Amid public isolation measures to stem the spread of the Corona virus, many people living in Saudi Arabia are searching for a new friend who is offered for adoption.
Those in charge of the Riyadh Animal Clinic and Refuge, a non-governmental organization providing temporary shelter and medical treatment for animals, say they have seen an increase in pet adoption requests during the general isolation period, explaining that many families seek to adopt pets to help them, especially children, in dealing with the isolation period .
"We just adopted this new dog, her name is Bubbles, so sweet and wonderful, I just want to take her to the house to make sure she is in a happy new home, and that's the most important part of the topic," said a woman from Wales who lives in Riyadh.
But the shelter also indicates that it has noticed that a number of people who have adopted animals are trying to return it because of fears that it may transmit the Coronavirus, according to Muhammad bin Muammar, a member of the shelter's administration.
Corona positives
Bin Muammar added that the Corona virus has both pros and cons at the same time, it is its disadvantages that many people have abandoned their animals because of the lack of awareness, as he sees.
On the positive side, he believes that people took advantage of the health ban to adopt animals and add a new family member.
He added that some people are trying to return animals for fear of being transmitted to the Corona virus, "and here comes our role in educating them that the animal does not develop the virus from itself, and the infection is transmitted to it only if the people surrounding it."
He did not discourage the fear of a Saudi Corona who decided to adopt a white dog to remain with him during the isolation period.
The Kingdom has recently relaxed restrictions on movement between nine in the morning until five in the evening, with the exception of Mecca. The Kingdom has recorded more than 28,000 cases of Covid-19 disease caused by the Coronavirus, in addition to 191 deaths.
Schools, restaurants, mosques and other public places - which are difficult to apply physical spacing - are still closed, and social gatherings in which the number of participants exceeds five are prohibited.