central to suicide prevention, the majority of veterans who do take their own lives — about 70% — do not avail themselves of services afforded to them at VA facilities. It is no wonder that in a recent interview with the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said, “We will never solve the problem at the 30,000-foot level. … It’s got to be fixed from the ground up.”

One very promising solution is providing service dogs to veterans with mental health issues. Research from Purdue University found that veterans with PTSD do better both psychologically and physiologically if they have a trained service dog.

These canines are more than just great companions. They sense and can help ease anxiety. They take orders well, which can be very comfortable for a former service member who is accustomed to giving orders. They are social animals who help evoke feelings of love. And because they — like humans — need exercise, they offer a good reason for the veteran to get out of the house, spend time outdoors and meet new people, thereby easing the veteran’s sense of loneliness and isolation.

Many organizations are already contributing to this effort

There is an array of nonprofit organizations working to pair dogs with veterans in need, including Pups 4 Patriots, Dogs For Our Brave and K9s For Warriors. Each of these organizations takes dogs primarily from shelters, provides them with a year of training with specially certified individuals and then gives them free of charge to the veterans. Given that there are more than 3 million dogs in shelters in the United States, and that each year nearly one-fifth are euthanized, these organizations are saving lives on both ends of the leash.

But these charitable entities can only do so much, because it costs between $20,000 and $30,000 to train just one service dog. Governmental intervention is necessary.

Earlier this year, the House approved the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members for Veterans Therapy Act. The bill initiates a pilot program in which federal grants would be given to nonprofits that provide service dogs to veterans with mental health issues and then for the VA to assess whether the program is effective.

Coronavirus crisis: Mr. President, Governors, don’t pick a date. Look at the data.

So far, there is no vote scheduled in the Senate on the measure. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, when veterans with PTSD and other conditions are particularly at risk because of social distancing and self-isolation, it is incumbent upon the Senate to take up and pass the legislation. These veterans fought and sacrificed so much for our freedom. Now it’s time to give them some freedom from their ongoing scars of war. That is exactly what a service dog would do.

Homewood resident paired with life-changing service dog

For most of her life, 15-year-old Homewood resident Rachel Smolin has been under constant watch. She has epilepsy, so being alone for even five minutes could mean that a seizure goes unnoticed for too long.

But with the help of Trixie, a golden retriever service dog, Rachel could eventually live a safe, independent life.

Rachel had her first seizure when she was 2.5 years old. Her mother, Desiree Smolin, said she tried to be everywhere at once so she could always watch Rachel. But an incident in 2015 made her realize that was impossible.

They had just walked into their house, and Rachel went to the bathroom. The rest of the family got to talking and lost track of time. Before they knew it, 30 minutes had passed, and Rachel still hadn’t come back from the bathroom.

“We ran back there, and she was in a seizure,” Desiree said. “We had no idea whether she’d been in it for half an hour or for 30 seconds.”

They asked Rachel’s doctor for his opinion on a service dog for Rachel.

“He was like, ‘We tend to reserve those for kids who have more severe cases, so I just don’t think she needs one,’” Desiree said.

But after two more years of Rachel’s seizures getting progressively worse, the doctor decided to give Rachel a prescription for a service dog.

The Smolins looked at organizations all over the country, but they ran into some issues. Some service dog organizations won’t work with children. Others have about a five-year waiting list.

Then they found Roverchase, which is located in Pelham, a short drive from their house in Homewood.

“It ended up being good timing for us,” said Abigail Witthauer, who owns Roverchase. “We were just right at the point where we had these new dogs coming up. And I have seizures myself, so I felt pretty comfortable with what we could do and what our dogs would be able to do.”

Now if Rachel goes into a seizure, Trixie will run to Rachel’s parents to alert them. Then, she’ll run back to Rachel and make sure Rachel lies on her side while seizing.

“Sometimes she can call out, but sometimes she can’t,” Desiree said. “So having Trixie is very important for us because otherwise we can’t leave her in a room alone for five minutes or more.”

Trixie started her training at 4 days old through Roverchase’s Service Dog Training Program. At eight weeks, Trixie moved in with the Smolins and frequently returned to the Roverchase facility in Pelham to continue her training. Trixie and the rest of the service dogs in her litter celebrated the end of their 18-month training at a graduation event in December 2019.

Trixie is now almost 2 years old, and even though she works hard, she can play hard, too. Rachel laughed and said Trixie can be a troublemaker.

“She’ll grab a towel, walk up to you, wait till you notice she has it, and then stare at you,” Rachel said. “The moment you move a muscle, then she runs out of the room.”

As soon as someone puts the service dog vest on Trixie, though, she knows it’s time to work.

“She doesn’t bother you or anything,” Rachel said. “She just walks beside you quietly, and if you let her go to lunch or something, she lays under the table quietly. She knows she’s working now and she can’t goof off.”

Desiree agreed.

“Even in the house, if you put the vest on her and put on the leash, she goes from being a goofball teenager to being serious,” she said.

Since getting Trixie, Rachel has gained a sense of reassurance, she said. And she’s been told that Trixie appears worried when Rachel has a seizure.

“The time before the last time I had a seizure … they called an ambulance, and Trixie seemed concerned and upset about why these people she didn’t know were taking me away,” she said.

Trixie has also helped with Rachel’s emotional health. Rachel had brain surgery in January, and before that, she had to go through an 18-month pre-surgery testing process. Desiree said this was brutal for Rachel.

“She’s gone through a lot,” Desiree said. “Lots of time in hospitals. Lots of time doing tests. Lots of loss of privacy. … Having Trixie has been helpful emotionally, just getting through it all.”

Rachel remembered a time when she was upset, and Trixie followed her into the kitchen.

“Originally, I think she just wanted to go outside, but she noticed I was upset, and she sat down,” Rachel said. “And I just hugged her and sang for a while, and I calmed down.”

Before Rachel’s brain surgery, she was having intense seizures one week apart. Since then, they have become less frequent, but Rachel said it’s too early to tell if this pattern will continue.

As the frequency of seizures decreases, though, Trixie will need frequent at-home training from the Smolins.

“If you play the piano and you don’t play it for six months, you’re going to be rusty when you pick it back up, even though you still know everything,” Witthauer said. “So for Trixie in particular, practicing seizure alert is really important. You’d better practice it, because she’s not rehearsing it as much in real-life scenarios.”

Rachel will fall and simulate a seizure while at home to keep Trixie’s training up to date. Roverchase will also be actively involved with Trixie’s life through her retirement.

There’s one thing in particular that Rachel wants the public to understand about service dogs: If you wouldn’t do it to a wheelchair, you shouldn’t do it to a service dog.

“You wouldn’t go up to someone’s wheelchair and be like, ‘Can I touch it?’” Rachel said.

Things like making kissing noises, cooing or even staring and smiling at the dog are inappropriate, Witthauer said.

