Last week, officials from Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department revealed in a press release that the pet dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong had tested positive for a "low level" of the deadly virus.
After having it's oral and nasal cavities tested, the dog's results showed a "weak positive" to the flu-like coronavirus (COVID-19). Despite the positive reading, the autonomous region's government did confirm that the dog did not show any signs of infection or relevant symptoms. Regardless, the pet was quarantined in an animal shelter for a two-week period.
Now, an Australian vet has revealed to 10 Daily News that he has received requests from pet owners to euthanize their dogs - despite there still being ZERO evidence that the virus can be transmitted from dogs.
Speaking to the news outlet, Dr Sam Kovac of Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic in St Peters, Sydney, said: "[Pet owners are] scared their dog could catch coronavirus and bring it home and be a risk to their family.
"I had one client say to me: 'Dogs are in lockdown in China, should I be putting Cheto into quarantine at home?'"
Dr Kovac added that he has refused to put the pets to sleep, opting to instead explain to concerned owners that the common coronavirus seen in dogs is not the same as the one causing a global epidemic, the Daily Mail reports.
The vet also revealed that he was "disturbed" that pet owners would seek to euthanize their dogs, saying:
"If you'd ask the same clients if they'd euthanize their grandma, they'd say no. Why have a pet and treat it differently to how you'd treat another family member?
"If my dog Clara had been infected with [COVID-19], I would isolate her, I would wear protective equipment while interacting with her and feeding her and isolate her for a few weeks."
Per the Veterinary's official website, "[Dr Kovac] founded Southern Cross Vet in the heart of St Peters, bordering on Alexandria to the west, Marrickville to the east and Newtown to the north, to offer pet parents a new level of service but with reasonable fees."
Experts - including those from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) - have since unanimously agreed that "there is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they can become sick."
In addition, per the Daily Mail, NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant issued a statement last month warning dog lovers there was no risk:
"'While the 2019-nCoV may have come from animals, domestic pets do not pose a risk of transmission in Australia."