“Necessity is the mother of invention.” As quotes go, this one relates to a lot of actions people are taking to address social distancing during COVID-19 Stay at Home orders. Such was the case with Vakis Demetriou, a resident of the Mediterranean island country of Cyprus, who came up with the idea of a drone walking dog set-up.
Demetriou took to Facebook on March 18 with this message: “5th-day quarantine. Stay Home Safe but don’t forget your dog happiness.”
The video gained worldwide attention, going viral with more than 3.6 million views.
Some viewers were quick to point out the 1989 film Back to the Future II foretold just such a dog-walking tactic. Others shared the lengths they’d have to go to in order for a drone to walk their dog versus the other way around.
Referenced, too, was a 2017 article from the American Kennel Club (AKC) in which Penny Leigh, the program manager of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, said of the phenomenon, “While certainly a fascinating concept, using a drone to walk your dog is not responsible and could be downright dangerous. We encourage owners to take their dogs on walks themselves. Walking together increases the owner-dog bond and provides exercise for both human and canine, as well as socialization and training opportunities.”
For those dog lovers without their own drones, going the traditional leash route during Stay at Home restrictions is still okay per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the site: “Walking a dog could help a large proportion of the U.S. population to increase their physical activity as well as that of their dogs. There are approximately 65 million dogs in U.S. households; 39% of U.S. households include at least one dog, and 35% have two or more.
An estimated 25% to 40% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Inactivity has been shown to be a significant risk factor for obesity in studies of dogs and cats, and both sedentary pet behavior and owner lifestyle may contribute to the development of canine and feline obesity. The Humane Society of the United States recommends twice-daily walking for dogs’ health and fitness.”
And don’t we all want to remain dog’s best friend instead of drones taking over that job?
Drone Walking Dog: Sources
Simplemost
YouTube
CDC
Back to the Future II YouTube
AKC