CDC Recommends Dogs Social Distance, Too

The new CDC guidelines for animal social distancing are old news to Linda Sadiker.

"I heard that a while ago," Sadiker said. "They said you should social distance your dog. And of course I just kinda raised an eyebrow and I started to think about the park."

Sadiker means Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, where she’s a familiar figure with her close cropped silver hair and a spiderweb of leashes raying out from her waist, attached to half a dozen well-behaved dogs.

"I’ve been a dogwalker for 19 years, it’s an interesting time," Sadiker muses. "Because people are social animals just like their dogs."

And you can see that in Prospect Park where dogs are allowed off leash before 9AM to fetch the ball, go swimming, whatever they want. Sadiker says she’s already seen a few dog owners trying to follow the CDC guidelines and keeping their animals 6 feet apart.

"I saw a couple of people concerned," she said. "I saw them playing off to the side which is their prerogative and when it got a little too congested, they moved. But you can’t be hyper vigilant with your dog off leash because dogs are dogs. If you bring your dog to the park and they’re off leash, then you get what you get!"

The new CDC guidelines are intended to protect pets from being infected with COVID-19 by having them follow the same social distancing rules human family members are supposed to adhere to. So, just like you wouldn’t let a stranger come up and tousle your husband's hair, the CDC suggests not to let pets interact with people outside the household.

"I saw one person with a harness on their dog and it said don’t pet the dog," Sadiker continued. "Now once upon a time it might have meant something different but now it might mean I don’t want you petting my dog." 

Like most gig workers, her dog-walking business has taken a hit and she’s grateful for her remaining clients. I had one last question: How does she keep so many dogs so well behaved at the same time?

"A big carabiner and lots of treats in my pocket."