COVID-19 UPDATES
PROTECTING YOU, YOUR PETS, OUR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY
It feels great to be back after a temporary closure from April 10th to May 18th, and we are so excited to be accepting new clients and welcoming back existing clients.
Thank you for your continued support during these trying times. We look forward to working with you and the pets of Edson & area!
COVID-19 Safety Precautions
To keep you and our team safe, we have implemented a new COVID-19 safety protocol outlined by Alberta Health Services. Our goal is to practice physical distancing and eliminate human-to-human contact as much as possible to help flatten the curve.
Wash
Cover
Note: Masks can be scary to our pets, so we ask that our clients get their pets used to seeing people in masks. If a pet is uncomfortable with the mask, then it may be removed and reapplied once the pet has calmed.
Sanitize
Distance
Employees must practice physical distancing and keep a minimum of 6 feet between the clients, each other, and others in the area.
Equipment
Leashes used will be biothane and provided by Poop’d Out for easy sanitizing between walks. When possible, we ask that collars and harnesses be on your dog before their walk for minimal contact of equipment and that these items are washed regularly.
No-Contact
Virtual
If a dog is highly reactive or fearful of people, or if pets have a difficult medication routine, then the virtual meet and greet can be followed by a 10-15min physically distanced meeting.
Health
Before the beginning of each workday, employees are visiting the Alberta Health Services website to complete the self-assessment test and are taking their temperatures to ensure they are symptom free.
Sickness
Employees feeling or showing symptoms of illness will be removed from the workplace and will not return until four days after symptoms have passed and medically cleared.
Clients feeling or showing symptoms of illness will need to cancel all visits and can reschedule four days after symptoms have passed.
If an employee tests positive or is exposed to COVID-19, a Poop’d Out manager will inform those who may have had possible exposure while maintaining confidentiality.
Questions
COVID-19 Information
With Coronavirus in the news, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the facts. We’ve put together some commonly asked questions and along with resources to help keep you in the know. We want you, your pets, and everyone in our community to stay safe and healthy.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus that, according to the CDC, “was first discovered in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China” and attacks the respiratory system. The first infections were linked to a live animal market, but the virus is now spreading from person to person. Currently, there are still many unknowns.
Can my pet get Coronavirus?
As a pet parent, I feel your concern! Dogs and cats are known for contracting certain types of coronaviruses. These are best known as canine respiratory and feline coronavirus. Based on what we know about other coronaviruses, there is no evidence that domestic dogs or cats can be a source of COVID-19 infection to humans or other animals.
The World Health Organization has reported that a small number of pets belonging to people infected with COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, as did a tiger from New York. There is also some evidence that ferrets can become infected with the virus that causes human COVID-19, but no evidence that they can spread it to people. As a precaution, they recommend keeping ferrets and exotic pets away from people infected with COVID-19. Evidence remains limited to support the risk of our pets getting the virus.
If you notice any changes in your pet’s health or behaviour, consult your local vet.
What can we do to prevent Coronavirus?
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to limit the spread is to avoid exposure – however, there’s only so much of being indoors and isolating that a person can handle. Plus, our pets love the outdoors!
As we go about our daily routines, keep these simple steps in mind:
STAY home as much as you can
KEEP a safe distance
WASH hands often
COVER your cough
SICK? Call ahead
While these steps may be ones you are already practicing every day, it’s always good to have a reminder and encourage others to do the same.