A German shepherd on Staten Island, the first dog to test positive for the coronavirus, died, the first such fatality, according to a report released Wednesday.
Seven-year-old Buddy began experiencing breathing problems in mid-April, shortly after its owner, Robert Mahoney, contracted COVID-19, National Geographic reported.
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From April 21 to May 15, the dog continued to lose weight and became increasingly lethargic.
His owners took him to vets, who gave him medications but doubted he had the virus.
He was finally examined on May 15, a month after his symptoms appeared, at Bay Street Animal Hospital in Rosebank.
Buddy died on July 11.
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Her test came back positive, and the results were later confirmed by the New York City Department of Health, according to the magazine.
Buddy died on July 11.
Medical records reviewed by the mag indicate that the pup probably also had lymphoma, a type of cancer.
According to National Geographic: “It is not clear if the cancer made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, or if the virus made him sick, or if it was just a case of synchronization.”
Buddy was one of the fewer than 25 pets in the country to test positive for the virus.
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“You tell people that your dog was positive and they look at you [as if you have] 10 heads, ”one of its owners, Allison Mahoney, told the magazine.
“[Buddy] It was the love of our lives. … brought joy to everyone. I can not understand it.
