Isolation with a dog

[bananaramadramas]

We are isolating as DD17 has tested positive. I live in a flat. What do I do about walking the dog?

Currently I am wearing a mask, not using the lift, taking antibacterial wipes and wiping the two doors I have to open. I go to a place where I'm not in close proximity to anyone.

Was just speaking to a friend and he said I shouldn't be taking the dog out at all, which I get, but I don't see another option?

Also, rubbish, recycling.. I can't have 10 days worth just sitting in my flat surely?

@viatheapp

The issue is walking through communal flat areas

People on here make me laugh.
The dog has nowhere to toilet. Are you seriously suggesting she should let the dog piss and shit in the flat for a fortnight and not even take the resultant mess out to the bin? Or pay for a dog Walker to come at the exact times (like 5 or 6 times a day) the dog needs to go outside?
You are all so concerned about the health risk of covid, but living in a home full of dog shit is ok, is it?

OP obviously your best solution would be to get the dog looked after elsewhere for the duration if that’s possible. If not, do the best you can in the crap situation you find yourself

I dogsit for a few people in non Covid times. If the owners need to isolate atm I just keep them at mine, walk them, feed them, play etc according to their normal daily routine. If your dog is insured

Many dogs are not able to go to dog walkers

Yeah I wonder what we would do tbh! We are relatively new in the area we live! No friends nearby - none of our friends drive (we are on London so no need) it would take friend 45 mins on tube and bus to get to us if I asked her for help dropping food off/taking my bins down/take the dog out

Everyone I know works office hours!

I’m in a flat in the 8th floor!

So yeah I hear ya - don’t know what id do tbh! Probably would go down to the communal bin area at night or very early tbh and clean everything I’ve touched

@youdontnome

Actually when I think about it, it wasnt in lockdown, so I'm not sure that's correct.

Lockdown is irrelevant to this question - isolation rules have been consistent.

Sorry, ironically boarding dog pounced on phone 🤦🏻‍♀️

If your dog is insured then check the coverage and maybe ask for recommendations locally? Check they are insured also obviously, some policies can have odd clauses. Otherwise can you board them in kennels? Or a family member?

• Delatron That’s definitely why the virus is spreading though. People taking their dogs for walks when they are in isolation. Even if they stay far away from people the virus can spread for miles through the air. This.*

She was being sarcastic.

@PaddingtonsSister

Many dogs are not able to go to dog walkers

That doesn't mean you can break isolation and go out anyway.

It's always a good idea to have a back up plan for your dog anyway - even outside of COVID. Anyone can break a leg or end up too unwell to take the dog for a walk.

Cinnamon trust could also foster the dog for the duration. They have loads of volunteers. The solution exists but people just don't want to know because they want to justify going out on walks when they should be isolating.

Not everyone can afford a dog Walker especially in this current climate, and not everyone has friends and family local to help.

Also not all dogs can hold their toilet until the time they are allowed to go for walk. My dog lets me know when she wants to go out to the toilet. Dogs as far as I am aware don’t have timers in them

Charities may be able to help or a local hub but that could take a couple of days to be organised. a dog can not be told to wait someone is on their way in 2 days!

Hope you are ok @bananaramadramas

get in touch with NHS volunteers or your local support group.

rubbish/recycling; you need someone to take it out for you. Someone will.
dog: ditto, possibly temporary rehoming if someone will do it.

Thank you @Daisysflowers. We are ok. My DD17 is feeling worse today, which isn't good as she seemed to be getting better.

Re the dog I help out locally delivering meals to those who need them and at my local foodbank (I'm furloughed). The other people who help there have very kindly offered to walk our dog. 😊 we are allowed out from Wednesday, so only a few more days thankfully.

@viatheapp

I agree with *@Nousernamesleftatall*. You can all FFS all you like, but someone walking their dog somewhere they won't come into contact with anyone, early in the morning/late at night, not touching anything, isn't putting anyone at risk (and no I'm not someone who is going out and generally ignoring the guidelines)

I also agree. If you have an alternative like a friend nearby then of course ask them. But don't feel guilty if you don't have the compulsory MN network of useful friends and relatives who can drop everything at all times to help. Walking outside at night with a mask on with few people around is about as low risk as it gets. And of course you can put your recycling/rubbish out. It's no different to me walking off my property to put my bin out in the road.

get in touch with NHS volunteers or your local support group

do these actually still exist? I know they did in the first lockdown, but I think most of those people are working this time around.

@bananaramadramas wishing your daughter well, hopefully she will feel more perky tomorrow.

Pleased that you have been able to find a solution for the last few days.

I personally think it’s safer for you to walk the dog at 5am rather than risk a handover to a volunteer/professional. But the rules don’t take into account common sense.

Oh that's good @bananaramadramas

It was a difficult situation that you are in and brilliant that you helping others has repaid itself with other people helping you .

People have missed the point massively here. The question isn't about exercising the dog, it's about toileting.
Do people really expect op to have someone at beck and call everytime the dog wants a wee?!

@Delatron

We had to arrange for someone to collect our dog and walk him. So obviously coming in to contact with that person 🙄. Common sense goes out of the window when there the ‘rulz’ to follow.

We could have walked him early morning or late at night and not seen a soul but that wasn’t allowed!

I wasnjust thinking that. Surely better for OP to take the dogbout and keep away from everyone than have someone ce to the house and touch the dog and it's lead.

“Do people really expect op to have someone at beck and call everytime the dog wants a wee?!”

When I’ve lived in flats my dogs always had a routine of walksrather than just taking them out when they fancied it like you do with a garden - I’d assume most people do that tbh.

@puffinkoala

Yeah, I’m still volunteering and get daily calls

Yes I am in Berkshire and still volunteers here doing dog walks, shopping, prescription collection & helping at vaccination centre. Lots of people on the rota.

No one needs anti bac wipes. Just wash your hands before you leave and wear a mask through the communal areas.
I wonder how many people telling you to not leave actually have a dog or live in a flat. Your dog can cope without a walk for two weeks but cannot cope with waiting 24 hours for the dog walker to arrive each day.
Take your dog out and be as hygenic and early/late as possible.

Of course you have to take the dog out - rehiring the dog temporarily? What a lot of nonsense. Yes, if you have family that can take it for two weeks all well and good but nothing else is workable. Ditto rubbish - take it out early or late.