“If you think about what Trixie needs to do for Rachel, a moment of distraction can be life-altering,” she said.

Not only can these things be a distraction to Trixie, but Desiree also said she and Rachel just want to go about their business.

“This is Rachel’s life, every single day” she said. “You don’t want to think about the fact that you have your service dog with you — you just want to live your life and do the things that other people do.”

Witthauer said she has what she calls the gallon of milk example: Sometimes, she just wants to run into the grocery store, get a gallon of milk, and go home.

“This is the expectation for the vast majority of humans in America,” she said. “But the expectation for service dog handlers is that I should stop and have a conversation with every person that asks me a question about my dog.”

Witthauer is the only certified canine behavior consultant in Alabama and one of the most certified dog trainers in the Southeast, according to a Roverchase press release. Even though top service dog organizations have an average waiting list of five years, she said it’s important to be patient and get the right dog.

“My least favorite client interactions are when they’re in here for an interview and they’ve already purchased a dog from a less-reputable source,” she said. “It breaks my heart to see people who are here with a 6-month-old puppy that they’ve spent $15,000 on — this happened just a couple months ago — and the dog didn’t even know how to sit on cue. I couldn’t make her into a service dog. She wasn’t the right candidate.”

Even in the best programs, Witthauer said only about half of the dogs will make good service dog candidates. She said those looking for a service dog should contact a reputable service dog organization before thinking about what kind of dog they want to select.

Working from home? Tips for dog owners

As the coronavirus quarantine continues, the nation’s pet owners are spending an unprecedented number of hours working from home with their dogs. And while man’s best friend can be a source of great comfort during these difficult times, dogs can also impede the work process. Local dog-centric businesses have some advice for dog owners who find themselves struggling to work with an emotionally needy canine friend.

Use puzzles to occupy dogs during conference calls

Nothing interrupts a conference call like a dog wanting attention. According to Denise Einkauf, owner of Waggin’ Tails Daycare and Boarding, dogs are particularly prone to interrupting conference calls or videos because they’re drawn to their owner’s voices. “When you sit there working, your dog is more likely to sit quietly,” she explained. “But as soon as your dog hears you talking, they’re going to want your attention, and they’re more likely to interrupt your work.

She noted that there are many commercially available puzzles, but pet owners can also easily make their own pup-pleasing puzzles with common household items.

Maximize break time with a walk

“If a dog has had exercise, it will be a lot calmer and more likely to give you space while you work,” Einkauf added.

Use this opportunity for training

The COVID-19 quarantine is the perfect time to practice training, according to Morillo. The training doesn’t have to be lengthy. “Fifteen minutes of training is equal to an hour of exercise,” Morillo said. “So even a small amount of training goes a long way.”

The training doesn’t need to be complicated or even overly practical. “Teaching a dog a trick like ‘shake’ or ‘roll over’ is just as valuable as an important command,” Morillo said.

Einkauf noted that pet owners don’t need special experience to teach their dogs new tricks. “There are a lot of great YouTube channels out there that can teach owners how to train their dogs,” she said.

Get cooking

A fun activity for dog owners, Morillo suggested, is baking up new dog treats in the kitchen. According to Morillo, many dog treat recipes call for simple ingredients that are pantry staples. “If you look online, you’ll find a lot of great dog treats made with human food ingredients, and if you’re spending more time at home, you’ll likely have more time to cook or bake,” he said. “These recipes are really nutritious for dogs, and it’s really fun watching them enjoy something you made.”

Doggie Daycare is still an essential service

For some employees, working from home isn’t an option. Medical professionals, first responders and grocery store employees are working longer hours than ever before, and their furry friends are marooned at home more than usual.

Fortunately, Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order closing all non-essential businesses does not apply to dog daycares. “Animal care services are still considered essential,” Einkauf explained. “So we are still open for business and are here to support our community.”

Einkauf said that Waggin’ Tails has integrated several systems to maintain social distancing in her business. For example, Waggin’ Tails now has drive-up drop-off so pet owners don’t enter the office. “We’re following all the CDC guidelines and complying with the state mandates to keep our human customers safe. Dogs can’t get the coronavirus, so we’re making sure that during their time with us, they’re getting all the exercise and mental stimulation they need so they can go home to their owners relaxed.”

Cops discover dog behind the wheel after high-speed chase: ‘I wish I could make this up’

A Washington resident was arrested on Sunday, March 29, following a high-speed chase. However, the man arrested wasn’t actually the one doing the driving; evidently, that was all his pit bull.

The man, a resident of Lakewood, Washington, hit two cars while driving at more than 100 miles per hour before state troopers stepped in, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Patrol told CNN.

“He was driving very erratically. So erratically that multiple people called 911,” trooper Heather Axtman told CNN.

Eventually, the man’s reckless driving turned into a high-speed chase. And according to Axtman, it was during that high-speed chase that a trooper looked into the car and noticed that a dog was sitting in the driver’s seat.

When troopers were finally able to stop the speeding car with spike strips, the man told them simply that he was “trying to teach his dog how to drive.”

“I wish I could make this up,” Axtman said. “I’ve been a trooper for almost 12 years and wow, I’ve never heard this excuse. I’ve been in a lot of high speed chases, I’ve stopped a lot of cars, and never have I gotten an excuse that they were teaching their dog how to drive.”

Naturally, the man was charged with reckless endangerment, hit and run, driving under the influence and felony eluding. The “very sweet girl,” meanwhile, was taken to the animal shelter where she will hopefully find a more sensible owner.

COVID-19 patients and medical researchers hoping for cures

The coronavirus is impacting every community in our nation and is being met with a fierce fight from leaders across the U.S. On the front lines of this fight are medical professionals. The focus on this virus is leaving some medical issues on the back burner for the time being.

Fred Carlson suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It is a disease without a cure. The marathon-running Green Beret now lives with a compromised immune system, a dangerous condition as COVID-19 sweeps through communities.

Carlson cannot risk visitors at this time. ALS requires a lot of treatment and care as the disease attacks his body. His wife, MaryJo, is the only one able to care for him during this pandemic, aside from helpful neighbors going on the occasional grocery run. Marley, his service dog, helps too.

“My world has gotten smaller,” said Carlson.

All of his doctor’s appointments are cancelled. New social distancing guidelines and a competition for resources have created this new world for ALS patients. Fred fears a setback in the fight to beat ALS will come as a consequence.

“It’ll definitely diminish the efforts and the funds for ALS,” said Carlson.

While the quest for a cure may hit a speed bump, Neil Thakur from the ALS Association is hopeful they can drive right through it.

“We’re not slowing down. There’s no way we can slow down,” said Tahkur.

He says their research relies heavily on fundraisers, many of which are cancelled or postponed. According to Thakur, in addition to treatment and equipment costs, their fundraisers help to provide $17 million each year in research grants around the country.

