Calling for Sanctuary and Companion Animal Exemptions From “Stamping Out” Policies During Disease Outbreaks

Abstract

Abstract There are increasing rates of infectious diseases in humans and nonhuman animals. There is also potential for numerous farmed animal species as well as traditional companion animals (cats and dogs) and humans to act as “mixing vessel” hosts, meaning new strains of a disease agent could swiftly emerge and create devastating pandemics. Against this backdrop, it is important to prepare for future epi-/panzootics and pandemics, potentially ones far worse than Covid-19. Part of this includes emergency management scenarios in relation to animals in many humans’ lives who are regarded as family members. This review makes clear that currently no nonhuman animals, regardless of species, are currently guaranteed safety in the event of an epi-/panzootic that they are disease carriers for, let alone pandemics that affect humans too. It also establishes some legal exemptions that exist for a select few animals and argues for the exemptions to extend to all noncommercial, nonfood-producing animals using a One Welfare lens, so long as strict biosecurity and quarantining measures are enforced.