HBSPCA steps up for COVID-19 sufferers
Agency teams up with Zachary’s PAWS for Healing to offer ‘compassionate’ boarding
The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA has partnered with Zachary’s PAWS For Healing to offer free boarding for pets of those hospitalized for coronavirus-related treatment.
The service, which began last week, is part of the HBSPCA’s larger commitment to keep animals and their human families together during times of crisis and to help those dealing with unusual stresses in their lives avoid surrendering their pets because of cost or temporary inability to care for them.
“In these uncertain times, we think this (boarding for hospitalized COVID-19 patients) is an essential and humane support for pet families,” says Marion Emo, president and CEO of HBSPCA.
“Compassionate boarding is the right thing to do.”
There are no pets being boarded at present for virus-related reasons in the Hamilton area but the SPCA and Zachary’s PAWS for Healing are ready, she says, the option is there.
The compassionate boarding program provides up to 14 days of free boarding at the HBSPCA on Dartnall Road and with Zachary’s PAWS for Healing depending on the space available and animals’ circumstances. Pets may include cats, dogs, small critters and small birds.
“Keeping people and pets together means caring for pet companions when pet parents are getting the help they need,” says Emo. “Pets are family members, and compassionate boarding prevents pet surrender, relieves anxiety about care, and gives hope to pet parents. Over the last few years, we have worked closely with Zachary’s PAWS for Healing and the organization’s founder Donna Jenkins, and we know that pets are people’s best friends, sometimes only friend.”
Emo says HBSPCA spends time with families exploring alternatives to surrender when there is trouble. “If they can’t afford a vet bill, we can help out with that. Our role is to help pets and their human families to stay together.” Staff can also consult about other challenges of living with pets.
And, she adds, these are especially disorienting times for everyone, including “pet parents” and those who want to be. The SPCA will start adopting out animals again this week and, because of social distancing, they’ve streamlined the process to eliminate as much physical contact as possible; so applicants are asked to fill out forms at home and to talk about prospective adoptee animals over the phone with staff and are limited to one pet appointment at a time, in the SPCA auditorium, with many feet of distance from staff.
Not only are people dealing with social isolation and worry about COVID-19, but this is also the season when animals, especially kittens, are being born and in some cases left on the SPCA’s doorstep, says Emo.
But at the same time, because the border with the United States is closed, the animal care and rescue infrastructure is not seeing so many dogs and cats coming in as from the puppy mills and high-euthanasia facilities south of the border.
And while reports are starting to trickle into the media about animals contracting COVID-19, Emo says that the HBSPCA’s best knowledge, mostly derived from animal epidemiology expert Dr. Scott Weese of the Ontario Veterinary College, is that “we should not be terribly worried about that” just now. Emo notes that PetSmart Charities of Canada has contributed to the HBSPCA’s boarding through the Veterinary Outreach Program. Royal Canin has donated food to help feed pets in care. Volunteers and staff will care for, socialize, play with and exercise all animals in boarding care.