Animal welfare in Covid-19 pandemic: A review on impact and managemental strategies

ABSTRACT

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), third acute infectious illness, instigated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, confirmed as infectious disease pandemic globally by World health organization, spread rapidly in China and then worldwide. As the novel coronavirus pandemic spreads globally with overwhelming outcomes on individual health, pets and animals have also become unnecessary targets amongst the pandemic panic. In the face of a global pandemic, domesticated and companion animals are relegated to the most vulnerable stratification of society. Prolonged lockdown has greatly reduced food resources for animals. This situation is worrying for all of us that so far the welfare of animals in lockdown situations has not been managed. The author provides an overview of rapidly expanding COVID-19 current perspective, its impact on domestic, pets, wild animals and managemental strategies are also discussed. Inappropriately, even though pets and other animal species have continually served as sentinels for emergent transmissible infections, they are currently not included in prerogative of any federal agency and are not under reconnaissance. This review also highlights the role of organizations that are providing food supplies for pets in this pandemic of COVID-19. This article also emphasizes on programmatic and legislative developments of animal welfare and offers suggestions to protect the nature, pets and wildlife during pandemic situations. There is also a need to divert the attention of people towards the safety of domestic animals as well as wild animals are compulsory for their survival.