(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Los Angeles County is offering free COVID testing for pets who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Veterinary Public Health Department announced the free testing, and it was promoted on Twitter by the L.A. County Department of Public Health on Saturday.
“Your pet may be eligible for free SARS-CoV-2 testing if they were exposed to a human or animal with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19,” the tweet shared, offering a link for more information.
Your pet may be eligible for free SARS-CoV-2 testing if they were exposed to a human or animal with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19. To learn more about free testing, visit: https://t.co/HELCLWCJ5X pic.twitter.com/eIrBKVkapZ
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) August 20, 2022
Funding for the program was made available by the council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The health department released a statement stating that they will be attempting to test wildlife, such as deer, bats, raccoons and seals in addition to pets like dogs, cats and hamsters.
Pets are eligible for testing of they were “exposed to either a human or other animal with COVID-19,” or if they have “symptoms of COVID-19 and was exposed to either a human or another animal with COVID-19.”
Los Angeles has conducted 177 tests since the announcement, with zero positive cases reported.
Social media users had a good deal to say on this issue:
Los Angeles has the largest population of homeless in the country and they’re testing animals for a freaking virus.
— Louise Dover (@Louise_in_CO) August 21, 2022
They can’t think of better ways to throw away their money????
— Cats for the Truth 🇺🇲🐈 🇺🇲 🐈⬛️ (@Catsforthetruth) August 21, 2022
Can they test goldfish?
— John Paul Lucas (@jplucas1967) August 21, 2022
The story isn’t that you can now get your pet tested. The story is that LA – one of the highest taxed cities – is wasting your tax payer money to offer something that is completely unnecessary because not a single animal they’ve tested has tested positive.
— Caroline (@carolinecwilder) August 21, 2022
Unfortunately our gerbil tested positive this morning and I’m making the kids quarantine.
— Dr. Jebra Faushay PhD (@JebraFaushay) August 21, 2022
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