Animals don’t get infected by the zombie virus in The Walking Dead, and there has never been a direct explanation in the show as to why. Based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name, the science behind the outbreak was presented in season 1, but not much more has been revealed ever since. And now the series is heading into the bonus episodes of season 10, so time is running out on the show delivering more information.

With the downfall of society, survivors have been forced to rely on other means of transportation, food, and other aspects in order to thrive in the new world. Since The Walking Dead‘s pilot, it had been revealed that animals were still present. After waking from a coma, Rick Grimes was forced to travel by horse in search of answers regarding his family. In time, that same species became the preferred mode of transportation when cars were no longer viable. In addition to horses, various other animals have been featured in the following seasons for farming, hunting, and even companionship.

So far in The Walking Dead, no animals have come back from the dead in the same fashion as humans. According to the show’s zombie rules, every human is infected, and they will turn into walkers when they die, whether or not they are bitten or scratched by a zombie. While there had been many theories regarding the source of the outbreak, Kirkman has confirmed that the infection was due to a “space spore.” Even though animals continue going through the circle of life in the fictional universe with the same exposure to what affects humans, they will never become infected. Viewers may never get a suitable explanation, but various sources have attempted to find reasoning.

The Details Surrounding The Outbreak In TWD Will Always Be Ambiguous

Whenever asked about the possibility of animals turning into zombies by the same outbreak affecting humans, Kirkman has had a history of confirming that the infection only targets people. While this confirmation has become canon for The Walking Dead, there might be a few more explanations stemming from science. Whether the outbreak is bacterial, viral, fungal, or something otherworldly, the pathogen could be species-specific. Like certain cases with certain contagious diseases, outbreaks could be passed from one species to another with only one being truly infected with an illness.

Even though animals in The Walking Dead aren’t capable of turning into zombies, they still face extra threats. Not only are humans killing more animals for a source of food, but they also have hungry walkers to worry about. Logistically, the series has made an effort to limit appearances by animals, especially when CGI is involved like the case with Ezekiel’s pet tiger, Shiva. Having animals turn into the reanimated dead would have unearthed another difficult production hassle, which is probably another reason why the show neglected to include them in the outbreak. For now, Daryl’s beloved sidekick, Dog, is the only recurring animal on The Walking Dead. Thankfully fans don’t have to worry about any zombie pets coming into focus.