Last week’s Delta variant menace in Macau has forced some people into quarantine, and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has offered to take care of their pets, an IAM statement said on Friday.
According to the statement, due to the special circumstances, the bureau decided to offer temporary homes for pets whose owners are undergoing quarantine, in order to ensure that the pets “are well taken care of”.
The statement said that after receiving the affected residents’ requests, the bureau is sending animal carers to the pet owners’ flats to move the pets to the Coloane Municipal Kennel’s temporary quarantine area. The statement pointed out that the pets’ basic needs will be taken care of and they will also receive checkups and veterinary care. The bureau also said that it will disinfect their living area and items regularly, aiming to allow the pet owners to be at ease while in quarantine.
The statement noted that since last year, the bureau has provided the service to four families, comprising a dog and six cats. The statement said all the pets are in good health, and none of them has shown COVID-19 symptoms, pointing out that four cats are still at the kennel waiting for their owners to pick them up after quarantine.
The statement said that the Coloane Municipal Kennel has an animal quarantine area, adding that the animal carers abide by the Health Bureau’s (SSM) guidelines.
According to the statement, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has pointed out that there is no evidence to prove that a pet infected with COVID-19 could transmit the disease to humans. Therefore, the bureau stressed that residents need not worry about their pets catching the novel coronavirus. The bureau also urged pet owners to take care of their personal and their pet’s hygiene. Moreover, the bureau also suggested that those who undergo quarantine contact close friends or relatives to temporarily take care of their pets in order to avoid separation anxiety.
Lastly, the bureau underlined that pets should not be left at home alone, adding that if needed residents could alert the bureau to provide support.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Friday shows one of its animal carers checking up on a quarantinee’s pet at the Coloane Municipal Kennel.
