Covid 19 Message
Everyone is impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Hands to Paws and other animal rescues are not exempt from this impact. We hope that this information below will help you to understand how we are dealing with the situation.
First, Are we still up and operating? Yes, but in altered fashion . We still have 40 animals in our care between boarding and foster homes. Their care must continue forward but is occurring in line with Federal and local government recommendations of safety protocols and social distancing.
We are taking in animals on a limited basis. We highly recommend that individuals and families hang onto their pets at this time as all rescues and animal controls are also in a crisis state. If you need help with food reach out to neighbors and organizations in the community for help. We can help on a limited basis. Adoptions and/or Fostering: All organized adoption events have been canceled. Individual adoptions are proceeding with caution, but are challenging based on mandates by our Federal and local government for shelter at home and social distancing practices . We are hoping and expecting to have further guidance from the Georgia Dept of Agriculture who is our governing agency. At this time we are making the following suggestions to our fosters who get interests in the dog(s)/cat(s) in their care: Follow the guidelines from Dept of Agriculture as they provide guidance and share in all efforts to be transparent. Follow all federal and local recommendations for social distancing and use all necessary precautions such as gloves and sanitizers. All fosters have been directed to keep the health and safety of themselves, their families and the community in the forefront of their minds, thoughts and practices at all times. Which first and foremost means social distancing. There has been no direct evidence that animals can transmit COVID-19 but adding safety precautions does not hurt our practices at all. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/animals.html
Hands to Paws is recommending the following: Wash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies. Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly. Use of hygiene wipes on coats of pets to help eliminate the possibility of transmission of human respiratory droplets (not yet scientifically verified, but good practice) Use of frequently sanitized collars and leashes. Interest in adopting and fostering of our animals will still be pursued with our initial formal measures: Receipt of interest acknowledged Online application process Reference checks via telephone and email From there things may drastically change...fosters have been encouraged to use online platforms and social media as well as cell phones to share about the animal. Only if you are comfortable ...take a walk in an open area where the potential adopter/foster can also walk...keeping at least/if not more than your 6 feet recommended for social distancing. No contact between new human and dog and new human and yourself at this point Potential adopter will be given every opportunity to see the personality of the animal Fosters will work to keep the potential adopter engaged and interested in the animal while still following all of the safety protocols recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 If from your altered interaction the animal is believe to be a good fit be sure you have completed an adoption application online.
Fostering http://form.jotform.com/62777393806166
Adopting https://form.jotform.com/63233159342149
Home checks will still apply and could be done virtual via Face-time, Skype, Zoom ,etc. In-Home checks cannot occur until issues have been worked out and guidance provided by Dept of Ag. Deposits can be taken to hold the animal if we get near a point of finalization (if adoption; not applicable in fostering situation). We truly want to be move forward will matching the right pet with the right individual or family whether for fostering or adopting, but must also be a responsible and look out for the community as a whole. Please be patient and work with us as we all go through this together. President, Kathy Ellis
First, Are we still up and operating? Yes, but in altered fashion . We still have 40 animals in our care between boarding and foster homes. Their care must continue forward but is occurring in line with Federal and local government recommendations of safety protocols and social distancing.
We are taking in animals on a limited basis. We highly recommend that individuals and families hang onto their pets at this time as all rescues and animal controls are also in a crisis state. If you need help with food reach out to neighbors and organizations in the community for help. We can help on a limited basis. Adoptions and/or Fostering: All organized adoption events have been canceled. Individual adoptions are proceeding with caution, but are challenging based on mandates by our Federal and local government for shelter at home and social distancing practices . We are hoping and expecting to have further guidance from the Georgia Dept of Agriculture who is our governing agency. At this time we are making the following suggestions to our fosters who get interests in the dog(s)/cat(s) in their care: Follow the guidelines from Dept of Agriculture as they provide guidance and share in all efforts to be transparent. Follow all federal and local recommendations for social distancing and use all necessary precautions such as gloves and sanitizers. All fosters have been directed to keep the health and safety of themselves, their families and the community in the forefront of their minds, thoughts and practices at all times. Which first and foremost means social distancing. There has been no direct evidence that animals can transmit COVID-19 but adding safety precautions does not hurt our practices at all. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/animals.html
Hands to Paws is recommending the following: Wash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies. Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly. Use of hygiene wipes on coats of pets to help eliminate the possibility of transmission of human respiratory droplets (not yet scientifically verified, but good practice) Use of frequently sanitized collars and leashes. Interest in adopting and fostering of our animals will still be pursued with our initial formal measures: Receipt of interest acknowledged Online application process Reference checks via telephone and email From there things may drastically change...fosters have been encouraged to use online platforms and social media as well as cell phones to share about the animal. Only if you are comfortable ...take a walk in an open area where the potential adopter/foster can also walk...keeping at least/if not more than your 6 feet recommended for social distancing. No contact between new human and dog and new human and yourself at this point Potential adopter will be given every opportunity to see the personality of the animal Fosters will work to keep the potential adopter engaged and interested in the animal while still following all of the safety protocols recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 If from your altered interaction the animal is believe to be a good fit be sure you have completed an adoption application online.
Fostering http://form.jotform.com/62777393806166
Adopting https://form.jotform.com/63233159342149
Home checks will still apply and could be done virtual via Face-time, Skype, Zoom ,etc. In-Home checks cannot occur until issues have been worked out and guidance provided by Dept of Ag. Deposits can be taken to hold the animal if we get near a point of finalization (if adoption; not applicable in fostering situation). We truly want to be move forward will matching the right pet with the right individual or family whether for fostering or adopting, but must also be a responsible and look out for the community as a whole. Please be patient and work with us as we all go through this together. President, Kathy Ellis