Faced with a steep increase in prices and as they return to work, people across Australia are giving up their "pandemic" pets.&nbsp;

Reuters reports that Australian animal shelters are overcrowded, with individuals waiting on waitlists for as long as eight months to surrender their pets.

Monika Biernacki, founder of Monika's Doggie Rescue a no-kill shelter in Sydney's northern suburbs said that she has never seen something like this in her 20 years of animal rescue.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-doctor-chained-dog-to-car-and-dragged-it-along-the-road-in-rajasthan-detained-517713" hreflang="en">Watch: Doctor chained dog to car and dragged it along the road in Rajasthan, detained</a>

"The number of animals in the shelters that are just desperate to get out. The number of calls, emails, texts that we get here of people wanting to surrender their animals and it's just never-ending... It's heartbreaking," she added.

According to Stephen Albin, CEO of the New South Wales Animal Welfare Society, many people who purchased pets as lockdown companions are now realising the responsibilities they bring.

"I think quite a few people just wanted companionship so they went and got a pet, they got a companion, but they didn't quite understand what it takes to keep a pet," he remarked.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-bags-full-of-cats-and-dogs-seen-in-china-as-authorities-kill-pets-of-covid-positive-owners-472239">Watch: Bags full of cats and dogs seen in China as authorities kill pets of COVID positive owners</a>

Talking to Reuters, Holly Medcalf, a high school teacher, said that people have these ideas of how it is to own a pet, but "in reality, it's so much pressure and hard work."

Medcalf purchased her dog Opi during the pandemic and has to date spent around USD 2,700 on vet visits.&nbsp;

In Australia, caring for a pet is getting harder and more expensive. Compared to human food items, prices of pet products saw a 12 per cent rise in the first half of this year.&nbsp;Additionally, pet-friendly housing is also harder to come by.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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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.

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. Monika Biernacki, founder of Monika's Doggie Rescue a no-kill shelter in Sydney's northern suburbs said that she has never seen something like this in her 20 years of animal rescue. Also read | Watch: Doctor chained dog to car and dragged it along the road in Rajasthan, detained "The number of animals in the shelters that are just desperate to get out. The number of calls, emails, texts that we get here of people wanting to surrender their animals and it's just never-ending... It's heartbreaking," she added. According to Stephen Albin, CEO of the New South Wales Animal Welfare Society, many people who purchased pets as lockdown companions are now realising the responsibilities they bring. "I think quite a few people just wanted companionship so they went and got a pet, they got a companion, but they didn't quite understand what it takes to keep a pet," he remarked. Also read | Watch: Bags full of cats and dogs seen in China as authorities kill pets of COVID positive owners Talking to Reuters, Holly Medcalf, a high school teacher, said that people have these ideas of how it is to own a pet, but "in reality, it's so much pressure and hard work." Medcalf purchased her dog Opi during the pandemic and has to date spent around USD 2,700 on vet visits. In Australia, caring for a pet is getting harder and more expensive. Compared to human food items, prices of pet products saw a 12 per cent rise in the first half of this year. Additionally, pet-friendly housing is also harder to come by. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

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

According to a survey, 62&nbsp;per cent Americans consider their pet as their "best friend".

The poll was conducted among 2,000 dog and cat&nbsp;owners. It found 81 per cent would leap to rescue their pet from immediate danger and 59 per cent people wouldn't mind fighting with another person to save their favourite friend.

Interestingly, three out of five people in the poll thought of their pet as their "soulmate".&nbsp;

Also, those in the 18-24 age group are most likely to include their pet in their wedding celebrations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-common-in-pet-dogs-and-cats-reveals-study-395073">Also Read:&nbsp;Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study</a>

The survey found that 67 per cent people believe they can read each other's minds and most feel a pet positively influences their mental health.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there are several health benefits of owning a pet which includes encouragement&nbsp;for a person to exercise and importantly pets help to decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

A pet also helps its owner to fight against loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, the CDC claims.

However, the top US health agency warns children below 5 and those over 65&nbsp;are&nbsp;likely to get diseases spread by their animals with even pregnant women at risk.

CDC says pets teach kids responsibility and compassion although children under 5 should be under supervision while interacting with them.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to a survey, 62 per cent Americans consider their pet as their "best friend". The poll was conducted among 2,000 dog and cat owners. It found 81 per cent would leap to rescue their pet from immediate danger and 59 per cent people wouldn't mind fighting with another person to save their favourite friend.

According to a survey, 62 per cent Americans consider their pet as their "best friend". The poll was conducted among 2,000 dog and cat owners. It found 81 per cent would leap to rescue their pet from immediate danger and 59 per cent people wouldn't mind fighting with another person to save their favourite friend. Interestingly, three out of five people in the poll thought of their pet as their "soulmate". Also, those in the 18-24 age group are most likely to include their pet in their wedding celebrations. Also Read: Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study The survey found that 67 per cent people believe they can read each other's minds and most feel a pet positively influences their mental health. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there are several health benefits of owning a pet which includes encouragement for a person to exercise and importantly pets help to decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A pet also helps its owner to fight against loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, the CDC claims. However, the top US health agency warns children below 5 and those over 65 are likely to get diseases spread by their animals with even pregnant women at risk. CDC says pets teach kids responsibility and compassion although children under 5 should be under supervision while interacting with them. (With inputs from Agencies)

People consider their pet a ‘soulmate’, reveals study

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a> is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease.

Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection.

