Since there is no evidence that dogs and cats pose a danger, even according to the WHO, why are owners not allowed to self-quarantine them?

An elderly Pomeranian who died recently has been – inaccurately – described as the world’s first recorded dog to have caught Covid-19 from a human, his owner. Actually, it’s hotly disputed among experts whether the animal really did have the disease.

However, to the best scientific evidence so far, you cannot catch Covid-19 from your dog, unless you’re talking about surface infection, such as getting exposed to the virus on a piece of tissue. Now, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is quarantining three other dogs and a cat, a German Shepherd, whose tests supposedly showed up positive, and his mate from the same household, a mixed breed who was tested negative.* So, why is the other dog in quarantine? Oh, we need to carry out more tests. Sure, you do enough testing, something will turn up positive eventually. What do you do, then? Run more tests?

The AFCD is also quarantining several pet cats. The Pomeranian was old and already had serious pre-existing conditions. It tested a “weak positive”, which is no confirmation at all. Other tests showed up negative. The dog died because he was forcibly put in AFCD quarantine for weeks. After being cared for and loved his entire life, he was suddenly thrown into a kennel, and subject to manhandling by low-paid staff and a battery of tests by vets. Subject to so much stress and trauma at an advanced age, you would be dead, too.

The official handling of the case didn’t make the city any safer. It just causes concern and panic among people, especially those who already have little love for their pets, perhaps bought or received as gifts and now realise the commitment of care is no picnic, or those who hate animals to begin with.
 
Even before the two new cases, there had already been reports about dogs being abandoned, in Hong Kong and on the mainland. According to an open letter, signed by 65 animal charities and pet shelters, there have been recorded incidents of dogs being brutally beaten to death in the streets in Yongjia county, Zhejiang, and in Chengdu and Nanchong in Sichuan province. It calls on people not to abandon their dogs or officials to cull them, especially on the mainland.
 
Now, the AFCD has kept quarantining pets. Since there is no evidence that pets pose a danger, let their owners “self-quarantine” them; you can test them at home.

Very recent reports also suggested that the number of local hikers surged since COVID19 and sadly and unfairly, the number of complaints on stray dogs.  This prompted AFCD to catch dogs near the trails using methods that stress and scare them.  How about leaving them alone?  Their rightful home is the trails and country parks.   

AFCD, stop causing panic and stigmatising innocent animals.

* reportedly another Border Collie and a cat just went into quarantine, details to be confirmed.