What does COVID-19 mean for your pet?

COVID-19 & Your Pet

As an organization, we are following guidelines from the CDC to keep our team, visitors and their families safe. We are committed to transparency and want to keep you posted on any day-to-day operational changes. Since this situation is fluid, daily updates will be shared on our website at www.la-spca.org/COVID19.

We know that pet owners and animal advocates are also concerned about COVID-19 means for the animals in our lives. Below are a list of frequently asked questions that we hope you will find useful.

Can pets contract COVID-19?

There is no evidence currently that dogs or cats can contract COVID-19, and there are no reported cases from the CDC of dogs or other pets contracting COVID-19.

Can pets transmit COVID-19?

While COVID-19is believed to originate from an animal source, there is no known reason that the CDC has to believe that pets can spread the virus.

What if I come in contact with someone who has COVID-19 or contract COVID-19 myself?

Per CDC guidelines, individuals who come in contact with, or contract, COVID-19 should avoid additional contact with other people and pets. If you must be a caregiver for your pet while you are sick, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands before and after interacting with them and wear a face mask when you are around them. Do not cuddle or pet your animal, share food with your pet, or let your pet lick you while you are sick.

What should I do to prepare my pet?

As always, you should include your pet in any disaster planning and always be prepared to implement your pet’s emergency plan including:

Identifying a caregiver for your pet in times of emergency or illness
Keeping your pet up-to-date with vaccinations and keeping updated medical paperwork on hand
Keep a two-week supply of food and medications on hand and ensure all medications and dosages are documented
Ensure your pet’s microchip information is up-to-date and they have proper identification (collar and ID tags) on at all times

Have more questions?

You can visit the CDC’s website for more information on animals and COVID-19.

As we adjust our operations to adhere with local and national recommendations, we ask for your patience and understanding. The animals, our team and visitors safety will remain a top priority during this time.

Woofs & Meows,

Ana Zorrilla
CEO

PS - Did you know that amid the COVID-19 pandemic donations have already begun to drop? If you can, please consider donating today to help the animals in our care. Should we need to close our facility to the public the animals will still need your support!