A woman has gone viral after pleading for people to show kindness to stray dogs, as experts urged animal lovers to also keep their own safety in mind.
The woman, who posts to TikTok under the username @cevytot, gained millions of views and sparked a major conversation when she recorded herself cuddling a street dog, and urging others to do the same.
In a video shared on January 21 with over 2 million views, a stray dog can be seen lying on the woman's lap, getting as close as possible as she scratches his body and behind his ears.
The dog, who appears to be covered in dirt or dust, is clearly loving the attention, and repeatedly turns his head and moves his paws, before looking into her eyes.
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Newsweek spoke to Shanina Knighton, PhD, a research associate professor at Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, who called @cevytot's video a "sweet and compassionate moment."
However, she warned that "petting stray dogs, while kind, poses health risks."
Strays can carry bacteria, parasites and diseases including rabies, and their fur "may also harbor toxins from unsanitary environments. Even minor cuts on your hands increase the risk of infection."
She stated that even therapy dogs in hospitals "follow strict protocols to prevent infections. Strays don't have this care, so precautions are important."