The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 19th that another dog had tested positive for COVID-19 repeatedly. Previously, a pet squirrel dog had tested weakly positive for COVID-19, and the first dog died on the 16th. The second dog in Hong Kong who tested positive for COVID-19 was a German wolfhound living in Pokfulam District. After his owner confirmed that he was infected with COVID-19, he and another Tanggu were sent to the Animal Residence at Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge Port for quarantine on the 18th. The sample of Tang dog did not show a positive reaction to the test.
Although the virus test was positive, the dog did not show any related symptoms. The other dog that was sent to quarantine together did not test positive for the virus and did not show any related symptoms. A spokesperson for the Fisheries and Conservation Department stated that they will continue to closely monitor the aforementioned dogs and conduct repeated tests on them. The spokesman stressed that at present, there is no evidence that pets will transmit COVID-19 to humans or become ill as a result. Pet keepers should maintain good hygiene habits and should not abandon pets. To ensure the health of the public and animals, AFCD strongly recommends that pets (mammals, including cats and dogs) living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 or their close contacts be arranged to be quarantined at AFCD quarantine facilities. Previously, the squirrel dog of Hong Kong horse owner Zhou Qiaoer was found to have a low level of infection, and the results of multiple tests conducted by the Fisheries and Conservation Department were negative. The dog was returned to its owner on the 14th, but died two days later. Zhou Qiaoer is unwilling to conduct a post-mortem examination on the dog to determine the cause of death.