Domestic cats and dogs may have to be vaccinated in the future against Covid-19 to protect people

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This is a quick note but one worth making nonetheless. I think I can predict that in the long term, perhaps in about 18 months to 2 years time, governments in various countries, perhaps predominantly in the West, will be thinking about vaccinating companion animals as a second phase protective measure against Covid-19.  This is because there is a concern amongst some scientists that animals may create a reservoir for mutant variants of the Covid-19 virus. As the virus is zoonotic it can theoretically and actually be transmitted from animals to people and this must apply also to companion animals. Danish mink farmer with white mink due to be euthanised. Photo per credit Perhaps because of the general panicked nature of governmental responses to the coronavirus pandemic, not enough work has been done on this aspect of the spread of the disease. In addition nobody wants to alarm anybody which may lead to companion animal abuse. In fact, in China, at the outset of the pandemic, there were
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Pet Therapy For British Prisoners

16th June 2014 -- Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Oakwood, near Wolverhampton which is managed by G4S plc have introduced "pet therapy" to try and calm down the inmates. For some reason cats are excluded. The inmates can be responsible for the care of dogs, rabbits and hamsters but not take them to their cells.

There were riots at this prison fairly recently, I recall. I suppose this is a novel attempt to try and stop future discontent and rioting. Do pets calm people down? Well, yes, quite definitely. It has been proven scientifically as far as I remember.

G4S have a poor record. They messed up recruitment when they were contracted to manage security at the Olympics. The army had to step in in their place or in support.

Is pet therapy at a prison a hairbrained scheme? It depends how the prisoners respond. If they embrace it seriously and don't abuse it, it will help I believe.

This is the first scheme of this type in a British prison as far as I know. Let's hope it works but why were cats excluded? Probably because the cat is unsuited  - LOL. Obvious reason. Cats don't like change and some cats won't like the male criminal because they are probably a bit clumsy and insensitive towards a cat. Dangerous for the cat. Also I am sure that most prisoners will be dog types. That is the stereotype.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Can you help me? I am due in court and I think that I may receive a custodial sentence. I live alone without family or close friends. But I have 3 cats. What will happen to them? if there is no organisation to look after them if I go to prison?
25 June 2014 at 22:56
Michael Broad said…
Hi Good luck. If you live in the UK, I would contact Cats Protection in your area and ask them to foster your cats. If the sentence is shortish they may just foster them until you are released. If long they may rehome them. I am guessing because this is an unusual problem.

If you live in the USA there are cat fosterers in the USA. These are individual people working voluntarily for a cat charity who are involved in rehoming. They may be able to help. The fosterer looks after a cat in their home as if they own the cat. They are knowledgeable and good cat people.

I don't know where you are so can't research a particular organisation.

Hope this helps.
26 June 2014 at 08:37
Michael Broad said…
If you live in the UK I have just read this:

The Cinnamon Trust has a network of volunteers to provide help such as walking the dog for an owner who can no longer do so. It has a national pet fostering service for a pet whose owner goes into hospital, and also provides long term care for a pet whose owner has died or moved into accommodation that does not accept pets.
26 June 2014 at 08:44
Michael Broad said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
26 June 2014 at 09:14
Michael Broad said…
I thought a short article was in order based on your question but it is not very good.....

http://cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.org/2014/06/criminal-wants-someone-to-look-after.html
26 June 2014 at 09:15
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