NORTHAMPTON — COVID-19 has prompted many people to plan ahead, as can be evidenced by the lack of rice or toilet paper at the grocery store. But how many people are giving as much attention to the care of their pets?
Carmine DiCenso, executive director of the Dakin Humane Society, is asking that pet owners come up with a safety plan for their animals if they become ill with COVID-19 and are unable to care for them.
“We don’t want to be that first choice,” DiCenso said.
The society, which has shelter locations in Springfield and Leverett, already has taken in animals — two cats and four dogs – from four owners who have fallen ill with COVID-19. The animals were accepted under the shelter’s Safety Plan for Animals program, which was set up to take care of the animals of owners fleeing domestic violence, displaced by fires or hospitalized, among other scenarios.
DiCenso said the Dakin Humane Society anticipated that as COVID-19 began to make its way across the nation, some pet owners would become infected and be hospitalized locally.
“Before long, it did happen,” he said.
Extra precautions are taken with animals brought from the residences of those sick from the new coronavirus, DiCenso said. Although he characterized the transmission risk as low, he said that the virus can stay on animal fur, so the animals are kept in quarantine for 14 days, and staff handle them with protective gear.
“There’s definitely, on the shelter end, a lot more precautions that we take,” he said.
DiCenso said the goal of the program is to reunite the animals with their owners. However, two of the owners who have relied on the program have since died. One of the animals, a dog by the name of Sampa, has already been adopted.
He said there had been a lot of people interested in adopting Sampa. He also said that Sampa’s late owner had been very concerned with her well-being, asking about her when he regained consciousness.
“Literally the first thing that he talked about was that, when he was able to,” DiCenso said. “It’s very heartwarming to know that she’ll be in a home very quickly.”
Steps are being taken for the adoption of the pets of the other owner who died, he said.
If an animal requires surgery or needs medication, the shelter may look for compensation, DiCenso said, though there’s no cost to the owners for feeding and taking care of their pets at the shelter while they recover.
“We really see ourselves as a community-minded organization,” DiCenso said. “We are happy that we can provide that service.”
However, DiCenso urged pet owners to come up with a plan that doesn’t involve Dakin, as its resources are limited. He suggested pet owners arrange for family members, friends or neighbors to take care of pets if they become unable to do so.
“Have a couple months worth of food,” said DiCenso, who also suggested having any medications needed on hand for the animal, and instructions on how to deliver them.
If such plans fall through, DiCenso suggested Dakin can serve as a safety net.
For pet caregivers, DiCenso suggested using protective gear with the animal and washing one’s hands after interacting with it. Similarly, he suggested walking animals in private spaces away from others. He said the risk of contracting COVID-19 from touching an animal is “minimal,” citing experts.
DiCenso said that an animal whose owner is unable to take care of it because of COVID-19 should be kept in the residence if possible, and that those looking to move someone else’s pet into their own residence should consult a veterinarian first.
As a nonprofit, DiCenso said Dakin Humane Society gets its income from programs, donations and services, and with programs and services suspended, donations have become more important than ever for its operation.