The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including the way people care for their pets.
From pet supply retailers, to veterinarians, to animal shelters and adoption centers, the virus has impacted the nearly $100 billion American pet industry on every level.
At the North Shore Animal Hospital in Lynn, founder Dr. David Dunn said the hospital is doing everything it can to ensure that pet owners have access to essential services.
“We are just trying to keep people and pets healthy and safe,” said Dunn. “I am worried about the health of our employees and are taking extra safety precautions, but we need to maintain a presence for our clients. We’re lucky we can operate at a lower volume in teams of four. Hopefully we will bounce back from this.”
The hospital has suspended all non-essential services and on-site visits with the exception of emergencies. One of those emergencies was a life-saving surgery last week performed by Dunn on a dog that had ingested a ball.
Shipping fees for medications have been waived. Owners are not allowed inside the building. Instead, employees collect the animals in the parking lot — think curb-side takeout.
Dunn said many dog and cat owners have inquired about whether the virus can be transferred from pets to humans and vice versa.
“Dogs and cats have had coronavirus for years and years, but this is a very different strain that cannot be transferred,” said Dunn, a Lynn native who lives in Nahant. “It’s species specific. There have been two dogs out of the country that had it, but, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), no pets in the United States have had it.”
Monday the CDC confirmed that a Bronx Zoo tiger tested positive for COVID-19 and that it now appears the disease can be transmitted from humans to animals. The CDC maintains there still is no evidence that pets can spread the disease to other animals or humans.
Office manager Lauren Lacey said the hospital is following guidelines issued by the American Veterinary Medical Association. It recommends that anyone with the virus limit contact with their pets and wash their hands before and after any contact with them.
“It’s not a ruling agency, but it issues guidance to vets, which we are grateful to have,” said Lacey, a Nahant resident. “People are looking for answers and comfort and thankfully we are able to give them what they need over the phone. People need to know that they can interact with their pets as they always do, unless they are sick. They should observe the same hygiene practices, such as washing your hands and keeping the animals clean.”
The PetSmart and Petco stores on Broadway in Saugus are open with reduced hours and services, according to information posted on their websites. PetSmart has shut down its grooming service and all training classes, while Petco has suspended its self-serve dog wash, puppy playtime and dog training services. The store is now offering pet hand-off and drop-off options to minimize personal contact.
The Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem closed its doors to the public March 24 and has suspended all adoptions. The shelter is continuing to respond to telephone calls and emails about pets in their care and urgent matters.
Not everyone in the pet industry is hurting.
Online giant Chewy.com has seen a huge spike in orders. With longer delivery times, the company announced April 2 that it plans to hire as many as 10,000 new employees to cover the added demand.
Lacey said her silver lining is that her 6-year-old mastiff, Ernie, is having the time of his life.
“He’s been so happy now that we are home with him more,” said Lacey. “We’ll all be happy when this is over, but I’m not sure a lot of pets will be.”