Thakur says their researchers are trying to juggle safety guidelines while not falling behind on their trials during the pandemic. Some of the university labs they use to conduct these projects have rules in place that make it difficult to keep up to speed.

“As it continues that’s when we’ll start to see the potential impact on the research program,” said Thakur.

Research for a number of ailments and diseases is falling into the background, according to Dr. Henry Wang, Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Department of Emergency Medicine. He says this is taking place as the world’s brightest minds rise to meet this new deadly challenge.

“When you have a disaster of this magnitude, it’s expected that we would see some impacts on research not related to COVID-19,” said Wang.

Wang says there could be setbacks in research relating to heart attacks, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and other areas unrelated to the coronavirus. He says the biggest hindrance during this period is the difficulty in seeing how studies play out beyond the lab.

“Labs are still open. They’re developing vaccines and new cures. The next challenge we have is how do we test and evaluate these options in the clinical environment which is very much a battlefield right now.”

But he thinks new research and science coming as a result of this pandemic will prove beneficial in the future.

“In a disaster, research is usually an afterthought and takes a second seat next to operational considerations and recovery. But in a pandemic, this is a very different situation. It’s science that is going to come up with the vaccines and cures that we need,” said Wang.

Wang says his researchers are in this fight just like those working in emergency rooms or operating rooms.

“To study these therapies our research teams are potentially at risk, being exposed to the conditions that we see on the front lines in our emergency departments. So, we have to work very hard to protect them,” said Wang.

That means trying to get personal protective equipment for researchers, precious cargo as medical workers fight for masks, gloves, and gowns across the country.

“This knowledge will enable us to develop new cures and vaccines to prevent the condition and so they’re very much very important weapons in this battle in this international war,” said Wang.

Wang says before the pandemic there were several studies underway relevant to the current fight with this coronavirus. He mention research on acute lung injury, damage in the lungs that can also come from COVID-19.

“These studies have been ongoing and are now perfectly situated for application in this disaster,” said Wang.

He is optimistic that a vaccine for COVID-19 is coming soon, though widespread distribution of the vaccine is several months away. More immediately, he believes treatment for COVID-19 is just weeks away.

First service puppy trainee for the NHL

The New York Rangers’ most significant recent free-agent acquisition might not have been superstar winger and MVP front-runner Artemi Panarin. Instead, their best signing might turn out to be a benchwarmer who managed to chew and claw his way into their hearts.

The Blueshirts became the first NHL team to add a service-puppy trainee to their roster when they introduced Ranger, a 9-month-old yellow Labrador retriever, just before the start of the 2018-19 season. The team had partnered with BluePath — a nonprofit that trains puppies to become service dogs who offer companionship, safety and independence to children with autism — to help socialize Ranger and prepare him for his future career.

“The Rangers were interested in the autism world because they do a lot of sports camps for kids with special needs,” said Michelle Brier, vice president of marketing and development at BluePath, which is based in Hopewell Junction, New York. “It was a very exciting thing for us, as a small nonprofit, to have them select us as a partner. We bleed blue … just like any Rangers fan.”

Under the guidance of puppy trainer Saxon Eastman, a production assistant at Madison Square Garden, Ranger spent each day of the season at the team’s offices during business hours, then headed to special events, such as practices and games, to gain experience being around crowds.

Ranger, whom Eastman describes as a “super-sweet, loving, intelligent, deliciously derpy meatball,” formed a special connection with several skaters.

“Chris Kreider really bonded with Ranger,” Brier said. “So did Mika Zibanejad. All the players seemed to like Ranger, but the two of them were particularly excited to see him every time. They went out of their way to hang out with him.”

But while he made friends everywhere he went — and became a social media star — Ranger didn’t seem completely confident in certain situations.

“He started to show signs that he didn’t want to be a service dog,” Brier said. “A service dog has to be adaptable to an ever-changing environment, and to remain calm even when there’s a lot of chaos around them. Ranger really liked things to be a bit more consistent in his life.”

So after the season, when Ranger was about 18 months old, Eastman and her fellow BluePath trainers decided he was better suited to be a companion dog, rather than a service dog — and started looking for a new job for him. (Service dogs receive public access under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which allows them to go anywhere that the public is invited because they are helping to mitigate a disability. Companion dogs provide support in a plethora of ways in the home, but do not have the same public access.)

“We say in the service dog world that the dogs choose their careers,” Brier said. “It’s important for us to find something the dog can excel in.”

Even though he didn’t go on to become a service dog, Ranger clearly sparked a movement of canines in residence. Ten other NHL teams — the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals, have since added puck-chasing pups to their respective rosters. They are in various stages of training to become service dogs, ranging from seeing-eye companions to partners who help people with motor impairments or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ranger’s trainers are delighted that other teams have followed suit. “We’re such believers in the service dogs movement, and how much service dogs can really enhance people’s lives,” said Brier, who notes that the other organizations that have partnered with NHL teams to train service dogs, like BluePath, rely on donations and volunteers to raise puppies before they are placed with families. “The fact that all of these teams have jumped on board is very, very cool.”

Autism is a developmental disability marked by differences in communication, social interaction and learning abilities. One in 54 children now has a diagnosis of autism in the United States, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 26 — a 10% increase from the previous report, two years ago, and the highest prevalence since the CDC began tracking the rates 20 years ago. About half of kids who are diagnosed with autism are prone to “elopement,” said Brier, meaning many parents find “it’s too frightening to leave the house with their child.”

Tricia Zarro was one of those parents.

“When my son, Danny, was diagnosed with autism he was minimally verbal,” Zarro said. “He was a flight risk. I had lost him a few times. And he was very disconnected and deep into his autism at the time.”

Zarro, a teacher in Dobbs Ferry, New York, researched service dogs and learned that they could assist Danny — and help build a bridge between him and his family. “If he couldn’t connect with a person, he could connect with an animal,” Zarro said.

Danny was matched with a service dog named Shade. She remained by his side, helping him learn to socialize and connect, until she died, at age 13, last April. To fill the huge void her death left in their lives, the Zarros volunteered to babysit and help socialize puppies for BluePath — while considering how to proceed.

“My son no longer needed a service dog but still needed a dog with a certain skill set,” Zarro said.

Along came Ranger. While he wasn’t a good fit for a small child, thanks to his training with Eastman he was the perfect companion for Danny, who has grown out of his tendency to take off running into dangerous situations but benefits from having a specially trained pet.

“Ranger gives high-fives and fist bumps,” Zarro said. “Certain skills that Saxon taught him for the life he lived before he came to us transfer very well for a teenage boy.”

April is Autism Awareness Month, and Thursday is World Autism Awareness Day. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, both will be acknowledged differently than usual this year, said Brier, who notes that many children on the autism spectrum are having a particularly hard time with how social distancing measures have upended their routines.

