Row Over Covid-19 Cat Facing Deportation Back To China

Animal activists are demanding a stowaway cat that arrived in Indian on a container ship from China that is facing deportation back to the COVID-19-hit country be given asylum.

The moggy is reportedly being held in quarantine at Chennai Port in the city of the same name in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu pending deportation back to China where cats are not treated humanely, according to People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In response, PETA India’s manager of veterinary services Rashmi Gokhale has reportedly sent a letter to the port authority stating that there is no scientific evidence that cats can contract or transmit COVID-19.

The American Veterinary Medical Association states on its website: “Multiple international health organisations have indicated that pets and other domestic animals are not considered at risk of contracting COVID-19.”

PETA also said that it is difficult to establish where the cat got onto the ship and said it is unlikely that it managed to survive the 10- to 20-day trip to India without food or water.

Ships leaving China for Chennai usually dock in Singapore or Colombo in Sri Lanka, as well as other locations, and the containers are opened to offload the cargo, meaning it is possible the cat entered the vessel at any of the stopping points.

PETA is concerned that the cat will be treated cruelly if sent back to China and are trying to find it a loving home in India once all the necessary quarantine assessments and vaccinations have been completed.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Lee BullenSub-EditorJoseph Golder,  Agency: Asia Wire Report

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