Pets and livestock guidance

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

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:

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

Always check the most current guidance on social distancing and self-isolation at www.gov.gg

1. Dog walking can be done within the current daily 4-hour exercise time frame.
2. You should only walk your dog alone or with members of your household.  Observe 2-metre social distancing if you encounter others on your walk.
   • You can walk your dog(s) with one individual from outside of your household whilst adhering to current social distancing, permitted they do not have a dog of their own with them and they avoid physical contact with your dog(s).
3. It is advised that you do not let your dog engage in rough play with other dogs who are not in your household to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
4. It is advised that you avoid physical contact with other people’s pets to prevent potential spread of the virus.     
5. If someone does not have control of their dog, it is advised that the other individual should walk away with their dog so as to avoid breaching the 2-metre social distancing guidelines.
6. Should I walk my dog on a lead?
   • If you normally walk your dog off a lead, continue to do so but always carry a lead with you. Practice your dog’s recall on walks so you do not have to approach people from other households to retrieve you dog.
   • If you know that your dog is particularly bad with its recall and easily distracted by passing dogs/people then it is in the owner’s best interest to walk their dog on a leash so as to avoid breaching the 2-metre social distancing guidelines.

Professional dog walkers are not obliged to continue to provide their service, but should they decide to, they should follow this advice:

• You cannot walk dogs from households that are self-isolating, infected with COVID-19 or awaiting results
• Dogs can only be walked from one household at a time and if you encounter others on your walk, 2 metres social distancing should be maintained. The only exemption to this is if dogs are going into long term boarding and they are being fully bathed and everything is disinfected before being introduced to other dogs.
• It is advised that you do not let dogs engage in rough pay with other dogs who are not in the same household. Fleeting interactions between dogs are unlikely to transfer the virus but rough play and prolonged periods of time together increases the risk.
• If you know the dog and normally walk it off a leash, continue to do so but always carry a leash with you. Practice the dog’s recall on walks so you do not have to approach people from other households to retrieve the dog.
• If you don’t know the dog or know that the dog is particularly bad with its recall and easily distracted by passing dogs/people then it is in the walker’s best interest to walk the dog on a leash so as to avoid breaching the 2-metre social distancing guidelines.
• As always, it is standard advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching or feeding a dog, or cleaning up after them.
• It is especially important for professional dog walkers to observe strict hygiene protocols, given that they have so many animals in their care.
• It is advised that the vehicles of professional dog walkers are cleaned and disinfected between each walk.

If owners are showing symptoms of covid-19, are awaiting results or have been diagnosed with covid-19, they should NOT be taking their pets to the groomer, nor should anybody else, until they are cleared as NEGATIVE to the virus. Similarly, groomers should not be operating their business if they are showing signs, awaiting results or diagnosed with the virus!

Here are a few options that we believe to be the safest methods of handover in terms of both human and animal health and wellbeing:

• Create a double gated system:
  • Dog crates should be put within a second secure unit e.g. a shed or annex so as to minimise the risk of dogs escaping.
  • Owners should place their dog within the crate, remove their lead and collar and take them away with them.
  • The groomer should collect the dog some minutes after the owner has left the dog in the crate so as to minimise stress to the animal and avoid contact with one another.
  • The double gated system ensure that dogs do not escape onto the road (especially as they do not have a lead/collar on).
  • A slip lead would also be beneficial in this circumstance to avoid losing control of the dog.
• Groomers provide a slip lead for the owners to put onto their own pet.
  • The pets own collar and lead are then removed by the owner once the slip lead is in place and they have handed over the slip lead (and dog) to the groomer.
  • The groomer should be wearing gloves and ensure that they wash their hands before and after every handover. 
  • Ideally, the owner and groomer should not be stood downwind from one another so as to avoid the risk of infection from each other’s expired air.
  • Slip leads should be disinfected after use.

• Groomers collect the animals from their owners, whilst wearing full PPE (however, with worldwide PPE shortages, this method is probably the least recommended).

Additional advice to groomers:

• Allocate specific drop off/collection times for each owner so as to avoid unnecessary contact.
• Always adhere to the 2-metre social distancing guidelines and ensure to make the handover quick and efficient.
• Wash your hands between every drop off/collection of dogs and wear disposable gloves which are changes between each drop off/collection.
• Avoid touching your face
• Do not allow owners into the premises.
• Disinfect surfaces, crates, grooming equipment and leads etc. between each animal.
• Only groom one owner’s dog at any one time.
• Make payments over the phone or online.
• Mobile groomers should clean and disinfect their vehicle, surfaces, crates, grooming equipment and leads etc. between each client.

