Several NGOs asked the Government to protect animals while the measures last

Several non-governmental associations for the protection of animals asked the Government to protect animals, especially the homeless, during the days when measures against the spread of the new corona virus last.

They remind that, in accordance with the measures of the National Authority for Infectious Diseases, in order to protect employees, citizens and volunteers are prohibited from visiting shelters for abandoned animals.

"We welcome that decision, but we also urge that, for this reason, measures be introduced that would additionally protect the animals, and we suggest that veterinary visits and feeding and hygiene be further strengthened," the NGO's letter states.

They add that due to the closure of shops and restaurants, many homeless animals have been left without food and water, and they request that NKT appeal to everyone "to continue feeding homeless animals, with precautionary measures".

"We urge that police and communal controls of public areas be strengthened, not only when it comes to checking the necessity of movement, but also throwing poison on public areas, considering that citizens are reporting to us more frequent poisonings in their neighborhoods and cities," the appeal reads. NGO.

They also demanded that NKT, during the introduction of new measures, information and communication with the public, in the coming period, consider owned and homeless animals whose lives depend directly on human help and care.

"You are calling for solidarity towards each other, and we ask you to also call for solidarity towards the currently most vulnerable who depend directly on humans and do not pose a danger according to the current information regarding COVID-19," the NGO's letter states.

They also add that according to the World Health Organization, dogs and cats do not transmit the coronavirus, nor can they be infected with it.

"And that should be made clear to the public. The president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), Dr. Shane Ryan, said that the current evidence still strongly indicates that COVID-19 cannot pass from pets to humans," it is stated in letter to NGO Spas, Friends of Animals, Ruka Sapi, Kottor kitties, Šapice, House of Animals, Nikšić Association for Animal Protection, Active Zone and Feniks.

The Veterinary Chamber recently announced that "based on OIE research, there is no danger of the infection being transmitted from animals." They said that veterinarians are on duty 24 hours a day and appealed to animal owners to schedule examinations.

Who cares about the pets of people in quarantine and isolation

The "Animal House" recently sent a request to the Government to answer what happens to the pets of citizens who returned to Montenegro from abroad and were sent to quarantine.

"The Ministry of the Interior, the border police and the sanitary inspection are taken aback by this situation and do not have an appropriate and unique one," reads the request signed by the director of the NGO Danijela Rešetar.

He adds that it is also unclear who is in charge of the owners' pets who have been ordered to self-isolate or are undergoing treatment, and adds that this NGO has taken care of seven dogs of owners who have been ordered to self-isolate in the last five days.