(ThePatriotWire)- Last week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that it was offering free COVID-19 testing for pets who may have been exposed to the virus.
According to LA health officials, the county recently received funding to conduct free COVID testing on pets.
In announcing the initiative, health officials explained that the pets of some county residents may be eligible to receive COVID testing at no charge if those pets were exposed to a human or animal infected with the virus or if the pet is experiencing symptoms of COVID.
The funding for the free testing comes from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is designed to “support surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in animals in Los Angeles County.”
The health department plans to provide free testing at animal care facilities and centers throughout LA County. In addition to testing family pets like dogs, cats, hamsters, and “pocket pets,” the free testing will be available for deer, bats raccoons, and seals.
However, there doesn’t seem to be a need to test for COVID among animals in LA County.
Out of the 177 animals already tested for COVID, including dogs, cats, bats, raccoons, skunks, rats, and sea lions, not one of them has tested positive for the virus.
