Whether you have a dog, cat, alpaca, horse or rabbit, looking after them during this Coronavirus is crucial, as Brooke Ward-Ashton, owner of the peninsula based Furpetsake, explains.

The Corvid-19 pandemic is a confusing time for all us pet mums & dads on the Shotley peninsula. It is clear that we need to do what we can to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.

The easiest way we can help to reduce the spread of the virus is to stay in our homes as much as we can in order to lessen the pressure on the NHS and to help save lives. The government guidelines tell us:

• Only go outside for essentials, this being food, health reasons or work if you cannot work from home
• If you do go out, you must stay six feet away from people who are not from your household
• Do not meet people from other households, even family members and friends
• Only go out once per day for exercise
• Do not drive to walk your dog, walk them from home

Other than not driving in order to exercise your dog there are not many clear rules for pet owner, but remember dogs don't understand social distancing.

Luckily the government has recently provided some advice for pet owners. As a mum of various pets and owner of Furpetsake (a pet care business) I have read through the governments advice and written up an overview in order to help fellow pet parents on the peninsula understand what we can do with our pets during this pandemic.

Firstly, despite many rumours circulating the internet there is no actual evidence of pets can carry or transmit the coronavirus to us pet parents or any other humans. This being said it is still important that we wash our hand thoroughly both before and after touching our pets or their collars and leads.

Now to the pet specific advice.

Dogs:

Advice for those with symptoms:

1. You and your household should quarantine in your house for 7 – 14 days.
2. If this means your dog is not able to be exercised at home via enrichment then you can reach-out to a neighbour, friend or professional service such as Furpetsake to take your dog out for a walk once a day until you are out of quarantine – If this is the case you should leave your dog where they can be collected without putting the walker at risk. May be leave them in the garden to be collected.
3. If your pet does not urgently require veterinary care, please avoid visiting the vets. You should always call the vets ahead of visiting during this time, in order to arrange the best way to meet your pets' medical needs. If the visit is urgent someone else will need to take the dog to the vets for you – you must call the vets in advance in order to give them permission for the carer to receive information and make medical decisions where necessary.

1. Your allotted time to leave the house for exercise should be dedicated to walking your dog.

b. We also have plenty of space out here in the countryside so remember to keep you and your pets six-foot distance from anyone you may see during your walk and keep your dog on a lead to ensure this happens – dogs don't understand social distancing

1. Again, if your pet does not urgently require veterinary care, please avoid visiting the vets. You should always call the vets ahead of visiting during this time, in order to arrange the best way to meet your pets' medical needs.

a. If you do visit the vets with your dog, please remember to wash your hands and remain six feet away from vet staff and anyone who is not from your household

Advice for those walking dogs for someone who is unable to:

1. The government guidelines state that you can leave your home in order to provide care or to help a vulnerable person, this includes walking a dog for someone who is unable to leave their home, because they are quarantining for 7-14 days or are being shielded.
2. You must remember to wash your hands thoroughly both before and after handling the dog
3. You must keep six feet away from other people & animals, including during handover. It is best to collect the dog from somewhere like the garden to minimise contact risks

1. You and your household should quarantine in your house for 7 – 14 days.
2. If you keep your horse on a livery yard, you must not visit them whilst you are quarantining, no matter how much you want to cuddle your four-legged friend

a. You must contact your yard owner in order to make suitable arrangements for your horses' care

1. If you own livestock such as goats, cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep or any other form of livestock you must arrange for someone else to take over their care

a. If this is not possible you should ensure that your animals basic needs are met

c. If you are unable to care for your animal, and no one is able to help, you must contact the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000200301

If your horse requires urgent attention from a farrier:

1. If your horse is in urgent need of attention from a farrier, you must phone your farrier in order to arrange the best method to meet your horses needs
2. You must ensure you remain 6 foot away from the farrier during their visit
3. You must wash your hand thoroughly both before and after contact with your horse

Advice for those without symptoms:

1. Your allotted time to leave the house for exercise should be dedicated to providing care for your horse or livestock

b. You should try lunging, long reining and enrichment in order to exercise your horse

1. It is important that you thoroughly wash your hands both before and after contact with any animals
2. You must remain six foot away from anyone who is not from your household

I hope this gives my fellow pet parents a bit more clarity on how to care for our pets while we are in this pandemic. Let's keep our peninsula safe.

Find Furpetsake in our business directory