Since the start of this pandemic, some have wondered if their pets could also be infected with the coronavirus. In March, a Pomeranian in Hong Kong tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, becoming the first animal to contract the virus. Since then, more animals have been identified as having SARS-CoV-2 with many of these animals being exposed to people who were infected with COVID-19. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) has been forced to modify their guidelines with these constant developments, as originally it was believed that animals could not be affected. 

At the Bronx Zoo, five tigers and three lions have tested positive for the virus with these cases being the first known instances of wild animals getting it. The zoo’s chief veterinarian says that these cases most likely came from an asymptomatic zookeeper, considering the zoo has been closed since March 16. Due to these cases, the zoo began taking safety measures to protect their animals that reflect the measures taken by humans. Employees wear masks and goggles and keep a distance of six feet when possible when they are interacting with the animals to try and keep them safe. 

The first household pets to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States were two cats in New York. One of these cats was in a home with an owner who had tested positive for COVID-19; however, the other cat’s family members had no confirmation of having the virus but could have been asymptomatic, mildly ill or had contact with someone with the virus outside of the household. 

Most recently in the U.S., a pug in North Carolina became the first dog in the country to contract the virus. The dog’s owners tested positive for the virus, but the two other animals in the household did not. However, this case differs from the others with the pet testing positive for COVID-19 itself, not the virus that causes it.

On a global scale, two dogs and a cat in Hong Kong, a cat in Spain, and a cat in Belgium have all tested positive for either SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. These animals all had owners that had contracted the coronavirus, furthering the belief that there is a correlation between humans spreading it to animals. However, with the small number of reported cases, there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the connection. 
The CDC says that the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 to humans is very low, but there is enough evidence to support that people can spread the virus to animals. With the development of these cases, the CDC has advised that people take similar distancing measures with their pets as they would with others. They recommend keeping pets from being in contact with other humans or pets and maintaining a distance of six feet from others if on a walk. If a person has the virus, they should try to quarantine themselves away from their pets and wear masks and wash their hands if they have to come into contact with their pets in order to keep their pets safe. Similarly, if a pet contracts the virus, it is recommended that they stay