Atlanta Humane Hosting 'Cutest Self-Quarantined Pet' Contest

GEORGIA — To bring adorable pictures to everyone's lives during this time, while encouraging more social distancing, the Atlanta Humane Society launched a Cutest Self-Quarantined Pet Contest.

Prizes for the winners include some of the most highly sought-after coronavirus essentials, including toilet paper, sanitizer, and Netflix subscriptions. All entries and votes received through the platform are tax-deductible donations that will go to work helping to care for the animals at the Atlanta Humane Society during this time.

The fan favorite, as determined by the highest number of votes received on an entry, will receive a 1-year Netflix subscription in the form of a Netflix gift card. Votes are applied through donations to support the Atlanta Humane Society on the entrant's page.

Winners will be decided by a celebrity panel of judges and there will be a fan favorite decided through the highest votes received.

Entrants are encouraged to share what their pets are doing during this time. Rupert's mom submitted: "Rupert is navigating his new job in his call center. He's here to answer any of your doggone questions!" along with a photo of him with a phone headset on.

There are a lot of unknowns for all of us right now, but Atlanta Humane will always be there for the animals, Christina Hill with Atlanta Humane Society said.

"We are a local no-kill facility who relies on our community’s support to care for the animals, and pandemics don't change that," Hill said. "We receive no government funding, we have no umbrella organization overseeing us or providing us funding, and we are not associated with any other national or local humane society. We're hoping this helps brighten our community's days while helping us to continue to provide much-needed care to Atlanta's animals."

How Coronavirus Impacts GA Animal Shelters, Adoptions, Supplies

The World Health Organization said "there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong. However, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. Coronavirus is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly."

Even so, many local animals shelters are closing to the public.

Atlanta Humane Society said all of its locations will be closed to the public from March 16 through March 31.

Atlanta Humane said it wants to ensure that Atlanta's pet owners are up-to-date with the current information regarding their pet's well-being:

Can pets contract COVID-19?

There is no evidence currently that dogs or cats can contract COVID-19, and there are no reported cases from the CDC of dogs or other pets contracting COVID-19.

Can pets transmit COVID-19?

While COVID-19 is believed to originate from an animal source, there is no known reason that the CDC has to believe that pets can spread the virus.

What if I come in contact with someone who has COVID-19 or contract COVID-19 myself?

Per CDC guidelines, individuals who come in contact with, or contract, COVID-19 should avoid additional contact with other people and pets. If you must be a caregiver for your pet while you are sick, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands before and after interacting with them and wear a face mask when you are around them. Do not cuddle or pet your animal, share food with your pet, or let your pet lick you while you are sick.

What should I do to prepare my pet?

As always, you should include your pet in any disaster planning and always be prepared to implement your pet's emergency plan including:

• Identifying a caregiver for your pet in times of emergency or illness
• Keeping your pet up-to-date with vaccinations and keeping updated medical paperwork on hand
• Keep a two-week supply of food and medications on hand and ensure all medications and dosages are documented
• Ensure your pet's microchip information is up-to-date and they have proper identification (collar and ID tags) on at all times

Have more questions?

You can visit the CDC's website for more information on animals and COVID-19.