How People Helped Man's Best Friend During Covid-19

Animals may have been kept from starvation, but medicare was another matter. With veterinary clinics closed, and curfew preventing vets from visiting homes, pet owners were stranded. Again, any number of pets may have died due to lack of care, but such incidents have not been recorded

- Gamini Akmeemana

No historical event, no matter how unexpected and terrifying, is entirely bleak or negative. One of the most positive aspects to emerge in this country from the novel Coronavirus debacle is a visible concern for the suffering of stray animals – dogs, cats, and even birds such as pigeons and crows.

The sudden curfew which descended over the island from March 27 left many people with no option but to go hungry, or fall back on a bare existence at best. Many of those who were better off were moved to help the less fortunate. But this was a more or less invisible train of events between individuals.

A clearer picture emerged where animals were concerned. There were reports of dogs dying of hunger in rural areas. As far as we know, no one has been able to compile any record of such events, so we may never know if many died, or if these were isolated incidents.

In Colombo, however, many people were engaged in feeding stray dogs and cats. One could see them going around in cars, vans and three-wheelers doing this. Some did it regularly during the two months of curfew, while others did so on a one off basis. Undoubtedly, this spirit of generosity helped save many of the city’s stray animal population from starvation and death.