Faced with a steep increase in prices and as they return to work, people across Australia are giving up their "pandemic" pets. Reuters reports that Australian animal shelters are overcrowded, with individuals waiting on waitlists for as long as eight months to surrender their pets.

'It's heartbreaking', Australian animal shelters overflow as people rush to return their 'pandemic pets'

According to reports, a Columbian politician has proposed a new law to allow employees in the country to get two days paid leave if a pet dies. Politician Alejandro Carlos Chacon who belongs to Columbia's Liberal Party put forward the bill in the country's Parliament.

Columbians may get paid leave to mourn dead pets

With people locked inside their homes, nature is healing. The internet is flooded with delightful visuals of animals venturing into urban spaces. But the Coronavirus lockdown is also a threat to many of these animals. Pets are being abandoned due to misinformation about how the virus spreads, and thousands of strays have been left without food due to the lockdown. This report on Wide Angle looks at how COVID-19 has affected wildlife and domestic animals across the world. We also look at the measures that must be taken to contain other such zoonotic diseases in the future.

Coronavirus caused by 'disrespecting' animals? | Coronavirus lockdown