Pets and livestock guidance

No. There is absolutely no evidence to show transmission from pets to humans. 

However, for all pets, the virus can be present on their fur for a short period of time, in the same way it is on other surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs.  That’s why our main advice for animal owners continues to be to practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands thoroughly (for 20 seconds with soap and water) after touching your pet. 

Please see the COVID-19 Guidance on Bathing Pets & Livestock if you are bringing a pet to the island.

It is advised that you have a Pet Care Plan in place and accessible, in the event that you cannot care for your pet for a period of time. You should have:

• A plan for who might be able to care for your pet in the event of emergency
• Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your pet
• Your vet’s contact details

It is possible that COVID-19 can be passed between cats and ferrets, as a precaution, we advise that:

• You keep your cat/ferret indoors if you are self-isolating and avoid unnecessary contact with your pet such as cuddling or letting them lick your face until you receive a negative result.
• You keep your cat(s)/ferret(s) indoors if they have respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and contact your vet for advice.
• You wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pets.

If you are not able to keep your cat/ferret indoors then it should be collected by a designated friend/family member who can ensure that the pet remains indoors for a period of 2 weeks or until its symptoms no longer exist.

• The pet and all items associated with it (e.g. bed, collar, leash, toys etc.) must be thoroughly washed and dried on arrival at the home of the carer so as to avoid virus spread.
• Guidance on how to clean the pet appropriately is available in the document titled “COVID-19 Guidance on Bathing Pets & Livestock” below.
• Please adhere to the social distancing and hygiene guidance when collecting pets.

• You cannot walk your dog if you are in self-isolation, nor can any family members or friends. However, a professional dog walker may walk your dog once a day so long as they adhere to the guidance on this page. 
• If you have a suitable, enclosed outdoor space you can exercise your dog in your garden.
• If you do not have suitable outdoor space you should have your dog collected by a designated friend/family member/boarding facility who should care for the dog for the entire period of self-isolation until you have received a negative test result.
• The dog and all items associated with it (e.g. bed, collar, leash, toys etc.) must be thoroughly washed and dried on arrival at the home of the carer/boarding facility so as to avoid virus spread.
  • Guidance on how to clean the pet appropriately is available in the document titled “COVID-19 Guidance on Bathing Pets & Livestock” below.
  • Please adhere to the social distancing and hygiene guidance when collecting pets.

• Your dog can be walked by professional dog walkers or family members/friends provided that they adhere to the guidance provided in the section below titled “Advice for professional dog walkers”

• You cannot walk your dog if you are in self-isolation, nor can any family members or friends. See “What do I do with my dog if I am in self-isolation?”
• Dogs from non-isolating households can interact and play with those from different households.
  • It is still good doggy etiquette not to allow an off leash dog to approach one that is kept on a leash.
• It is standard veterinary advice that you wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pet.

Professional dog walkers can walk dogs from non-isolating households following the advice below:

• You MUST NOT work if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, are in self-isolation or receive a positive result.
• Dogs from non-isolating households can be walked together and socialise with dogs from other households whilst out on a walk.
• It is still advised that a strict hygiene protocol is in place.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

Professional dog walkers can walk dogs from isolating households following the advice below:

• The owner doesn't have symptoms/hasn't tested positive,
• The dog walker has no contact with the owner when collecting the dog,
• The dog walker uses their own lead, doesn’t walk the dog with other dogs, ideally only walks the dog in the area surrounding the owners home and, if that is not possible (due to health/behavioural issues), the dog walker cleans their car after transporting an isolating dog.
• Each dog is only walked once per day.

Groomers can groom pets from non-isolating households following the advice below:

• You MUST NOT work if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, are in self-isolation or receive a positive result.
• You MUST NOT groom pets from households in self-isolation.
• Pets from different households can be groomed simultaneously.
• It is still advised that a strict hygiene protocol is in place.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

Boarding facilities can continue to board pets from non-isolating and isolating households, please adhere to the following:

• You MUST NOT work if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, are in self-isolation or receive a positive result.
• It is still advised that a strict hygiene protocol is in place.
• Boarding facilities should keep a record of all the animals in their care for track and trace purposes.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

When collecting pets from self-isolating households, the following must be adhered to in addition to the above:

