COVID-19 Daily Digest | Sunday, March 22

COVID-19 UPDATES

Our COVID-19 Shelter and Rescue Response Survey is still open. We received over 200 responses, but we want to hear from you! How are intake, outcomes, and transfer operations functioning? Has your foster program grown? Are you hitting roadblocks? Are your plans changing rapidly?

The National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) announced they are offering FREE NACA MEMBERSHIP to Assist You During The COVID-19 Crisis. “In response to the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the NACA Board of Directors has authorized a free membership for all non-member Animal Care & Control Professionals. This membership will allow you to access NACA's no-cost resources as well as our no-cost and discounted online training options during this crisis!” Take advantage of this opportunity for free education and resources. Click here for a 3-month free NACA membership!

What do California, Colorado, and Illinois have in common? All three of these states issued statements that designate animal services as essential services. What does this mean, exactly? It means that animal shelters will continue to be staffed and funded.

Helpful Resources

This Wednesday, April 1 join us for another LIVE Q&A with Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Kristen Hassen-Auerbach. Sign up today! Bring your questions and hear answers from two of the people leading the charge of ensuring that animals in our shelters and rescues are not needlessly killed, even through a global pandemic.

Is Your Shelter Prepared?

We update our AmPA! COVID-19 Shelter and Rescue Preparedness Guide daily. We are now hosting more than 60 resources, templates and protocols for your shelter or rescue to use. Most of these documents are working Google Docs, meaning you can copy, paste, grab, and go. We want implementing these protocols to be as easy as possible. Stay tuned for more, exciting, useful resources coming this week!

Story of the Day

In a climate of crisis and fear of the unknown, shelter and rescues are working diligently to make sure animals in our communities are not needlessly euthanized due to a lack of resources. Sending pets to foster, reducing intake, implementing recommendations from the University of Wisconsin school of Veterinary Medicine and NACA, are all ways that the community is ensuring that pets, along with our neighbors and friends, stay healthy and alive during this pandemic.

This weekend Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society reached a little farther to lend a lifesaving hand. This Cincinnati, Ohio based group accepted a new transfer partner in Brownwood, Texas, bringing 35 animals into their care from the Corrine T Smith Animal Center. AmPA! team members Dr. Nipuni Ratnayaka and Faith Wright helped prepare the animals in Brownwood for their long trek north.

This inspiring story illustrates what it means to be together in this crisis. Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society said, “Amidst the coronavirus crisis, shelters all across the country are working hard to get their animals to safety. We're thankful for the support of our community, volunteers and fosters for getting us to a position to be able to safely and responsibly step up and answer the call for these at-risk dogs. Texas is one of the top 3 states in the country for low live-release rates and they need help. The team in Brownwood, TX is dedicated to finding live outcomes for the animals in their care, and we are honored to be able to have saved 35 lives from Texas today!”

Thank you to the many hands that brought these vulnerable dogs to their new home in the Buckeye State!

Stay Connected

If you haven’t joined the American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue Support Group on Facebook, you should. We reached over 1,900 members this weekend!! The conversation and support is strong, we are building a community out of this crisis. It may be the closest this movement has ever been. Please invite people you know who may need support during this pandemic to join the page.