While many people deserted their pets out of fear of contracting COVID-19 from animals, a 25-year-old doctor from Delhi Cancer Hospital, Hozaifa Rasheed, ran from pillar to post to keep his pet - a cat named Barfi - safe.
A bachelor and an ardent pet lover, Hozaifa tested positive for Coronavirus on April 3. It was then that he faced an unusual situation -- to find a suitable attendant to look after Barfi till he was in isolation.
Barfi was born in August, 2019 and Hozaifa adopted her in October two months after she was born.
Since COVID-19 protocols mandate immediate isolation once a person tests positive, he was supposed to immediately leave for a hospital, which had opened an isolation ward for COVID-19 positive patients. But, he wanted to find out whether Barfi had also contracted the virus. And if she was fine, was there any place where she could stay till the time he was in isolation.
After much persuasion, the hospital gave him a day to get Barfi’s problems resolved.
“I spoke to a lot of virologists to understand if cats could contract Coronavirus. They told me that COVID-19 doesn’t infect cats but the fur might be a carrier for the virus, so she needs to be placed under home quarantine for two days,” Hozaifa said.
After frantic calls to several veterinarians, he learnt that there was no place where pets can be kept in quarantine in Delhi.
“Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre agreed to take care of her but it refused to take her immediately. It asked me to keep her in quarantine for two days at home only,” Hozaifa said.
Meanwhile, his friends, neighbours and even the hospital where he was to be admitted refused to take her.
Finally, he decided to leave her alone for two days in his house and asked a relative to take Barfi after two days. "My relative had a problem in commuting as she did not have a curfew pass. After so much effort, I found someone who had a curfew pass and a car too," he said. “I left the keys with the guard and requested my relative to take her after two days, when virus is no longer present on her,” Hozaifa said.
He arranged adequate food for her and the next morning, on April 4, he left for his hospital, leaving her alone.
“My neighbours used to call at night to tell me that Barfi was crying for me. I felt like crying too but was helpless,” he added.
Two days later, his relative, who stayed about 5 km away from his house in Kalindi Kunj, came and collected her. Hozaifa remained in isolation till April 27 and was advised to remain under home quarantine till May 1.
“Finally I brought her back home on May 2. All through this, I remained more concerned about her well-being than my own,” Hozaifa said.
