Jennifer Frione is doing her part to alleviate the coronavirus-related concerns of pet owners throughout the city of Plantation.
The owner of Lakeside Animal Hospital (9601 W. Broward Blvd., 954.474.8808; lakesideanimal.com) is offering curbside drop-off for pets requiring veterinary services, thus minimizing human interaction. In addition, Lakeside is launching concierge services for pet owners concerned about leaving their homes.
“We will arrange to directly deliver what you need, whether it be medication, dog food or anything else deliverable,” says Frione, a doctor of veterinary medicine. “If your pet requires veterinary attention or grooming, we will bring your pet to the hospital and back [to your home; some restrictions apply].” Fees, of course, depend on the issue being diagnosed.
Because of misconceptions and misinformation surrounding COVID-19, Frione also reiterates that infectious disease experts (and several health organizations) agree, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, that there is no evidence to suggest pets can spread coronavirus to other animals or people.
“While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19 or vice versa,” Frione says. “However, because animals can spread other diseases to people, and people can spread diseases to animals, it’s a good idea to always wash your hands before and after interacting with animals.”
In addition, given impending restrictions to day-to-day life, Frione suggests stocking up on supplies for your pets, as well as for the people in your household.
“Make sure you have an emergency kit prepared, with at least two weeks’ worth of your pet’s food and any needed medications,” she says. “Usually, we think about emergency kits like this in terms of what might be needed for a hurricane, but it’s also good to have one prepared in the case of quarantine or self-isolation when you cannot leave your home.”