“Given the way we’re living right now, the dogs’ roles have shifted a bit. For so many kids with autism, having a routine, something they can expect each day, is really helpful,” Brier said. “So, at a time when everyone’s routines are completely thrown out of whack, it’s extra difficult for kids with autism who are trying to figure this out. We’re seeing our dogs provide an enormous amount of emotional support at home.”

Ranger has been rewarded with extra belly rubs from Danny’s older sisters, Maddy, 21, and Kylie, 19, who are home from college because of the pandemic. And daily walks around the neighborhoods with Danny and Tricia have become more essential than ever.

“When Danny is connected to Ranger — literally and physically and metaphorically connected to him — he’s just more grounded. He communicates better, and helps share his feeling and emotions, while he’s walking his dog,” Tricia Zarro said. “The pandemic has been very challenging for us, as it has been for everyone. But the dog helps bring joy and routine. The amount of stress and anxiety that Ranger reduces in my family has been life-changing.”

After Shade died in April 2019, the prospect of opening their hearts to a new dog — and finding a new companion for Danny — was daunting. So the Zarros agreed to bring Ranger home, but only for a trial.

“I was nervous about finding the right fit,” Tricia Zarro said. “I didn’t want to rush into something and have it not work out. I peppered Caroline McCabe-Sandler [BluePath’s co-founder and director of training] with annoying questions like, ‘How will I know if he’s the right one? How am I going to make this decision?’

“She told me, ‘Listen to your heart.'”

Zarro and her husband, Ernie, work at a sleepaway camp each summer. The entire family moves to upstate New York. So, in June 2019, Ranger went with them. After spending his first 18 months living and working in Manhattan, riding the subway to and from Madison Square Garden, he had become a certified city dog. “I’m not sure he’d ever played with a stick before,” Tricia Zarro said.

But Ranger quickly took to the outdoors. On the first day at camp, the family went for a long walk.

“We were deep in the woods,” Zarro said. “Danny was walking ahead a little bit, by himself. I wanted to see what Ranger would do.”

There was no one else around, and Zarro figured she could let Ranger run a little bit. So she unhooked him from his leash. He took off down the path, and for a moment Zarro feared she’d made a mistake. But as soon as he caught up with Danny, Ranger stopped.

“He looked up at him, then adjusted his pace to match Danny’s and started trotting alongside him,” Zarro said. “My heart just exploded. That was the moment I knew.”

The Zarros paused by a waterfall to take a family photo. Ranger sat down right next to Danny.

“I texted Caroline and told her, ‘It’s a fit,'” Zarro said. “She was crying, I was crying. I knew right away, when I saw that Ranger was happy around our family, that he was a good boy. But when I saw him look out for Danny, that’s when it became crystal clear that Ranger knew exactly what his job would be.”

Cats can get coronavirus and pass it to other cats; dogs are much less susceptible to the virus: study

Cats are susceptible to contracting the novel coronavirus, a preliminary study in China found.

The researchers concluded that cats also can pass the coronavirus to other cats via “respiratory droplets.” This was determined by placing uninfected cats in enclosures adjacent to cages holding infected cats and closely monitoring their interactions.

While the study showed that cats are receptive to the coronavirus, the Chinese scientists found that the virus “replicates poorly” in dogs, concluding that canines have “low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.” There have been reports of a couple of dogs in Hong Kong testing positive for low levels of coronavirus.

The team at Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ veterinary research lab undertook the work, the study states, because “cats and dogs are in close contact with humans, and therefore it is important to understand their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 for COVID-19 control.” The research was performed under high-level biosafety conditions, with the scientists wearing full-body pressurized suits.

In the study, the infected cats did not show symptoms of Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, and not all of the uninfected cats ended up being infected through respiratory droplets from other animals. How cats respond to Covid-19 has not been studied. The Guardian reports that one domestic cat in Belgium “developed breathing difficulties, diarrhea and vomiting” shortly before testing positive for the disease.

The Chinese study, which hasn’t yet undergone peer review, did not test whether cats are able to infect humans. There is no evidence that cats are playing any role in the spread of the illness among humans. Ohio State University veterinary professor Linda Saif pointed out in Nature magazine that the cats in the study were given especially high doses of the virus and “do not represent real-life interactions between people and their pets.”

It is recommended, however, that if a person is showing Covid-19 symptoms, he or she should be isolated from other people in the household as much as possible, and that all pets also should be kept out of the ill person’s room.

The Chinese study determined that coronavirus also reproduces “efficiently” in ferrets, but that, like dogs, chickens, ducks and pigs have low susceptibility to the virus.

Shenzhen becomes first Chinese city to ban consumption of cats, dogs

The Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has become the first city in the country to ban the sale and consumption of cat and dog meat amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.

The move comes after the outbreak of the illness — which emerged in Wuhan — has been linked to wildlife meat, prompting authorities to ban the trade and consumption of wild animals, the BBC reported.

Shenzhen took the wildlife ban a step further by including cats and dogs in its measure, which takes effect on May 1, the news outlet said.

Across Asia, 30 million dogs are killed every year for meat, according to Humane Society International.

But the consumption of dog meat in China is not very common.

“Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” the Shenzhen government said, according to Reuters.

“This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization,” it added.

The Humane Society International praised the city’s move.

“This really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and 4 million cats in China every year,” said Dr. Peter Li, the group’s China policy specialist.

Chinese authorities banned the trade and consumption of wild animals in February after it emerged that a market in Wuhan selling wild animals and wildlife meat could have triggered the outbreak.

The adorable service Labrador helping with the coronavirus pandemic

Across the world there are countless doctors, nurses and medical professionals helping in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

In one hospital in particular across the pond, there is a special someone helping to reduce stress among the brave health workers.

A one-year-old service dog called Wynn is doing her bit in the Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

The adorable yellow Labrador is helping to bring calm and comfort to the hospital’s staff who are working on the coronavirus frontline.

The sweet pooch is providing some soft and furry relief to health workers in need of a break from the tiring responsibility.

The gentle pup is currently being trained to be an assistance dog for for Canine Companions for Independence, a charity that provides disable people with care and assistance dogs free of charge.

Wynn has been trained by emergency physician Susan Ryan ever since she was just eight-weeks-old. Susan regularly takes her four-legged friend to the hospital with her to brighten her colleagues’ days and now she’s become a more permanent part of the team.

Wynn’s now based in a social worker’s office and is on call for a cuddle with any member of staff who need to wind down and take a break with her.

Sharing more of Wynn’s story, Susan wrote on Instagram page, The Dogist, explaining, ‘She has saved us because we are very stressed and anxious. Sometimes too busy to be scared.’

Going on to open up about her wishes for the public going ahead, Susan added, ‘My wish for everyone would be that they not worry about getting a test and just presume themselves positive and consider every surface potentially contaminated and act accordingly. It just means physical distance, wash before and after touching anything.

