In Wuhan, the suspected epicentre of the COVID-19 virus, it is estimated that up to 50,000 pets have been left alone by their owners.

Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have first surfaced late in 2019, has been on lockdown since 23 January 2020, just as tens of millions of people travelled across China and worldwide to celebrate the Chinese New Year. As a result, pets owned by residents have been left to fend for themselves.

Now, groups of volunteers in the city are working around the clock to help the animals. Lao Mao, the head of Wuhancat Animal Rescue Centre estimates that the 100 volunteers from the centre have saved more than 2,500 such animals since the lockdown began.

Getting access to people’s homes has been a challenge in itself with some pet owners handing over passcodes for their digital locks, asking volunteers to pick up spare keys and even commissioned locksmiths to let the volunteers in.

Most of the calls they receive are to feed their cats and dogs, but requests have even been made for reptiles, rabbits, birds and mini pigs.

The World Health Organisation has said that there is currently no evidence that companion animals or pets, such as cats or dogs, have been infected or have spread the virus. It is hoped that pet owners will heed the advice from the WHO.