The World Health Organization says there is no evidence that pets such as dogs and cats can be infected with novel coronaviruses. Washing hands with soap and water after human-pet contact can significantly reduce the spread of other common bacteria between pets and humans, such as E. coli and Salmonella. If you must walk your dog downstairs, avoid crowds as much as possible, while wearing a mask, and take care to wash and disinfect your hands when you return home. If a pet is exposed to an outbreak outside and comes in contact with a patient, this pet also needs to be monitored. The novel coronavirus is transmitted between mammals, so we need to be prepared for mammals as well, but not overreact.