A press release from the SPA announces that its shelters will be closed to the public, due to the spread of Covid-19. A decision that raises fears of a potential wave of dropouts.
by Celine Peschard
The Animal protection Society ((SPA), has decided to close the doors of its shelters, Maisons SPA and other dispensaries in accordance with Covid-19 action plan set up by the government. But the latter, fears a wave of dropouts.
"All scientific sources, with the World Health Organization in mind, agree: Covid-19 does not reach pets like dogs and cats, and they are not involved in the spread of this epidemic" , insists the press release.
SPA alerts fellow citizens "on a catastrophic situation concerning our pets" and "calls on the responsibility of pet owners not to believe rumors about it which could have catastrophic consequences in terms of abandonments ".
"Drastically braked" adoptions
The premises of animal protection associations are already almost all saturated, in terms of capacity.
"The closure of shelters to the public will drastically curb adoptions. If a massive wave of abandonment of pets occurs, this will lead to a wave of massive euthanasia in the pound, as provided for by French law", worries the SPA.
"We call on all pet owners, all French people sensitive to the animal cause to massively relay that it would be devoid of common sense and humanity to abandon your pet for false rumors (…) Let us be fair, all together, humans! "said Jacques-Charles Fombonne, the president of the association.
The association PETA France, who fights for the rights of all animals, also spoke:
"PETA is calling on people to use common sense in dealing with these rumors, and to act with compassion towards their pets, who are family members and depend entirely on us."
PETA recalls that "even in this period of confinement, dogs can and must be walked, while respecting official sanitary measures".