Coronavirus and dog sports – what measures are being taken to keep people safe?
Coronavirus and dog sports – how does the COVID-19 strain affect various events, and what are sanctioning bodies doing about it?
NADD, the governing body of dock diving in the US and Canada, posted on their Facebook page Wednesday, March 11, that for their events held at mobile docks, they will follow the lead of the host event when it comes to continuation or cancellation. For NADD events at permanent docks, it will be up to each individual facility whether to continue events or reschedule them at a later date.
NAFA, the leading organization when it comes to American and Canadian flyball, announced some general principles to keep in mind in a Facebook post on March 11.
They recommend that if you are showing signs/symptoms of the coronavirus, or have been in contact with someone who has, you should not attend tournaments. NAFA also recommends frequent handwashing (either with soap and water or hand sanitizer) and avoiding unnecessary contact with others and touching your face.
As of Tuesday, March 3, the American Kennel Club planned on continuing the 2020 AKC National Agility Championship in Perry, Georgia, which are slated to run from March 27-29, according to an open letter from Director of Agility Carrie De Young.
As of Friday, March 13, the 2020 National Agility Championships, along with many other AKC events, have been canceled.
The AKC says that while dogs can catch some forms of coronavirus, they are safe from the COVID-19 strain. They encourage washing your hands after petting a dog, since they could carry the germs on their coat, and washing the paws of inside dogs after they come in from outside.
Butler mascot Trip did not attend the Big East Tournament due to nonessential personnel being restricted. Numerous college basketball tournaments have been canceled due to the coronavirus, and the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS all suspended their regular season games.
For now, the intersection of coronavirus and dog sports appears to be fairly low, which is a good thing. For more information about how to keep yourself and your family members safe, see the websites of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control for the latest updates.