A PCR test revealed six positive results for cats and seven for dogs, and 54 animals were found to have antibodies for the virus.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/no-cuddling-uk-warns-people-after-cat-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-379922">‘No cuddling’: UK warns people after cat tests positive for coronavirus</a>

Dr Els Broens from Utrecht University advised that people with Covid should avoid contact with their cats or dogs.

The reason behind this advice lies in the uncertainty of whether pets can transmit the virus or not. While the authors of this study found no evidence of pet to human interaction, they say that detection would be difficult especially when human to human transmission is so swift.&nbsp;

Covid tends to cause mild to no symptoms in most animals infected with it.

As part of the research a mobile veterinary clinic was sent to Netherland households where in the last 200 days, someone had tested positive for Covid.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seoul-to-give-free-covid-19-tests-to-pets-362173">Seoul to give free COVID-19 tests to pets</a>

There they took blood samples to test for antibodies that could suggest past exposure to Covid, as well as swabs of the pet cats and dogs to test for current infection.

Results which were then presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed that around 4.2 per cent of the pets had a current infection, while 17.4 per cent tested positive for antibodies.&nbsp;

PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-positive animals were subsequently tested and showed that antibodies were formed.

According to the researchers, the most likely route for transmission of viruses is from humans to animals, but that they can't say that vice versa is zero per cent possible.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-common-in-pet-dogs-and-cats-reveals-study-395073">Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study</a>

Many animals in Russia are being vaccinated against the disease by veterinarians. However, Dr Broens believes that to be unnecessary, as for now there is no evidence supporting the need for it.&nbsp;

Study No. 2

In a separate study, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found cats sleeping on their owners' beds appeared particularly susceptible to infection.

The owners of 48 cats and 54 dogs from 77 households were interviewed to learn about their interaction with their pets, and the animal immune systems were tested for Covid antibodies.

67 per cent of pet cats and 43 per cent of pet dogs tested positive for Covid, while merely 9 per cent of cats and dogs from an animal shelter and 3 per cent of stray cats tested positive.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-evidence-of-human-to-cat-covid-19-transmission-379717">Scientists find evidence of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission</a>

Twenty-five per cent of the pets exhibited symptoms, ranging from loss of appetite to difficulty breathing. Despite most cases being mild, three were severe.

The researchers suggest that the biology of cats may make them more susceptible to Covid infection.

Additionally, as cats are more likely than dogs to sleep near their owners' faces, they are at higher risk of catching an infection from their owner's breath.

'Robustly conducted'

Professor James Wood, the head of the veterinary medicine department at Cambridge University, said the two studies provide further indications that cats and dogs may contract the disease from their owners.

He also noted that the Dutch study was robustly conducted and demonstrated that even though 20 per cent of exposed pets may be infected, they eventually clear the infection just like most humans do.

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that Covid is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease. Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection.

A study by researchers from Utrecht University finds that Covid is common in pet cats and dogs whose owners are infected by the disease. Pets in 196 households where an infection was present were swabbed for traces of infection. A PCR test revealed six positive results for cats and seven for dogs, and 54 animals were found to have antibodies for the virus. Also read | ‘No cuddling’: UK warns people after cat tests positive for coronavirus Dr Els Broens from Utrecht University advised that people with Covid should avoid contact with their cats or dogs. The reason behind this advice lies in the uncertainty of whether pets can transmit the virus or not. While the authors of this study found no evidence of pet to human interaction, they say that detection would be difficult especially when human to human transmission is so swift. Covid tends to cause mild to no symptoms in most animals infected with it. As part of the research a mobile veterinary clinic was sent to Netherland households where in the last 200 days, someone had tested positive for Covid. Also read | Seoul to give free COVID-19 tests to pets There they took blood samples to test for antibodies that could suggest past exposure to Covid, as well as swabs of the pet cats and dogs to test for current infection. Results which were then presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed that around 4.2 per cent of the pets had a current infection, while 17.4 per cent tested positive for antibodies. PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-positive animals were subsequently tested and showed that antibodies were formed. According to the researchers, the most likely route for transmission of viruses is from humans to animals, but that they can't say that vice versa is zero per cent possible. Also read | Covid common in pet dogs and cats, reveals study Many animals in Russia are being vaccinated against the disease by veterinarians. However, Dr Broens believes that to be unnecessary, as for now there is no evidence supporting the need for it. Study No. 2 In a separate study, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found cats sleeping on their owners' beds appeared particularly susceptible to infection. The owners of 48 cats and 54 dogs from 77 households were interviewed to learn about their interaction with their pets, and the animal immune systems were tested for Covid antibodies. 67 per cent of pet cats and 43 per cent of pet dogs tested positive for Covid, while merely 9 per cent of cats and dogs from an animal shelter and 3 per cent of stray cats tested positive. Also read | Scientists find evidence of human-to-cat COVID-19 transmission Twenty-five per cent of the pets exhibited symptoms, ranging from loss of appetite to difficulty breathing. Despite most cases being mild, three were severe. The researchers suggest that the biology of cats may make them more susceptible to Covid infection. Additionally, as cats are more likely than dogs to sleep near their owners' faces, they are at higher risk of catching an infection from their owner's breath. 'Robustly conducted' Professor James Wood, the head of the veterinary medicine department at Cambridge University, said the two studies provide further indications that cats and dogs may contract the disease from their owners. He also noted that the Dutch study was robustly conducted and demonstrated that even though 20 per cent of exposed pets may be infected, they eventually clear the infection just like most humans do.

Study finds that pets are at risk of covid infection from their owners, not the other way around