Can I Pet Your Dog? Navigating Safety and Compassion During the Pandemic

When the covid pandemic first started, an officer saw Peppa and wanted to pet her. I was kind of scared because of covid and told her that I wasn’t comfortable with that. However, I said that once this was all over, that I’d find her and she could pet Peppa. I felt terrible about it, but I was concerned about safety, not only for myself, but my loved ones especially. Anyway, as promised, I did find her and honored my word several months later.

Some months ago, a young man who appeared to be homeless and experiencing some challenges asked if he could pet Peppa. I felt the same way that I did when Officer Torres asked to pet her, with similar concerns about safety. I responded the same way, saying that I didn’t feel comfortable because of covid.

He reassured me not to worry, saying nothing would happen. Once again, I felt bad, but I stood my ground and said that at some point in the future I’d be okay with it, but not right now. We then shifted to talking about why her ears were wet and how she was just at a vet visit. After some more chatting, I said goodbye and left.

Here’s the hard truth, the part that I’m ashamed of and truly feel guilty about. I told him that I wasn’t comfortable because of the pandemic, but there was more to it. This was during a time when mask wearing was important, and he had his mask down on his neck. His relaxed attitude along with the mask down made me even more worried. Also, he was carrying a lot of things and his hands didn’t appear very clean to me. In my mind, I felt that these factors increased the covid risk because he seemed less protected.

Whether or not a person is homeless doesn’t actually determine their covid risk. I recognize this is an unfair association I made, and I’m unhappy with myself for it. But given the circumstances and my concerns, I understand why I reacted in that way.

Last time I allowed someone in a similar situation to pet Peppa, she tried to lick his hands, and later I saw him in a state that raised concerns about hygiene. Because of that experience, I’ve set stricter boundaries for those who seem at higher risk of carrying unhygienic conditions.

My internal dilemma is that maybe petting Peppa could have brightened this guy’s day, and I said no because of my concerns about cleanliness and safety. That might not have been entirely fair to him, and I feel bad about that. At the same time, I believe I did the right thing to protect my loved ones.

What are your thoughts on this?