This is such ruff news.<\/p>\n
A German shepherd in Staten Island who was the first dog to test positive for the coronavirus has died, the first fatality of its kind, according to a report on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Seven-year-old Buddy began experiencing issues with his breathing in mid-April, not long after his owner, Robert Mahoney, contracted COVID-19, National Geographic reported.<\/p>\n
From April 21 to May 15, the pooch continued to lose weight and became increasingly lethargic.<\/p>\n
His owners took him toveterinarians who gave him medication, but were doubtful he had the virus.<\/p>\n
He was finally tested May 15, a month after his symptoms emerged, at Bay Street Animal Hospital in Rosebank.<\/p>\n
His test came back positive, and the results were later confirmed by the New York City Department of Health, according to the magazine.<\/p>\n
Buddy died on July 11.<\/p>\n
Medical records reviewed by the mag indicate that the pup likely also had lymphoma, a type of cancer.<\/p>\n
According to National Geographic: Its unclear whether cancer made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, or if the virus made him ill, or if it was just a case of coincidental timing.<\/p>\n
Buddy was one of fewer than 25 pets in the country who have tested positive for the virus.<\/p>\n
You tell people that your dog was positive, and they look at you [as if you have] ten heads, one of his owners, Allison Mahoney, told the mag.<\/p>\n
[Buddy] was the love of our lives.He brought joy to everybody. I cant wrap my head around it.<\/p>\n
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Staten Island dog, first to test positive for COVID-19 in US, dies - New York Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is such ruff news. A German shepherd in Staten Island who was the first dog to test positive for the coronavirus has died, the first fatality of its kind, according to a report on Wednesday. Seven-year-old Buddy began experiencing issues with his breathing in mid-April, not long after his owner, Robert Mahoney, contracted COVID-19, National Geographic reported. Continue reading