Hong Kong is suspected of having the world's first hamster naturally infected with the new coronavirus. The government yesterday (18th) ordered the largest humane animal destruction action since the epidemic. About 1,000 hamsters in the pet store in Hong Kong, as well as the warehouse and branch of the pet store Little Boss All about 1,000 animals were humanely destroyed.
The incident caused panic among pet owners. In less than a day, it has triggered a wave of abandonment. Many citizens found traces of hamsters on the streets of many districts and called for help on the Internet.
Some concerned organizations said that they had received more than 170 inquiries, received more than 60 hamsters and found new owners for them, but more of them were busy explaining and dispelling their thoughts, hoping that after calming down, the owners would understand that abandoning hamsters is not necessary.
▼1.19 Citizens hand over hamsters to AFCD for humane destruction▼
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Hamsters were found in many districts in Lai Chi Kok, Yuen Long
Since the government issued the "Rat Killing Order", a hamster rescue operation has been launched on the Internet, and traces of hamsters have been found in Hang Hau, Tai Wo, Yuen Long, Tin Hau, Lam Tin, Lai Chi Kok, etc. Some citizens even found that someone had abandoned more than 10 hamsters at a time , appealing to enthusiastic families to receive.
When receiving a case for help, many citizens expressed their willingness to vote to avoid letting small animals live on the streets.
Volunteers call to lobby to give up the idea of and match abandoned hamsters with new owners
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01", Ms. Chen, the person in charge of "Palm Life - Hong Kong Hamster Concern Association", said that more than 10 volunteers answered public inquiries non-stop, matched new owners for abandoned hamsters, and were busy communicating with abandoned families by phone , Some voices are full of reluctance, but the family is worried that the hamster will infect the children and the elderly at home, so they can only bear the tears and give up, some voices are very decisive, and they do not discuss in depth in the face of a tough attitude, worrying about impatient, would rather kill the hamster. Abandoned on the street.
Some voices are full of reluctance, but family members are worried that hamsters will infect young children and the elderly, so they can only give up in tears, and some voices are very decisive... A girl in her 20s called with tears to ask for the adoption of hamsters at home, I You can only do your best.
Ms. Chen, the person in charge of "Life in the Palm - Hong Kong Hamster Concern Association"
Ms. Chen admitted that she can only "do everything". Some families calm down and their attitudes may soften. She acts as a commentator to explain that the hamster's situation is not as imagined and must be abandoned, so as not to bring regrets in life. He tried his best to explain and successfully dispelled the idea of abandoning more than 20 families.
She remembered that a girl in her 20s called with tears to ask for the adoption of the hamster at home, saying that her family insisted on sending it away, otherwise it would be sent to the Fisheries and Conservation Department today. He explained that his home was a hamster that was adopted in mid-December last year. They lived in a home environment for a long time, and the risk was not high. They successfully relieved their worries.
One day is "overloaded". Concerned that the head of the association has temporarily cared for 50 hamsters at home
Chen Zhi said that the number of abandoned hamsters has reached "overload". He has temporarily entrusted about 50 hamsters in his home, insisting on "one mouse per cage", but the number of abandoned hamsters is too large. Abandoned hamsters mainly involve improper breeding, high medical expenses, family opposition and immigration.
Concerned about the association: hamsters infected have a chance to recover, not all at once humane destruction
She said that from this morning to noon, about 10 cases of abandoned hamsters were found on the streets. Some of them were carried in cages, but the sanitary conditions were poor. There were also abandoned hamsters walking around on the street. , Rabbit was also abandoned.
If the hamster was purchased on or after December 22 last year and had an upper respiratory tract infection, she admitted that the association would not accept it. In addition to protecting the hamsters at home from infection, it was also for the safety of the volunteers and family members who served, but stressed that even if the hamsters were infected Infections also have a chance to recover, not humane destruction all at once.
She appealed to hamster owners to analyze rationally, not to give up easily, and to make an appointment with a veterinarian for a physical examination of the hamster if necessary.
Suspend the acceptance of hamster love association: the owner should not panic and abandon it too much
The Association also replied that it has received a lot of inquiries since yesterday, some of them expressed their opinions on the government measures, and also received several inquiries about abandonment. For abandoned pets, pet owners should also keep in mind to maintain strict personal hygiene to ensure the safety of pets.
Respiratory specialist Liang Zichao pointed out that there are relatively few cases in Hong Kong, and there are no local hamster species. When there is animal-to-human transmission, there are obvious additional risks, and the source will naturally be traced, so it is relatively easy to find cases.
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Non-Hong Kong pet risk is particularly high Liang Zichao: foreign countries will not deliberately do animal testing
In addition, Hong Kong has recorded the world's first case of a pet dog infected with COVID-19, the world's second infected cat, and the world's first case of a hamster naturally infected with COVID-19.
Liang Zichao, a specialist in respiratory system, said that when more than 1,000 hamsters are imported from other places, once one of them becomes infected on a local farm or during transportation, it will continue to spread and spread to pet owners without the virus through retail distribution.
He explained that it is not that the risk of infection from pets in Hong Kong is higher, but that when there is a serious outbreak in other places, there has been severe human-to-human transmission. Even if there is human-to-human or animal-to-human transmission, because the proportion is small, they will not be deliberately tested; but the case in Hong Kong is relatively small. There are few and no local hamster species. When there is animal-to-human transmission, there are obvious additional risks. Naturally, the source will be traced, so it is relatively easy to find cases.
▼1.18 AFCD personnel destroy animals at Little Boss in Causeway Bay▼
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Killing hamsters｜Citizens hand over rats to the little owner of the fishing and nursing care to cry and leave a note for the last goodbye: I love the hamster killing order｜The Little Boss in Causeway Bay of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department humanely destroys animals and puts red plastic bags away. About 60 cases of abandonment were received, and the hamsters were called to observe the health of the hamsters. The ratification order | Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: LittleBoss Tai Po warehouse has rats Chuyang is investigating whether the rat is transmitted to humans. need to kill