THE Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (Opvet) urged residents of Kalibo, Aklan to wear face masks, face shields and gloves when feeding their pets, especially with the threat of the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Dr. Ronald Lorenzo, a veterinarian and pet welfare advocate, said they received reports that several pets, whose owners were brought to a quarantine facility for Covid-19 treatment, were left neglected for two weeks.
He said to avoid this from happening, owners should wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face mask, face shield and gloves, when feeding the pets to avoid transmission.
"Especially if the pets are going around the community, the pets may catch the virus and bring it to our own homes. We must be vigilant and careful," said Lorenzo.
“Perhaps, a family under quarantine could also request their relatives to feed the pets while they are at the facility,” he added.
For her part, Mabel Sinel, chief of the Opvet-Aklan, said that her office is actively campaigning for responsible pet ownership in the province.
Aklan has already reported 22 Delta variant cases but almost all of the patients have recovered. One patient had died from the disease. (SunStar Philippines)