• Operators should collect the pet from the owner’s residence and take it to boarding facility. You MUST NOT come into contact with the owner, or anyone else in the household.
• Where possible, the owner should let their dog out into a secure garden for you to collect the dog outdoors. Where this is not possible, you must call the owner before entering their house to collect their dog to ensure that the owner is not present at the time of collection. You must use your own leash to collect the dog, not the leash belonging to the owner.
• Cats should be put in a crate and left in a secure garden for collection. Where this is not possible, you must call the owner before entering the house to collect the crated cat to ensure that the owner is not present at the time of collection.
• Collection of pets must be done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Contact with the pet should be kept to a minimum.  
• You must wash/sanitise your hands before and after collecting pets. Wearing disposable gloves is also acceptable. It is advised that you wear a face covering when collecting pets.
• Pets from non-isolating households CANNOT be collected in the same trip as those from isolating households.
• Please note that pets from self-isolating households cannot go for day care.
• Vehicles and all contact surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after collecting pets.
• Pets and all items associated with them (e.g. bed, collar, leash, toys etc.) must be thoroughly washed and dried on arrival at the boarding facility so as to avoid virus spread. Animals from isolating households must not be in contact with those from non-isolating households until after the pet has been bathed.
  • Guidance on how to clean the pet appropriately is available in the document titled “COVID-19 Guidance on Bathing Pets & Livestock” below.

Yes. If you are self-isolating, your pet can go into boarding facilities if no other arrangements can be made to care for your pet, provided that the facility is happy to take your pet.

• You MUST NOT take your pet to the boarding facility. Pets must be collected from the individual’s home by the boarding facility.
• Please contact the boarding facility directly.
• See “Advice for boarding facilities” for further information.

Animal trainers and behaviourists can offer their services provided that they adhere to the following:

• You MUST NOT work if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, are in self-isolation or receive a positive result.
• You can only train pets from households in self-isolation virtually.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

• Have a Pet Care Plan in place and accessible, in the event that you cannot care for your horse for a period of time. You should have:
  • A plan for who might be able to care for your horse in the event of emergency
  • Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your horse
  • Your vet’s contact details

• An efficient hygiene protocol should still be in place.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

• The abattoir is operating to a normal schedule. Livestock keepers are advised to contact the food business operator directly to book animals in.
• Collection of ‘fallen stock’ continues to operate normally.

• Please refer to the “Advice for those at home in self-isolation” document found here.
• You must not leave the house to walk your dog or attend to other animals. If you have animals located elsewhere (e.g. livestock), please make arrangements for someone else to care for them while you cannot.
• You cannot walk your dog if you are in self-isolation, nor can any family members or friends. See “What do I do with my dog if I am in self-isolation?”. See “What do I do with my dog if I am self-isolating?”
• Avoid unnecessary contact with your pet such as cuddling or letting them lick your face.
• Wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pet.
• If your pet shows clinical signs, please call your veterinary practice for advice. Make sure you tell them if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are awaiting results or are in self-isolation.
• If your pet requires emergency treatment, call the practice for further advice. Do not take your pet to the veterinary surgery unless the vet instructs you to. In that case, you will need to arrange for someone else to transport your pet for treatment.
• Have a Pet Care Plan in place and accessible, in the event that you cannot care for your animal for a period of time. You should have:
  • A plan for who might be able to care for your animal in the event of emergency
  • Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your animal
  • Your vet’s contact details
• You should not ride your horse while self-isolating. If you have a horse in livery, you must not visit them whilst you are self-isolating. You should contact your yard manager to make suitable welfare arrangements.

1. DO NOT take your pet to the vets!
2. Call your vet to describe the symptoms of your pet and explain that you are self-isolating.
3. Your vet will tell you if your pet needs to be brought to the practice.
4. Arrange for a family member/friend to take your pet to the vet on your behalf.
5. Your veterinary practice will have their own protocols in place with regard to pets from self-isolating households. They may request that your friend/family member remains in the vehicle with your pet on arrival at the practice. Your friend/family member will have to call the practice when they arrive to inform the vet that they are waiting in the car park. The vet may come and collect the pet from the car park or invite your friend/family member into the practice with your pet.

• Your veterinary clinic will have their own protocols in place - please contact them for details of their operating procedures.
• See above, titled “What should I do if I am self-isolating and my pet requires emergency veterinary care?”

Please check with these organisations directly for further details.

• Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Link to GSPCA website
• Guernsey Animal Aid: Link to GAA website

Please contact your local supplier for further information. 

Please contact your local organisations for further information.

• Please see the guidance in the downloads below relating to different importation methods. Please also pay attention to the 'COVID-19 Guidance on Bathing Pets & Livestock' below.