In spite of several advisories issued by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health clarifying that pet animals do not carry the risk of Coronavirus, people still seem to be sceptical. According to the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) in Parel, which is a non-profit veterinary hospital recognised by the state, there has been 30 per cent rise in people opting for unnecessary vaccines for their pets.
Pet owners are opting for influenza vaccines for their pets. There have even been several cases of people abandoning their pet animals due to the coronavirus scare. Earlier this month, there had been misleading hoardings and banners that were put up stating 'do not come in direct contact with pet animals' which could have increased panic among people. Deputy Commissioner of Maharashtra Centre for Disease Control B. Shaikh said that the billboards have been removed.
Talking about the same, animal activist Vrati Ahuja said, "These hoardings are misleading and can create panic. There have been several instances of people burying and killing thousands of live animals especially chicken across the state. With such hoardings, people won't even think further and kill more animals out of fear. These billboards have come up at prominent locations like Andheri, Santacruz, Flora Fountain, Colaba and other places. We do not want panic or rumours."
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has also cleared the air and shared that COVID-19 does not get transmitted through poultry. FSSAI issued a statement on Tuesday, which reads, "The predominant route or transmission of 2019-nCoV (coronavirus) appears to be human to human as per OIE, though COVID-19 may have had an animal source, which requires further investigation. Poultry has not been found to be involved in the transmission of 2019-nCoV to humans so far in any report globally".
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