Putting COVID-19 on a leash.

3/13/20

Dear Faithful Supporters,

The leadership of the Humane Society of Waupaca County has been closely monitoring the current COVID -19/Novel-Coronavirus situation. At this time, the animal shelter will remain open and operational.

We are immediately instituting an “Enter By Appointment ONLY” policy.

If you require assistance or wish to adopt or foster, please call for an appointment before coming. People arriving without an appointment will be asked to wait in their car until we can assist them or return at another time, by appointment. If you would like to adopt, please fill out an application online and wait for approval, at which time you can make an appointment for a visit.

We would like to continue adoptions but feel it is necessary not to overcrowd any areas of the shelter so that we may observe social distancing as much as possible. Of course, if you have a fever or are not feeling 100% WELL, please refrain from visiting. This is necessary for the safety and well-being of our staff, who have a lot of animals to care for.

HSWC is operating at very near capacity at this time and is unable to accept owner surrenders until further notice. If you are experiencing hardship due to the current circumstances and feel unable to care for your animal properly, please call or email us and we will try to help you find resources.

The decision to close the animal shelter to the public and have animal care staff meet the daily needs of our shelter pets may have to be made and will be assessed in real time on a day-by-day basis. The leadership of HSWC has established clear and realistic guidelines for if or when this decision faces us.

In an effort to reduce the potential for COVID-19/Novel-Coronavirus to spread to more people through large gatherings, we are also following the guidance of the CDC and postponing all volunteer orientations, training classes and meetings scheduled through at least the end of March 2020.

If you are scheduled as a volunteer at the animal shelter and you feel ill or have a fever… PLEASE STAY HOME and let us know that you are unavailable to fulfill your shift. If someone in your home is ill or has tested positive or if you have direct contact with someone outside your home who appears to be ill or have a fever or has tested positive for COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus, please stay home. Volunteer activities may need to be suspended as well. We will do our best to inform you via facebook and local radio stations. Call ahead if you are unsure.

It is very important to us, that our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners and customers understand that the Humane Society of Waupaca County, as an organization, cares deeply about their safety and well-being. We appreciate your understanding while we work to ensure not only the public’s safety, but also provide staff and volunteers with the opportunity to focus on their own health and personal care. We are working diligently to keep the animal shelter as safe as possible for the animals in our care and the humans that work, volunteer and visit with us.

We will keep you updated as the situation changes. Meanwhile, if you wish to donate, you may do so safely online via our website, waupacahumane.org , or leave donations in our entryway or outside the door, weather permitting. At this time, we need dry cat food, paper towels, laundry detergent, liquid hand soap and bleach.

Thank you for your patience, kindness and generosity and please take care of yourselves – the animals need you!

Sincerely,

~Monica Gardner, Operations Manager Humane Society of Waupaca County, Inc.