Importing dogs into Canada has also introduced a flesh-eating parasite that is transmissible to humans. Veterinarians, researchers and public health officials should work together to curtail the disease.
We're working with professional trainers in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to train dogs to sniff out COVID-19. They could be highly valuable in managing the spread of infection.
Roaming pet cats kill 390 million animals per year in Australia. But keeping cats inside (or contained outside) 24/7 can actually be in their best interest.
Both cats and dogs can become infected with the coronavirus. The chances of them getting sick or passing it on to you or another animal are extremely low.
Chancellor's Chair for Research Excellence; Chair of the Labour Studies Department; Member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists; Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, Brock University