‘We can find comfort in each other when we know I have your back and you have mine.’

Therapy dog visits children at home

These are difficult, anxious times for families holed up with small children. Ladd is here to help.

The service dog normally does his calming and comforting at North Arlington’s Zentai Martial Arts studio. But these days, Allen DePeña, owner and operator of Zentai Martial Arts, has been taking him around to his younger students’ homes to deliver bags full of slime and coloring pages and crayons.

“My idea was for him to go around to the kids and brighten up their days,” DePeña said. “I’ve had lots of conversations with families who are struggling, who have lost jobs or members of their family.”

DePeña has Ladd (formally known as Ladd III) sit on the doorstep while he remains farther back, adhering to social distancing rules. DePeña said he originally was just going to drop the bags on porches but thought a familiar furry face would lift kids’ spirits more.

DePeña said he received numerous messages from parents after he and Ladd dropped off the goodie bags. Parents told him that seeing Ladd put smiles on their faces and lifted their children’s moods.

“It’s very emotional, it’s very touching to see the level of impact he’s having on the families,” DePeña said.

Not only does Ladd bring treats for kids who can no longer attend martial arts classes at the studio, but he also helps the children at Zentai’s child care. Zentai has been licensed as a child care center for two years.

DePeña said that they are operating at 15% to 20% capacity because of social distancing. His wife, Naomy, a retired special needs teacher, is caring for at least 15 children. DePeña said they are the children of essential workers.

On Wednesday, Gov Phil Murphy told day care centers that unless they certify to the state that they are caring only for children of essential workers, they will have to be closed by April 1.

The DePeñas got Ladd on Valentine’s Day after a long application process that began two years ago. They were finally invited to a two-week training at Canine Companion for Independence’s campus and trained to work with Ladd.

“It could not have happened at a better time to have him be part of the community,” DePeña said. “Just because of everything going on right now and him being there for these kids.”

He has been very beneficial for the children at the child care center and is therapeutic for the children, DePeña said.

The DePeñas are also using Zoom, a video conferencing app, to provide free martial arts classes for children and bedtime stories. DePeña’s son helps out by teaching breathing and stretching techniques in the morning before school.

DePeña said it’s “amazing” to see the children interact during the virtual classes and that it has helped some shy children come out of their shells.

“Right now, one of our main concerns is keeping [children] physically active to help them not get too anxious or into a depressed state of mind,” DePeña said. “It can easily happen with all this cabin fever.”

COVID-19 and pets

The CDC has said there is no evidence that pets and other animals could be a source of the coronavirus but recommends practicing good hygiene when encountering them because they could carry other germs.

After petting or handling animals, their food, supplies and waste, people should wash their hands.

‘We Don’t Deserve Dogs’

Despite humanity’s often bad behavior toward people and animals alike, we still receive unconditional love and support from our darling, wet-nosed companions. In documentarian duo Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker’s “We Don’t Deserve Dogs,” the filmmakers’ dogged determination to showcase man’s best friend as mankind’s savior pays off as an essential experience. On all levels, it conjures the warm and fuzzies while demonstrating the boundary-busting natures of these warm, fuzzy puppy protagonists.

The story unfurls through a serious of indelible vignettes, ranging from two to fifteen minutes, connecting a series of questions and answers: What does dog ownership look like for those in war-ravaged villages? How does a dog walker support himself in a feline-centric city like Istanbul? Are there caste levels for canines in Vietnam, and how arbitrary are they? Can pups be rehabbed from trauma in the same way they’ve helped heal humans? The film elegantly bookends with that last one, connecting the story of emotionally-scarred child soldiers assimilating back into society with the help of their dogs to the story of a once-neglected, stressed out Bull Terrier finding sanctuary in Scotland with the help of kind humans. It’s incredibly powerful how these gentle souls can transform the lives around them, easing anxiety, trauma, pain and grief.

The poignant connective tissue between the tales doesn’t end there. A truffle hunter who cherishes his slow-skilled Springer Spaniel has much in common with the gentleman who abandoned his Chihuahua near a farm only to discover it’s become a shepherd. Both dogs were encouraged (albeit in different ways) to find their purpose. A Pakistani self-confessed “tomboy” who rebels against her religion’s views on dogs by keeping a stray is spiritually related to the Vietnamese man who protests against others calling his cute French Bulldog “ugly and stinky.” Two women dress their fancy fur babies in finery, not just on special occasions like dog birthday parties, but also every day as emotional support dogs. And a certified St. Bernard in Finland projects calm and strength while providing snuggles and spreading cheer to the elderly.

Salleh and Tucker don’t delineate – at least with chyrons – between the people, pups, places and problems featured in each of the sequences. It would be inauthentic if they had done so, as the capacities of these canines are boundless. Instead, the cross-cultural stories are linked through subtle exploration of values, ethics and morals. This technique is integral for their stirring sentiments to be felt by the viewer, even if it’s done rather subliminally. It allows the filmmakers’ humanistic, unobtrusive approach to their subjects (both two-legged and four-legged) to develop and flourish.

Though there are plenty of happy tears to shed over the reverence given to the majority of barking buddies featured, there are also some sorrow-filled ones. Salleh and Tucker don’t shy away from taking a brief, non-exploitative look at the dog meat trade through the eyes of one hardworking meat monger family in Vietnam. This highly-effective segment, though dealing with a gruesome practice, is tastefully shot and assembled (we thankfully don’t see the death in focus and close-up). Before it transitions to a more uplifting piece about the Nepalese worship of dogs, this activism-stoking scene ends on one of the butchers stating how to curb his horrific trade: “If no one eats it, there’s no demand.”

Aesthetics also play a key role, emphasizing the tranquility of nature in the breeds and their environments. Stylistic choices impact the narrative’s leanings, but don’t drive them. Whether it be a grand pastoral gaze applied to shots of dogs herding sheep through a lush landscape in Romania, or the intimate ways in which the filmmakers capture the small stepping stones towards an everlasting bond between a reticent Scottish owner and his rescue, Salleh and Tucker’s vision remains authentic and naturalistic.

Similar to Netflix’s docuseries “Dogs” and other dog-centered documentaries like “Buddy” or “The Dog Doc,” the undercurrent of “We Don’t Deserve Dogs” is alive with the message that dogs are an essential lifeline for humankind, providing joy and a reminder of life beyond oneself. We may not deserve the amount of love, support and respect dogs give us, but we certainly deserve this loving portrait of them in all their glory.

A helping paw

The health care needs of each person are multifaceted, consisting of various factors that makes everyone unique.

Therefore, effective health care requires collaboration between various professionals to support healthy and meaningful lives. We celebrate April as National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists (OTs) play an important role across the lifespan in a child’s development or an individual’s recovery and integration into society after a life changing incident. Occupations are everyday life activities, from brushing our teeth to navigating the SunRail after work. OTs work closely with clients to provide individualized skilled services, empowering individuals to feel confident participating in everyday activities. Various interventions are associated with this profession, including those cute animals in vests you may have seen around.

