COVID-19 Recommendations for Pet Stores, Pet Distributors, and Pet Breeding Facilities

CDC recommends that pet stores, pet distribution facilities, and pet breeding facilities act in accordance with state and local jurisdictional guidance when considering reopening or continuing operations.

Currently, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to people. CDC is aware of a small number of animals worldwide, including cats, dogs, mink, and lions, reportedexternal icon to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  These infections usually occur after close contact with people with known COVID-19. It is possible that other common small mammal pets (such as guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, chinchillas, sugar gliders, rats, mice, etc.) could get infected with SARS-CoV-2. Other animals sold in pet stores including, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects do not appear to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.  Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by the virus that causes COVID-19 and the role animals may play in the spread of the virus among people.

For more information on animals that can be affected by SARS-CoV-2, see COVID-19 and Animals.

What to do if an animal in a pet store, pet distribution facility, or pet breeding facility is suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection

Routine testing of companion animals for SARS-CoV-2 is currently not recommended. Animal testing for SARS-CoV-2 is available for mammalian species in certain situations; testing is not currently available for amphibians, reptiles, fish, or birds. Any facility that suspects a sick animal may be infected with SARS-CoV-2 should consult with their facility veterinarian. If the veterinarian suspects that the animal may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, they should contact their State Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV)pdf iconexternal icon or  State Animal Health Official (SAHO)external icon immediately.  After other common causes of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease are ruled out, the SPHV and/or SAHO will engage national animal health and public health officials to decide whether SARS-CoV-2 testing is warranted, based on current guidance for Evaluating and Testing Companion Animals for SARS-CoV-2.

If an animal is suspected to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, consult with a veterinarian to ensure that the animal is handled safely and received medical care if needed. The animal should be isolated and not have contact with people or other animals in the facility. Workers at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should avoid contact with the sick animal.

• Follow established recommendations for use of personal protective equipment (PPE) based on animal history. Workers should wear gloves, mask, and goggles or face shield when working near sick animals.

Animal testing for SARS-CoV-2

Once the decision to test has been made, the SPHV and/or SAHO will initiate investigation, specimen collection, and testingpdf iconexternal icon, in coordination with CDC and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  State animal health laboratories can conduct animal testing, but any positive samples need to be confirmed through additional testing by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

If an animal tests positive

Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals are posted by animal type, date, and state on USDA’s websiteexternal icon and must be reported by USDA to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).external icon If an animal tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, a One Health investigation should be initiated that involves collaboration between the facility and state and federal partners including public health and animal health officials to address human health, animal health, and animal welfare. CDC does not recommend euthanasia of animals that test positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Additional guidance for what to do if a companion animal tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 is available.

How to protect people and animals in pet stores, pet distribution facilities, and pet breeding facilities

People and animals in pet stores, pet distribution facilities and pet breeding facilities should ensure they review and adhere to their established state and industry biosafety and biosecurity practices. Biosecurity is a series of management practices designed to reduce the risk of disease agents being introduced and spread in a facility. To be effective, biosecurity measures must be put in place specific to each disease and each site or area.

There are some simple steps that pet stores, pet distribution facilities, and breeding facilities can take to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading in facilities that house pets:

• Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick. Encourage workers and supervisors not to come to work if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and to take steps to help prevent the spread of the virus. See CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers for more information.
• Conduct daily health checks (e.g., symptom and/or temperature screening) of workers before they enter the facility. Use the “Should we be screening workers for COVID-19 symptoms ” section of General Business Frequently Asked Questions as a guide.
  • Workers who appear to have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 upon arrival at work or who become sick during the day should be sent home immediately and should contact their healthcare provider to discuss COVID-19 testing.
  • Surfaces in the workspace of the sick employee should be cleaned and disinfected.
• Seek emergency medical attention if someone is very sick or if they have any emergency warning signs of COVID-19. Call 911 or call ahead to a local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
• Workers who are exposed to sick people or animals may need to self-monitor for temperature or other symptoms for a period of 14 days post-incident. See CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker for additional information on symptoms of COVID-19 and making decisions about seeking medical care.
• Limit the number of people in the facility, the time they can spend there, and increase distance between workers, customers/visitors, and animals within the facility. The type and length of interactions that people have with animals should be limited within the facility. Workers and customers should maintain 6 feet (or about 2 meters) of distance between each other, and when possible between themselves and animals. Plan for social distancing and avoid crowding in the facility, including in animal and worker-only areas. Use signs, tape, or other visual clues to indicate where people should stand when physical barriers are not possible.
• Install barriers if social distancing is difficult to maintain. If worker-customer or customer-pet interactions occur inside the facility, customers should stand behind a physical barrier, such as a glass or plastic window or partition that can serve to protect from respiratory droplets that may be produced during sneezing, coughing, or talking. These measures also can be used to protect animal displays and habitats from respiratory droplets from workers and customers.
• Require all people within the facility to use masks, especially where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Wearing a mask does NOT replace the need to practice social distancing.
  • If masks are worn in these facilities, employers should provide readily available clean masks (or disposable mask options) for workers to use when the masks become wet, soiled, or otherwise visibly contaminated.
• Practice proper hand hygiene. Workers should wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used. If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be used rather than hand sanitizer. Customers interested in touching an animal should clean and disinfect hands before and after handling the animal.
• Follow established guidance for cleaning, disinfection, and waste disposal. Implement practical biosecurity practices in breeding and animal holding facilities, including having dedicated boot disinfecting stations between different animal housing areas. For disinfection, use products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2external icon. When EPA-approved disinfectants are not available, use diluted household bleach solutions (for example, 1/3 cup of 5.25%–8.25% bleach added to 1 gallon of water) or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol if appropriate for the surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Bleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children and animals.

• Seek veterinary medical consultation for the establishment of an animal health and disease management plan specific to the facility.
• Monitor all animals in store daily for signs of illness, and immediately separate sick animals. Ensure that ill animals receive appropriate veterinary medical care in a timely manner.

• Take enhanced precautions when introducing new animals or groups of animals to a facility. Do not accept shipments of animals that appear sick. Observe new animals on intake for any health concerns before housing them in close proximity with other animals within the facility. Consider establishing quarantine procedures for new animals in consultation with a veterinarian, based on the animal species and disease-specific information.
  • When possible, avoid mixing animals from different shipments in one habitat.
  • Clean and disinfect habitats between different groups of animals and before new animals are added.
  • Establish and maintain a record system to allow tracing of animal movement.
  • Animals that are surrendered or returned to retail pet stores, breeding facilities, or any other establishments should be kept separate from other animals and observed for signs of illness, in consultation with a veterinarian.

Additional recommendations are described in the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s booklet Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19pdf iconexternal icon, as well as CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Precautions workers and/or visitors to the facility should take around animals

When interacting with healthy animals, people within the facility should use the same precautions as would be used when interacting with other people: maintain social distance (6 feet, or 2 meters) when possible, minimize how long they are in close contact, and wear masks when feasible.

• Always immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after:
  • Having direct contact with animals or their food, supplies, or waste/feces.
  • Cleaning up after animals, including any body fluids or waste.
  • Leaving areas where animals are housed, even if you did not touch an animal.
  • Removing PPE or mask.
• General guidance to prevent zoonotic disease transmission from bites, scratches, or abrasions from animals: If a worker receives a bite, scratch or, abrasion from an animal, animal product, or an object contaminated by an animal, they should wash the exposed area of skin immediately with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, immediately alert their supervisor, and contact a healthcare provider. Animal bites and scratches can have other complications, such as bacterial infections, that may require medical attention.

Educate and train workers and supervisors about ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Employers should place simple posters in appropriate languages for their workers that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene practices. They should place these posters at the entrance to the workplace and in break areas, locker rooms, and other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen.

OSHA provides informationexternal icon about training on its COVID-19 webpage and CDC guidance provides additional details for recommendations in the subsection “Educate workers about steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home.”