To the best of our knowledge, no animal has yet developed the zombic condition. So, for now, your pets are safe from the virus. In addition, humans with the fully developed zombic condition show little interest in non-human sources of food. In outbreaks, it has often been noted that dogs and cats can walk freely through crowds of the dead without attracting any ghoulish attention.
- Prepare your pet for the zombie apocalypse in the same way you would any other member of the family. Create a small bug-out bag containing emergency food, chew toy and any other essentials.
- Keep all inoculations up to date. Do not allow your pet to become overweight and maintain a healthy diet for them.
- Dogs in particular can be invaluable companions during the zombie crisis. Hamsters and guinea pigs are of less use, maybe except as decoys to distract the undead.
- The bovine variant of the virus has been identified as a potential source of a cure for the condition in humans so don’t kill cows unless you are really desperate for a steak.
Remember, wild and stray dogs will become a menace as society falls apart and rabies will also be a risk
The zombie virus is an incredibly complex and adaptable RNA virus and there is every possibility that it could one day mutate and affect animals. In tests, it has been shown that pets from outbreak areas are actually carrying the virus in their blood but for some reason do not develop the zombic condition which blights humans. For example, studies of an outbreak in Aleppo in Syria during the 1990s revealed that over 90% of cats and dogs in the city carried the virus in their blood and yet there were no reports of any infected pets or animals. In a post-apocalyptic world, it is best to keep clear of any stray animals and avoid the risk of infections such as rabies.
In 2008, documents were posted across the web reporting that Russian scientists working on a cure for the zombie virus had successfully infected a primate with the zombic condition. If true, this would be the first documented case of an animal developing and turning zombic. Some grainy photos of the primate have been leaked and can be seen on the internet, but in blurry black and white it’s hard to make anything out other than the outline of an ape and a banana.
The media frenzy around the anti-viral Natalia_739 is at best speculation and at worst misleading journalism. There is currently no evidence that animals can be infected with the Zombie virus.
Developing a list of the most feared ‘zombie creatures’ is a regular pastime in most zombie apocalypse forums across the web. Whilst it is largely recognised that the virus does not currently transform animals or insects, zombie survivalists are a cautious crew and have prepared a list of the most deadly infected animals and insects as well as some approaches to dealing with them.
Other creatures that made the list include obvious zombie cats and dogs in common urban areas. Whereas infected chimps and orangutans will be less of a problem outside zoos and parts of the world where they still exist in the wild.
If you are engaged in any research, do not test on animals. Not only is it cruel, there is also a chance that you may stumble upon a mutated virus and cause all kinds of problems for other survivors. If you do need ‘live’ test subjects then you will need to develop a canny ruse to lure them into your lair. The Ministry of Zombies does not sanction any testing on humans, but if you are desperate, you can always use your lab assistant – it’s what they’re for.
The Z-Shark is the top of most lists. Take one of the world’s most highly developed hunters, make it pretty much invincible and give all breeds an even greater taste for human flesh. Few would go near the water with such killers on the prowl. However, in reality the zombie virus could dull a shark’s keen sense of smell and taste. It could have serious issues with direction and some experts picture the mentally reduced creatures just floating to the surface, unable to function. Let’s hope we never have to find out.
Imagine their tiny feet scurrying around, overrunning every town and city. See hundreds of infected red eyes watching you from the shadows and emerging to munch on your toes as you sleep. With their numbers and size, infected rodents could become a serious threat to survivor communities. They are unlikely to be distracted by a cube of cheese (unless it’s blood-soaked) and will be fiendish to kill. The one consolation again is that the zombie condition will slow them down and reduce their well-known cunning to the level of Baldrick from the Black Adder TV series.
Forget anything large; if these zombic flyers stick their diseased proboscis into your flesh and transmit the virus directly into your blood stream, it’s curtains for everyone. Many areas of the world are infested with these insects, or similar biting fiends, and you will need more than bug spray to eliminate them. In addition, the collapse of civilisation and drainage, flooding may create new habitats for this potentially deadly foe. However, in all probability it is thought that a viral jump into insects is the least likely scientific outcome – probably.