SHELTER RE-OPENING UPDATE

JUNE 14, 2021 -- The Front Street Animal Shelter is currently preparing a re-opening plan for our public counters. Our highest priority during the pandemic has been to protect the health of our staff and community members. We are reviewing new state and local guidance on re-opening and will work with our employee organizations as our plans are developed. We will keep you apprised when we receive final approval to open our public counters.

While our public counters are not open for walk-ins, we continue to offer appointments for most services and we accept drop-ins for stray animals during business hours.

HAND SANITIZER SAFETY INFORMATION

Cleaning your hands before you eat or touching your nose, ears, and eyes can help you stay healthy. Always wash your hands with soap and water if possible. In situations where handwashing is not available, hand sanitizers are a good alternative.

IMPORTANT! AVOID LEAVING HAND SANITIZERS AND DISINFECTANT WIPES IN A HOT VEHICLE. ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS (ABHS) ARE FLAMMABLE AND DISINFECTANT WIPES CAN EASILY DRY OUT.

Below are some safety information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (again, if soap and water are not available)
• Hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations
• Hand sanitizers do NOT get rid of all types of germs
• Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy
• Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals
• Apply hand sanitizer over all surfaces of your hands AND fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
• ABHS contains ethyl alcohol, which readily evaporates at room temperature into an ignitable vapor, and is considered a flammable liquid.

RISK OF PEOPLE SPREADING COVID-19 TO PETS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an extremely small number of cases where animals were infected due to close contact with people infected with COVID-19. Only a couple of the pets reported to be positive showed any signs of illness.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU OWN PETS:  Until we learn more about how this virus affects animals, you should treat your pets as you would with other human family members in order to protect them from a possible infection.

• Do not let your pet interact with people or other animals outside of the household
• Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with people or other animals
• Walk your dog on a leash and maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people and animals
• Avoid dog parks and public places where a large number of people and dogs gather

Consult with a veterinarian if your pet gets sick or if you have any concerns about your pet's health.

PROTECT YOUR PETS IF YOU BECOME SICK:  If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed), you should restrict contact with your pets and other animals. 

• When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick
• Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food and bedding
• If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, you should wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them

If you are sick with COVID-19 and your pet becomes sick, do NOT take your pet to the vet. Call your vet and let them know that you are sick with COVID-19. Some vets may offer telemedicine consultation or a plan for seeing sick pets. Your vet can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pet's treatment and care.

STAY HEALTHY AROUND ANIMALS:  In the United States, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in the spread of COVID-19. Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. However, because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it is always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals. 

• Wash your hands after handling animals and their food, waste, and supplies
• Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly
• Be aware that children 5 years of age and younger, people with weakened immune systems, and people 65 years of age and older are more likely to get sick from germs that some animals can carry

KeepYourPet.com
Helping Pets and Their People Stay Together

Before you consider surrendering your pet to an animal shelter, take the time to visit this website. This resource guide provides a wealth of information on the services available in the Sacramento region that can help you keep your pet as an important member of the family. These services offer assistance with animal behavior issues, financial and domestic issues, personal health issues, senior citizens and people with limited-mobility, veterinary care, and tips for rehoming your pet.

Rehome.AdoptAPet.com
The Safe, No-Cost Way to Rehome Your Pet

Rehoming your pet should be easy and stress-free for you and your pet. Adopt-A-Pet.com, which is the largest, non-profit, pet adoption organization, has partnered with The Petco Foundation to create a simple, reliable, free program to help you place your pet from your loving home directly to another home. The dedicated team at Adopt-A-Pet.com provides trusted expertise and support and has created meeting zones as a safer alternative to online classifieds. Best of all, your personal information is never shared nor shown to the public. 

SACRAMENTO SPCA PET FOOD BANK

The Sacramento SPCA's Paw Pantry is offering free pet food for pet owners in need, as they work to keep pets and their owners together during this coronavirus pandemic.

This drive-thru service is providing dog food bags and cat food bags that are placed on a table in order to allow a person to drive up, reach out from their car, and collect the food bag off the table.

The pet food bank is located at 6201 Florin-Perkins Rd, Sacramento 95828, and is open Tuesday and Friday from 9:00 am - 11:00 am.

WHO WILL CARE FOR YOUR PET IF YOU GET SICK?

It is important that you create a plan for your pet in case you get sick. Gather your household or your friends and walk through the following steps to ensure your pet is well cared for in the event something happens to you.

KNOW THE FACTS:   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that people can get COVID-19 from pets. The best place for your pet is inside the home that your pet knows and loves. If you aren't feeling well but still able to provide care for your pet, please keep your pet at home with you where your pet is most comfortable.

TAKING OVER FOR YOU:   If you do become too physically ill to care for your pet or you need to be hospitalized, find, a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker who could take in your pet. Perhaps a pet groomer, pet daycare, or pet boarding facility may be able to help in your time of need if you give them advance notice. The most important thing you can do today is to come up with two potential pet plans and talk directly with those people so they're prepared in case they're called to action.

PREPARE A PET SUPPLY KIT:   Do it today before you find yourself in an emergency situation without the ability to track down the proper supplies. Your kit should include the following items:

• Name and contact info for the person who can care for your pet
• Name and contact info for the back-up person in case your 1st choice is no longer able
• Food, treats, leash, a couple of toys and any other supplies that will last for at least 2 weeks
• A crate or carrier to transport your pet
• Vaccination records
• Collar with ID tag
• Microchip registration is up-to-date with the microchip company
• Medication and prescriptions along with a list of instructions
• Daily care instructions
• Contact info for your veterinary clinic

With your family on board and a plan in place, you'll feel better about your pet's well-being knowing that your pet is in good hands no matter what challenges may arise.