What’s in a name?

The terms service animals, emotional support animals (ESAs), and therapy dogs are frequently seen as interchangeable. However, these animals have different training, rights and roles. Service animals are specifically trained to work with individuals with disabilities, aiding with tasks directly related to the disability— picking up a dropped item for an individual with Parkinson’s Disease, alerting an individual with hearing impairments when someone is at the door, guiding an individual with low vision across the crosswalk, and even detecting changes in blood sugar for those with diabetes. Service animals are covered under Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), meaning they are allowed in every public setting to assist the individual with the disability. However, under the ADA, only dogs can be considered service animals. Conversely, ESAs and therapy dogs are not covered under the ADA. They are not necessarily afforded the same rights to access in public facilities, but can still play a crucial role in providing emotional support and alleviating stress or anxiety. Nevertheless, they do not require any specific training. Unlike service animals, ESAs include a wide array of unique animals, such as birds, rabbits and turtles. Technically, any animal can be considered an ESA, but they require a letter from a licensed health-care professional confirming the individual has a disability and that the ESA would be beneficial for their disability. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, require more training to interact with a variety of people. Therapy dogs are certified as they often travel to places such as hospitals, libraries, and schools to provide emotional support. OTs can play a special role in integrating therapy dogs into their practice with animal-assisted therapy. OTs can also assist individuals with disabilities on how to care for their service animal and incorporate them into their daily routines.

Rights for individuals with service animals

According to the ADA (2010), service animals are permitted in all public locations, including businesses, restaurants, government agencies and schools. However, service animals must be under a leash or otherwise controlled. If needed, businesses can ask if the animal is a service animal due to a disability and what type of trained tasks the animal does. However, businesses are not legally allowed to ask for any form of documentation, nor are they allowed to probe about an individual’s disability. Furthermore, individuals with service animals can only be legally asked to leave if the service animal is not under their control. Individuals with disabilities who own service animals must be treated equally and given the same level of service as any other individual. Staff members are not required to attend to the animal in any way.

Etiquette – To pet or not to pet?

As tempting as it may be to pet these animals when you see them in public, it is important to remember that they are performing essential jobs for their owners and not to distract them. Avoid talking, feeding, or petting animals without asking for consent from their owner. Despite whether the animal walks up to you or not, it is imperative you speak directly to the handler and ask for permission first. These animals typically wear vests, reminding others not to pet or touch them. Remember, individuals with service animals utilize them to manage a health condition; they may not want to draw public attention. Therefore, weigh whether it is worth speaking to the owner or appreciate the animal’s service from afar.

This article was a collaboration by some of the Master of Occupational Therapy students at AdventHealth University; Brielle Coleman, Annabel Dinh, Heather Priore and Angela Sy.

Pets deliver happiness

After receiving news that elderly residents were isolated to their rooms in local living facilities due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a group of community members decided to share some germ-free smiles any way they could.

“I started brainstorming things that could be done to help, such as putting bird feeders and yard art outside their windows,” said Veronica Koliba. “Then the thought of a pet parade just popped in my head that other than family, who or what would bring joy and smiles to anyone’s face?  Duh, animals.”

Koliba reached out to Trinity Shores of Port Lavaca, and they were on board with the ideas, but pets are not allowed in the facility. That didn’t stop Koliba and her group of community members who were willing to help with the project.

Local resident Carley Stringo sent out a message on the “Six Mile Friends and Neighbors” Facebook group to recruit friends and pets.

“Some of the people on that page messaged some other friends with pets to join,” said Stringo. “There was about 13 to 15 of us. We just walked around the facility to wave and show the animals through their windows. The residents were thrilled to see the animals, and many of them left notes in the windows thanking us.”

“The residents had to get word through a memo to have blinds raised at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening because you may see a cow,” she said. “We had to ensure all of them had a means to watch as some of the rooms do not face the outside perimeter of the residence where we were allowed to parade – accomplished by a hard-working, caring staff.”

“We hoped to brighten spirits of the residents. I have a grandfather in the VA nursing home in Floresville, and he is missing us so much,” she said. “I just thought this was a way I could help someone else’s grandparent or loved one.”

Koliba reached out to Amy Mauer, who volunteered her “big fluffy dog”, and Alicia Fivecoat dressed her Shitzus in tutus. Jennifer Soefje volunteered to bring her baby goat. Krystal Krystal Stringham and her son volunteered their larger-than-life dog. Stringo brought her emotional support animal, Demi, who is a 1-year-old black Labradoodle, and she hopes to do it again.

Sarah Brumfield and her family of five also replied.

“Yes, we’ll bring a pony for sure and maybe a cow depending on her moooood,” said Brumfield.

Margaret Alvarez, Jamie Grimaldo, and her daughters, Twyla Sandberg and JoAnn Marek, also volunteered their time and pets. Twenty-two people and 11 pets made the event possible.

Koliba said the residents loved their visit and feedback from Trinity Shores was that it made them so happy.

“Our mission was to bring smiles to the residents,” said Koliba. “I think we accomplished it.”

The group is making plans to continue their pet parade even after the COVID-19 isolation is over. They have since visited other facilities in the community.

Supporting your pets while working from home.

A downside of working from home is that many of my important work conversations are interrupted by what I have begun to refer to as my fur-workers,” said Candace Croney, fondly describing her cat, Bernie, and Havanese mix Desi. “They like to help me out by announcing the end of the world is coming because a delivery arrived or walk across my keyboard to end a web conference without my consent.”

Croney, professor of animal behavior and well-being and director of Purdue’s Center for Animal Welfare Science, is used to sharing her workspace with companion animals. The same cannot be said of millions of Americans now working from home due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Croney offers some thoughts about benefitting from and adjusting to new “fur workers.”

What are the benefits associated with having pets at home?

Companion animals are wonderful stress-buffers. It’s well-documented that people who own pets, especially dogs, find them helpful under times of stress. They provide psychological benefits in terms of comfort, reassurance and social support. This is particularly true with people who live alone with a companion animal. They are serving roles and meeting needs that many people are probably under-appreciating, not to mention the well-documented physical benefits they also facilitate.

However, in situations like this, it’s important to remember that our pets are able to pick up on the stress that we’re experiencing. That can definitely impact how stressed they are. Dogs are quite attuned to our emotional states and often respond accordingly. All of this emotional support that our animals give us can therefore come at a cost to them. We want to pay attention to what they are communicating so that while they give us that great support, we can support them in turn.

What are some of the best ways to support them?

Since so many people are home now and because we will eventually go back to work, it’s important to set our companion animals up for success by setting a routine for them. I’ve been trying, imperfectly, to implement this myself. Pets do better when they have predictable routines, and this can help their people as well.