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

• You keep your cat(s) indoors if they are primarily indoor cat(s).
• You do not engage in unnecessary contact with your cat(s), such as hugging them and letting them lick your face.
• You do not feed or engage with other people’s cats.
• You avoid physical contact with other people’s pets to prevent potential spread of the virus.

Always check for the most current guidance on social distancing and self-isolation at www.gov.gg

1. Providing food and care for horses and other animals is essential, even if they are kept at a location that is distant from your own home.
2. Observe the 2-metre social distancing guidelines when travelling to and from fields/barns to tend to your horse(s).
3. Horse riding can be done within the current daily 4-hour exercise time frame provided you social distance.
   • An individual from outside your household can walk alongside you while you ride, provided that you adhere to the 2-metre social distancing guidelines and do not travel together in the same vehicle to the location (e.g. beach).
   • It is important to consider your safety as a rider so as not to divert medical services from essential duties.
4. If your horse needs a visit from the vet, it is possible that they will bring along a clinic staff member to hold your horse during procedures in order to maintain social distancing.
5. 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

1. It is possible that farriers will bring along a staff member to hold your horse during procedures in order to maintain social distancing.
2. Non-essential treatments will not be undertaken for the time being, this is likely to change as lockdown eases and routine visits can be permitted.

• Livery yards and riding stables must consider how to adapt their businesses to meet animal care needs while adhering to the public health guidance.
• If assistance is required to run a facility then the owners of livery yards and riding stables should apply for permission through the non-clinical Covod-19 help line to enlist people to assist with their duties.

1. Providing food and care for all of the animals in your charge must continue, even if your animals are kept at a location that is distant from your own home. Please observe social distancing guidelines when traveling to and from fields or barns.
2. If your animal needs to be seen by a vet, it is possible that the vet will bring along a clinic staff member to hold your animal during procedures in order to maintain social distancing.
3. The abattoir is currently not operating to a normal schedule at present, contact the food business operator directly.
4. Collection of ‘fallen stock’ continues to operate normally.

1. Please refer to the "Advice for those at home in Self-Isolation" document which can be found on this page: How to protect ourselves.
2. 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.
3. Avoid unnecessary contact with your pet such as cuddling or letting them lick your face.
4. Wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pet.
5. 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.
6. 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. Arrange for someone else to transport your pet should they need treatment.
7. 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
8. 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. Contact your yard manager to make suitable welfare arrangements.

1. Veterinary clinics are working hard to meet the welfare needs of your animals.
2. Pet owners must not arrive at a veterinary practice without first telephoning them so it can be determined if a face to face consultation is necessary.
3. Veterinary practices have adapted their procedures and it may be possible to conduct a telephone or video consultation therefore avoiding a face to face meeting. 
4. You will only be asked to attend the veterinary practice if urgent assessment and/or treatment is required or to collect medication.
5. Rather than walking into the clinic with your animal, check whether you should wait in the car until a staff member comes to collect your pet for treatment. 
6. Ensure that you always adhere to 2-metre social distancing.
7. Payments should be made over the phone/online where possible.
8. Prescribing requirement for vets have been relaxed in the lockdown.  Vets may be able to provide prescriptions and repeat prescriptions without having to meet you or your pet face to face. Contact your vet directly for advice.
9. As restrictions are slowly lifted, vets will provide a greater variety of services.  Vets will use professional judgement to ascertain what is necessary for the health and welfare of animal(s) in question.
10. Be patient.  Veterinary practices are trying their best to make things run smoothly, social distancing works better when things are not rushed.

Local animal welfare and animal rescue organisations are implementing procedures to prioritise their work and safeguard their staff, volunteers and clients. Check with these organisations directly for further details.

Check their procedures with them directly.

1. If you are: self-isolating, waiting for a result or have received a positive result for COVID-19 your pet should NOT be taken to a groomer at all until you have received a NEGATIVE result, or have completed your period of self-isolation.
2. Always call the groomer if there are any issues/you cannot make an appointment.
3. Always check the most current guidance on social distancing and self-isolation at www.gov.gg
4. Always adhere to the 2 metre social distancing guidelines and ensure to make the handover quick and efficient.
5. Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face after interactions.
6. Make payments over the phone/online.
7. Gloves/masks can be worn by yourselves when dropping off your pets but it is not essential.
8. Be patient, the groomers are trying their best to make things run smoothly, social distancing works better when things are not rushed.

Bailiwick suppliers of pet food, livestock feed and animal supplies are adapting their procedures to ensure social distancing.

Events and public gathering are not permitted at this time. Please contact your local organisations for further information.

It is not advised to import animals at this time.  For further guidance call the covid-19 helpline on: 01481 717118 or email covid19enquiries@gov.gg