Coronavirus: Denver Animal Shelter Closes Adoptions, Vaccination Clinics

From the City and County of Denver:

Posted March 17, 2020

Denver Animal Shelter closes adoptions and vaccination clinics, highlights crucial ways people can help

Due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, Denver Animal Protection is taking precautionary steps to avoid virus transmission, including closing adoptions and vaccination clinics at Denver Animal Shelter. Denver Animal Protection is hoping for the community’s support during this time to continue to provide limited services to Denver’s human and animal populations.

Denver Animal Shelter remains open for stray pet services, as we must reunite lost pets with their families. We respectfully request that anyone who is currently ill (or has any known risk factors related to the virus) not visit Denver Animal Shelter. If you are searching for a lost pet, please contact us at 720-913-1311.

Denver Animal Protection officers will continue to respond to calls as they are able. For assistance from Denver Animal Protection, please call 720-913-2080.

How the Community Can Help Denver Animal Shelter:

Community members who are eager to help offset the potential impact on pets related to COVID-19 are encouraged to:

1. Help reunite lost pets with their families: Share Denver Animal Protection’s Lost Pets web link on social media and NextDoor to help aid DAP in reuniting lost pets back with their families.

2. Donate. Support the more than 150 animals at Denver Animal Shelter today by making a donation! It costs over $30/day to care for each animal at Denver Animal Shelter, so every dollar helps care for Denver’s homeless, and most vulnerable, pets. Individuals can make a monetary donation here: www.bit.ly/DAPDonations. Additionally, supporters can donate treats, toys, and other essential enrichment items from our Amazon Wish List, which ships directly to the shelter. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept in-kind donations at this time.

3. Extend understanding, compassion, and support to our staff and volunteers. Our staff are working overtime to ensure additional sanitization protocols take place while also continuing our high quality of care for our animals. We are repurposing staff to give more attention and enrichment to our pets during this uncertain time. Therefore, wait and response times may be impacted. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Please be aware that the World Small Animal Veterinary Association states that there is no evidence that companion animals can be infected with or spread COVID-19. This is also the view of the World Health Organization. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, people with confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with other people as well as pets

Emergency Preparedness Planning for Pets
In addition to preparations typically recommended for any natural disaster threat, individuals with pets should identify family members or friends to care for pets if someone in the household falls ill and is hospitalized. By creating a preparedness plan ahead of time, pet owners can do their part to ensure animal service resources do not become overwhelmed and their pets are spared unnecessary stress.

To make a preparedness plan for your pets:

· Identify a trusted family member or friend to care for your pets if someone in your household becomes ill or is hospitalized.

· Have crates, food and extra supplies for your pet on hand in case moving them becomes necessary or if the virus spreads in the community and it becomes necessary to reduce social exposure.

· Protect pets with current identification, including a collar with current identification tags and a registered microchip.

· Keep all animal vaccines up to date in the event boarding becomes necessary.

· Research potential boarding facilities to utilize in the event boarding your pet becomes necessary.

· Ensure all medications are documented with dosages and administering instructions. Including the prescription from the prescribing veterinarian is also helpful.

This press release was produced by the City and County of Denver. The views expressed here are the author’s own.