ECCHA Press Releases:
Covid-19 and Pets:
Being informed and taking precautions is your best course of action. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), "it is important that COVID-19 does not lead to inappropriate measures being taken against domestic or wild animals which might compromise their welfare and health or have a negative impact on biodiversity". Pet parents under no circumstances should be abandoning their pets because of COVID-19.
Veterinary officials worldwide agree that there is no evidence that dogs or cats can become ill from this strain or serve as a carrier of the infection.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is an enveloped virus, meaning that it is relatively easy to kill. Disinfecting surfaces with a bleach based cleaner or one with at least 60% alcohol will kill the virus. If you or another family member is exposed to COVID-19 or becomes sick, it is best to mechanically clean the house and then use a disinfecting product. The person who is sick or exposed should quarantine himself or herself to one room/area.
Pet parents should adopt good hygiene habits, such as washing their hands before and after handling pets, their food and supplies, and maintain a clean environment. Bathing your pets is a good idea using a shampoo specifically for pets. Please do not use any disinfectants or human based products on your pet.
The ECCHA will continue to be a temporary home for pets in need that have no other resource. If you have questions, concerns, or need assistance, please contact the shelter at info@eccha.org. We are all in this together.
ECCHA's Intake of Animals during Covid-19:
The health and safety of our pets and the community is ECCHA's top priority. Animal shelters are well versed in handling community challenges, disease control, and relying on community collaboration. ECCHA has put into place several protocols and resources to continue to support the community, provide compassionate care for homeless animals, and coordinate with other organizations to promote animal welfare.
At this time, ECCHA is recommending that municipalities only respond to high priority/emergency calls. These include injured or sick stray animals, cruelty and neglect complaints, bite complaints, and any animals deemed dangerous. We are asking the community to help find the owners to lost pets and leave healthy stray and community cats be during this crisis.
The ECCHA will continue to be a temporary home for pets in need that have no other resource and are in need of immediate care. By not suspending intakes into the shelter, we could quickly run out of space or not have enough staff to care for the animals, which could lead to an increase in euthanasia. We will be reducing intakes in order to keep staff and the community safe as well. We will not be taking in any non-emergency surrenders. We can offer alternatives to surrendering your pet as well as a courtesy post on our Facebook page. Please email ECCHA at info@eccha.org for alternatives to surrendering.
ECCHA can offer supplies to help keep pets with their families during this time. Supplies for cats, dogs, and some small animals are available for pick up Mondays and Fridays between 11am-2pm at ECCHA based on our donations.
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