For example, if a dog knows when walks will occur, he won’t add additional stress to his humans by asking for one every six minutes. We need to establish a structured routine they can learn, remember and predict.

Also, our pets need breaks from us from time to time. If you have the opportunity to work in a separate room away from your pets, do so and make sure they are well occupied during those times.

It is also important to simulate leaving the house to keep them practiced at being comfortable with not having constant access to you. When you eventually go back to work, it won’t set them up for success if they are suddenly deprived of constant attention.

We need to understand that animals have individual personalities. There are some pets who don’t necessarily want constant interaction. With us at home all the time, especially with larger families, we need to make sure they’re not being overstimulated. We should set up safe spaces at home where they can choose to retreat and have downtime.  Particularly for cats, a quiet and warm, dimly lit space is ideal for resting (that’s not a bad set up for people who need a break, either!).

How can workers keep their pets entertained?

When you can’t give your pets one-on-one attention, it’s important they have things that occupy them and that are safe for them to use. For dogs, giving them high-value favorite toys and treats to keep their minds engaged is great, particularly puzzle toys.

The same things are important for cats.  You can use puzzle feeders and preferred toys that they don’t get at other times.  Give these at times that are particularly busy for you, where you need them not to be disruptive.  And remember to change out the items from time to time to make sure they remain fun and exciting.

You’d be surprised how much enjoyment cats can get out of boxes and how creative dogs can be at offering new behaviors you can reward for interacting with cardboard boxes. Imagine what they could do with all those toilet paper rolls we’ve been hoarding! Small pets like rabbits and rodents can be greatly entertained by having food hidden in discarded toilet paper rolls.

Can my pets be tested for coronavirus?

Last Thursday, the first cat tested positive for coronavirus.  The feline had diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, and it had come down with COVID-19 about 1 week after its owner did, Belgian health officials announced.

The same day, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported that a 17-year-old Pomeranian—which had initially tested “weak positive” for SARS-CoV-2— had indeed been infected by the virus likely by its owner or another human.

Yet despite these cases—and a third dog that tested positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong earlier this month—the number of pets diagnosed with COVID-19 pales in comparison with the human total, now estimated to be more than 800,000. And experts, including those at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continue to emphasize that dogs and cats pose little risk to people “CDC does not have evidence that pets can spread COVID-19, and there’s no reason to think pets might be a source of infection based on the information we have at this time,” Casey Barton Behravesh, director of the agency’s One Health Office in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, tells Science.

Still, veterinarians want more information. Though human tests might work on animals, they are in short supply—and veterinarians prefer species-specific tests, anyway. Several labs have developed a SARS-CoV-2 test for pets, but none has begun to broadly administer it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has advised against it, and many experts are concerned about spreading unwarranted fear—especially amid reports that some owners have begun to abondon their pets “Even though we have no evidence that pets can transmit the virus, we desperately need [more] evidence one way or the other,” says Timothy Baszler, executive director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), which announced 2 weeks ago that it had developed a covid 19 test for pets.

WADDL created its test at the request of local and federal animal health agencies. Officials were concerned because a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington—site of one of the first U.S. cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 in early March—was also home to a number of residents’ cats. Dogs and cats share many of the same cell receptors we do—which viruses can bind to—and during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (a coronavirus relative of SARS-CoV-2), scientists reported that cats could become infected with the virus and pass it on to other felines.

WADDL’s SARS-CoV-2 pet test is similar to the human test: It uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify RNA from the virus. Baszler says his team developed it with dozens of archived samples of nasal and throat swabs from cats and dogs collected from the western United States, some of which were seeded with SARS-CoV-2. Though none of these animals had COVID-19, the test was able to pick up the virus in the seeded samples, while not reporting false positives for other coronaviruses. Baszler says the World Health Organization has approved the diagnostic and that WADDL could start to test up to 100 pets per day, if needed.

IDEXX Laboratories, a global network of more than 80 diagnostic labs, also announced a SARS-CoV2 test for animals in mid-March. Like the WADDL test, it’s based on PCR and was developed using samples from cats and dogs. (In IDEXX’s case, test development used horse samples, too.) The company has analyzed more than 4000 samples, including specimens from animals with respiratory disorders. “All have come back negative,” says Jim Blacka, the company’s senior director. “If there is a need to start testing pets, we’re ready to commercialize it and make it widely available.”

But there are roadblocks to implementing either test. The first issue is a lack of urgency. Given that there are about 150 million cats and dogs in the United States alone, if pets could readily catch COVID-19, we would be seeing tons of cases of by now, says Shelley Rankin, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “Yet nobody is reporting a spike” in respiratory infections in cats and dogs.

Even the three pets that have tested positive for the virus shouldn’t sound an alarm, says Jonathan Epstein, vice president for science and outreach at the EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that tracks emerging diseases in animals. “Detecting RNA is different from [animals] shedding infectious virus,” he says. “Our focus now should be on human-to-human transmission, because that’s what’s driving the epidemic.”

USDA  released a FAQ last week that cautioned against pet testing. “At this time, testing for companion animals will only be done if animal and public health officials agree testing should occur due to a link to a known human case of COVID-19,” it reads. “We will not be testing the general companion animal population.”

The document, Rankin argues, effectively prevents labs from broadly testing companion animals for SARS-CoV-2 without USDA approval. Baszler says the recommendations are helpful, because it’s unclear what to do if a pet tests positive for the virus. “If you get a positive dog in a home where no one else is sick, what do you do with that animal?” he asks. “Do you quarantine it? Where? And who decides when that quarantine gets lifted?” Rushing into testing without a road map, he says, “just creates angst and fear.”

Baszler says he is working with state veterinary officials to develop such a plan for pet testing. He says if the efforts do begin, the first focus should be on animals in homes in which humans have already tested positive. If those animals were positive, too, veterinarians could study them to learn more about how the virus affects cats and dogs.

Epstein says that even if COVID-19 becomes a mere seasonal disease, knowing pets’ role in viral spread will be useful. If animals do spread the virus, he says, “You’d want to take extra precautions if you have elderly relatives visiting, or if you’re bringing dogs to nursing homes as emotional support animals.”

For now, Behravesh recommends treating our pets like we now treat ourselves. “If you’re sick, restrict your access to your pet as much as you can,” she says. “When you walk your dog, stay 6 feet away from other animals. Don’t pet other people’s dogs. Always wash your hands,” she says. “It’s really important that people don’t panic.”

Epstein agrees. “I don’t want to create unnecessary concern about pets,” he says, arguing that our emotional connection with cats and dogs may be more critical now than ever. “In these difficult, isolating times,” he says, “there is an importance to having companion animals in your life.”

