COVID-19 – Information Regarding Veterinary Affairs

We invite each keeper to anticipate hospitalization or total confinement to have their animal looked after (relative, colleague, neighborhood).

We are counting on each other’s solidarity in order to prevent the shelters from being overwhelmed by abandonment.

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• When visiting for the care of an animal, it is important to respect basic hygiene rules and additional precautionary measures issued by the FOPH, in particular washing hands after touching the animal even if the latter is not directly affected by covid-19.
• People quarantined because of the coronavirus and sick people confined to their homes should, as a preventive measure, limit contact with their pets (for example cats, dogs or rabbits) to what is strictly necessary. However, they must continue to provide sufficient care and support. It is not a good idea to wash dogs, cats or other pets more than usual, or to disinfect them.
• If your animal needs veterinary care during a period of self-quarantine or self-isolation, contact his veterinarian and expressly inform him that you are in self-quarantine or self-isolation at home.

Riding schools and boarding houses for horses

Sports activities that do not involve physical contact can be performed on an individual basis and in groups of up to 5 people from 16 years old. (There is no restriction for children and young people under 16). This restriction applies both to activities in facilities open to the public, eg. the rides, than the outdoor activities.

These requirements apply to activities carried out in facilities accessible to the public, e.g. training halls, and in the open air. The only difference lies in the requirement to wear a mask and respect the distances. Indoors: the persons concerned must wear a face mask and respect the required distance (they can waive the wearing of the mask in large premises, provided that additional rules regarding distance and capacity limitation are applied). Outdoors: Those affected should wear a face shield or maintain the required distance.

The “curfew” between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., as well as Sundays and public holidays, is not applicable to the rides, since the horses must be able to benefit from sufficient movement for animal protection reasons.

In all cases, the rules of conduct issued by the FOPH for professional circles, in particular a protection plan developed by the branch, must be observed.

Go out with animals

The walks of animals outside the place of detention are authorized provided that the keeper is not himself confined. The free spaces for dogs are open without limitation of the number of people. In this context, it is necessary to respect the additional precautionary measures decreed by the FOPH.

• Keepers of animals who are among vulnerable people (over 65, pre-existing disease according to the FOPH list) can take their dogs out into the fresh air by respecting the additional precautionary measures issued by the FOPH.
• Dogs in a household in which a person lives confined or in home quarantine must be walked by healthy third parties who are not in confinement or quarantine. They can only be taken out on a leash in the fresh air, so that they can defecate. Contact with other people and animals should therefore be avoided. Before handing over the dog to a third person or after having collected it, the owners of the (possibly) infected animal must wash their hands thoroughly and respect the recommended hygiene measures (1.5 m distance, etc. ). Avoid entering the home of the sick person when picking up the animal, in order to avoid as much as possible any risk of contagion between people.

Education courses for dogs

According to information from the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs, dog schools are authorized to offer dog socialization and education courses (puppy socialization, young dog classes, other education courses) on their external grounds (Art. 6d, para. 1, letter c). By analogy with the regulations for outdoor sports, it is strongly recommended to limit the size of the group to a maximum of 5 people, including the leader.

If the outdoor space of a dog training school can be divided into clearly defined and large enough areas, thus preventing the mixing of groups at any time, it is permissible to teach multiple groups at the same time. However, neither the instructor nor the individual participants and their dogs can change groups or zones.

Individual lessons are always permitted (art. 6d, para. 1, letter b). Here too, the rules of distance and hygiene must be observed at all times.
The halls and facilities for dog sports remain closed.

Individual dog training lessons and activities forming part of official training the need for which can be proven, such as courses ordered on a case-by-case basis by the cantonal veterinary service, remain authorized.

Outdoor dog sports, in the forest or in parks for example, remain authorized if they are exercised in groups of at most 5 people from the age of 16 (chef included) without physical contact and without a time of stopping the activity.

There is no restriction for children and young people under 16 years old.

Competitions are prohibited, with the exception of high level sport competitions which can only take place without any public.

In all cases, the rules of conduct issued by the FOPH for professional circles, in particular a protection plan developed by the branch, must be observed.

Cross the border with an animal

International trade in live animals remains possible. We cannot, however, rule out traffic jams on the roads, customs clearance difficulties or pushbacks at the border, which can quickly generate problematic and avoidable animal protection situations.

For customs clearance, consult the websiteFederal Customs Administration as well as that of the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Duties (France)

Annuity animals

• The farrier, claw trimmer, inseminator technician or shearer is authorized to go to the farms to the location of the animal he is responsible for looking after. The recommendations of the FOPH must be taken into account. It is in particular necessary to avoid gatherings of people and to maintain a distance of 2m if several people are present.

See as well

COVID-19 info in Geneva

COVID-19 special situation ordinance, RS 818.101.26 – Federal Council

Protection plan – DRY

Federal Office of Consumer Affairs and Veterinary Affairs – OSAV

FAQ: Novel coronavirus and animals from the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs – OSAV

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