Special safety protocols during the COVID-19 situation
Our responsibilities
- Maintain a safe space for dogs to socialize and play. We know that dogs are not a risk to spread COVID-19 to humans or vice-versa, since it is human-to-human transmission by airborne spread.
- Limited interactions to avoid risk of exposure. Our front desk staff works from home now to answer emails, and our pack-handlers handle check-ins/outs. Check-ins/outs are a quick handoff, and we’ll answer any questions by email rather than in-person.
- No daycare or boarding walks, or home pick-up or drop-off. We will not be providing these services as long as the pandemic is still a threat.
- Modified boarding. Boarding is available based on demand, and there may be some days that we don’t have staff on-site during boarding visits. Instead of sleeping together, dogs will be isolated in separate closed-off areas of the dog run, or crated overnight. We will still be able to watch them via our internal live videos.
- Soapy water wipe-down at check-in. We’ll wipe down your dog’s gear (leash, harness, collar, etc) and any meals you bring with soapy water when you bring your dog in.
- Keep up-to-date with the latest from the CDC and the WHO. We have been keeping tabs on what the top health organizations recommend. You can read in-depth about it below.
- Wear a mask, or other face covering, when on site.
Your responsibilities
- Be patient 🙂 As we continue to figure things out, we may continue to make changes to our standard protocols. We ask for your understanding during these unprecedented times.
- No chit-chat at check-in/out. Please email any questions — our pack-handling staff is there to take care of the dogs, and we want to reduce time spent talking amongst each other.
- As always, label your dog’s meals. Normally we have front desk staff on site to verify all the details of your dog’s visit, but since they are working from home, we ask now more than ever that you clearly label your dog’s meals with your dog’s name and what meal it is (breakfast, lunch, or dinner).
- Stay home if you or your dog have been exposed. We ask that any pup that has been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms (whether confirmed COVID-19 or not) in the last 14 days does not attend daycare for the time being.
- Wear a mask, or other face covering, at check-in and check-out.
New check-in/out protocols
- Contactless check in/out via member website
- When at our location, please check in/out via our member website
- This should be quicker for you and for us, and allows you to confirm any meal instructions
- If you haven’t logged in to the member website before, please try to log in ahead of time to make sure it works — if you experience any issues, please email us so we can work to fix it.
- Please do not request check-in/out until you are on site — we bring your dog out when we receive the request!
- Contactless check in/out via text message (backup option):
- If you have any trouble with the member website, please check in/out via text message
- There will be a phone number posted to our front door in the morning. Please text that number with your dog’s unique PIN. Email us to ask for your dog’s PIN if you don’t know it.
- Please don’t call — this number is for texting only! ?
- At both check-in and check-out:
- You can wait either inside or outside, whichever you prefer
- We have floor markers inside to indicate 6 feet apart
- Please wear a mask, regardless if you are waiting inside or outside
- No chit chat ? or verbal requests — email as needed
A note on CDC/World Organization of Animal Health guidance
According to the CDC’s guidance, most recently updated December 11, 2020, “the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low” and “there is no evidence that viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread to people from the skin, fur, or hair of pets.“
Likewise, according to the World Organization for Animal Health’s guidance, most recently updated November 27, 2020, “there is no evidence that companion animals are playing an epidemiological role in the spread of human infections with SARS-CoV-2.” Further, they state that “there is no justification in taking measures which may compromise the welfare of companion animals.” (Socialization and mental and physical stimulation is important to the welfare of many dogs.) This organization, which is the main international body for animal health, has been closely monitoring the research on possible animal risks from the start of the pandemic.