Delivery dog offers curbside wine pickup during the coronavirus lockdown

Maryland is getting the real-life equivalent of the brandy barrel-bearing St. Bernard of Alpine rescue lore — although instead of life-giving spirits, it’s carrying spirit-giving wine.

It’s the social-distancing solution of Stone House Urban Winery in Hagerstown, which has introduced a delivery dog to its intrepid staff.

His name is Soda Pup, a 75-pound brindle boxer with all the breeding necessary for curbside service, plus horse saddle bags and a vest with two pouches.

Soda, the wino dog, helps make curbside no-contact wine deliveries for Stone House Urban Winery in MarylandSoda the wino dog helps make curbside no-contact wine deliveries for Stone House Urban Winery in Maryland.Stone House Urban Winery

He doesn’t work the streets alone, either. The winery puts someone on “dog patrol,” letting pup-happy customers know not to give Soda snacks other than ice cubes.

“We’ve had people call in just specifically to have Soda Pup bring wine out to them,” Lori Yata, Soda Pup’s owner and co-owner of the winery, tells WJLA-TV.

But she wasn’t sure it would work at first.

“I thought, ‘God, please don’t let a goose or something walk by or those wine bottles are gone,’ ” she tells the Herald-Mail.

But winos beware: The 11-year-old pooch only carries two bottles of wine at a time, which, on the bright side, means you’ll see plenty of him.

“We are going to look for the positive side of this, closing the store allows us to do things we normally cannot keep up with, we are making tons of wine,” Yata says.

Should pets be tested for coronavirus?

Last Thursday, the first cat tested positive for the new coronavirus. The feline had diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, and it had come down with COVID-19 about 1 week after its owner did, Belgian health officials announced.

The same day, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported that a 17-year-old Pomeranian—which had initially tested “weak positive” for SARS-CoV-2—had indeed been infected by the virus, likely by its owner or another human.

Yet despite these cases—and a third dog that tested positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong earlier this month—the number of pets diagnosed with COVID-19 pales in comparison with the human total, now estimated to be more than 800,000. And experts, including those at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continue to emphasize that dogs and cats pose little risk to people. “CDC does not have evidence that pets can spread COVID-19, and there’s no reason to think pets might be a source of infection based on the information we have at this time,” Casey Barton Behravesh, director of the agency’s One Health Office in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, tells Science.

Still, veterinarians want more information. Though human tests might work on animals, they are in short supply—and veterinarians prefer species-specific tests, anyway. Several labs have developed a SARS-CoV-2 test for pets, but none has begun to broadly administer it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has advised against it, and many experts are concerned about spreading unwarranted fear—especially amid reports that some owners have begun to abandon their pets. “Even though we have no evidence that pets can transmit the virus, we desperately need [more] evidence one way or the other,” says Timothy Baszler, executive director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), which announced 2 weeks ago that it had developed a COVID-19 test for pets.

WADDL created its test at the request of local and federal animal health agencies. Officials were concerned because a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington—site of one of the first U.S. cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 in early March—was also home to a number of residents’ cats. Dogs and cats share many of the same cell receptors we do—which viruses can bind to—and during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (a coronavirus relative of SARS-CoV-2), scientists reported that cats could become infected with the virus and pass it on to other felines.

WADDL’s SARS-CoV-2 pet test is similar to the human test: It uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify RNA from the virus. Baszler says his team developed it with dozens of archived samples of nasal and throat swabs from cats and dogs collected from the western United States, some of which were seeded with SARS-CoV-2. Though none of these animals had COVID-19, the test was able to pick up the virus in the seeded samples, while not reporting false positives for other coronaviruses. Baszler says the World Health Organization has approved the diagnostic and that WADDL could start to test up to 100 pets per day, if needed.

IDEXX Laboratories, a global network of more than 80 diagnostic labs, also announced a SARS-CoV-2 test for animals in mid-March. Like the WADDL test, it’s based on PCR and was developed using samples from cats and dogs. (In IDEXX’s case, test development used horse samples, too.) The company has analyzed more than 4000 samples, including specimens from animals with respiratory disorders. “All have come back negative,” says Jim Blacka, the company’s senior director. “If there is a need to start testing pets, we’re ready to commercialize it and make it widely available.”

But there are roadblocks to implementing either test. The first issue is a lack of urgency. Given that there are about 150 million dogs and cats in the United States alone, if pets could readily catch COVID-19, we would be seeing tons of cases of by now, says Shelley Rankin, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “Yet nobody is reporting a spike” in respiratory infections in cats and dogs.

Even the three pets that have tested positive for the virus shouldn’t sound an alarm, says Jonathan Epstein, vice president for science and outreach at the EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that tracks emerging diseases in animals. “Detecting RNA is different from [animals] shedding infectious virus,” he says. “Our focus now should be on human-to-human transmission, because that’s what’s driving the epidemic.”

USDA released an FAQ last week that cautioned against pet testing. “At this time, testing for companion animals will only be done if animal and public health officials agree testing should occur due to a link to a known human case of COVID-19,” it reads. “We will not be testing the general companion animal population.”

The document, Rankin argues, effectively prevents labs from broadly testing companion animals for SARS-CoV-2 without USDA approval. Baszler says the recommendations are helpful, because it’s unclear what to do if a pet tests positive for the virus. “If you get a positive dog in a home where no one else is sick, what do you do with that animal?” he asks. “Do you quarantine it? Where? And who decides when that quarantine gets lifted?” Rushing into testing without a road map, he says, “just creates angst and fear.”

Baszler says he is working with state veterinary officials to develop such a plan for pet testing. He says if the efforts do begin, the first focus should be on animals in homes in which humans have already tested positive. If those animals were positive, too, veterinarians could study them to learn more about how the virus affects cats and dogs.

Epstein says that even if COVID-19 becomes a mere seasonal disease, knowing pets’ role in viral spread will be useful. If animals do spread the virus, he says, “You’d want to take extra precautions if you have elderly relatives visiting, or if you’re bringing dogs to nursing homes as emotional support animals.”

For now, Behravesh recommends treating our pets like we now treat ourselves. “If you’re sick, restrict your access to your pet as much as you can,” she says. “When you walk your dog, stay 6 feet away from other animals. Don’t pet other people’s dogs. Always wash your hands,” she says. “It’s really important that people don’t panic.”

Epstein agrees. “I don’t want to create unnecessary concern about pets,” he says, arguing that our emotional connection with cats and dogs may be more critical now than ever. “In these difficult, isolating times,” he says, “there is an importance to having companion animals in your life.”

Dogs Rescued From Homes of Coronavirus Patients in Spain

Animal rescue teams in Madrid worked to collect dogs from homes abandoned by owners hit with the coronavirus.

The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools and forcing millions to work from home. While President Donald Trump insisted the United States was “winning” the war against the virus, individual states dramatically ramped up restrictions, with New York and Illinois joining California in ordering residents to stay home.