NEWS
*hscc operations update*
June 19, 2020
While our facility remains closed to the general public, we will be conducting all adoption counseling sessions in-person by appointment only beginning the week of June 22nd. If you are interested in adopting a cat, dog, or small animal please click on those pages and follow the steps as outlined. Please note that only parties of 1-2 people will be allowed in the building for counseling and all vistors are required to wear a self-supplied mask, sanitize hands before and after their visit, and practice social distancing of 6 feet or more from all HSCC staff.
Thank you for your understanding & patience!
-The HSCC Team
a statement from hscc
June 3, 2020
The Humane Society of Chittenden County stands united against racism and injustice. We believe in and value the strength that diversity brings to our community. We believe in treating all people as we treat all animals - with compassion, empathy, and respect.
We strive to improve our understanding and better ourselves to stem the tide of systemic inequity and to advance a more inclusive society.
We welcome everyone into our HSCC family. We are always stronger together.
-The HSCC Team
*HSCC Operations update*
MAY 11, 2020
If you are interested in adopting, please follow the steps below. Please note that our facility is still closed to the general public until further notice. Be sure to stay tuned to www.hsccvt.org & our social media for the latest updates during these ever-changing times - thank you!
1. Click on the following link to schedule a phone/video call with one of our adoption counselors:
For cats and smallies: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B48A8AA2CA7F94-appointment
For Dogs: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B48A8AA2CA7F94-dogappointments
Please note that due to a high volume of interested adopters, there may not be slots available for the current week. New appointments are posted every Sunday evening, so please check back then.
2. For cats and smallies, an adoption counselor will email you a link, inviting you to a Zoom meeting during your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you to go on a "virtual tour" of the shelter to see the available cats and smallies. If you do not have a webcam or smartphone, the counselor will send you videos of the animals and will counsel you over the phone on the one(s) you have chosen. For dogs, you will be emailed pictures and videos and then counseled over the phone.
3. If you find a cat or small animal that you would like to adopt, we will schedule a time for you to pick them up at the shelter. You will take the animal home and foster him/her for up to 1 week to make sure it’s a good fit before the adoption is finalized. If you find a dog that you would like to adopt, we will schedule a time for you and your family to come to the shelter and meet him/her. If you would like to adopt after your visit, we will send him/her home with you at that time.
All visitors are required to socially distance to 6’ to the extent possible, wear a self-supplied mask, and thoroughly wash hands before and after your visit. Please review the adoption fees before committing to take an animal home.
Thank you for your patience & understanding!
Pet Preparedness Kit
Being prepared for an emergency, hospitalization, natural disaster, or other unexpected event is crucial to keeping your beloved pets safe, healthy, and in your care. Download or print the Pet Preparedness Kit Checklist to help you gather necessary items and Pet Boarding Instructions Form in case you need to temporarily board your animals at a facility or with a loved one. These steps can lessen the chance of your pet(s) being injured, lost, or worse.
Visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/emergencies/index.html for further details on making an emergency plan for your pets.
*HSCC Operations Update*
April 21, 2020
As of Wednesday April 22nd, HSCC will be re-opening pet adoptions on a limited, appointment-only basis. Our facility continues to be closed to the general public. We currently have adult cats, adult dogs, and small animals looking for homes - we do not have kittens or puppies available at this time. If you are seriously interested in adopting, please follow the steps below. Please note that we are not able to discuss or reserve animals over social media and we will not be posting photos of available animals on our website as we transition to this updated process, but do stay tuned to www.hsccvt.org for the latest updates during these ever-changing times. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
1. Clink on the following link to schedule a phone/video call with one of our adoption counselors (if no appointments are available, check back the following week): https://www.signupgenius.com/…/9040B48A8AA2CA7F94-appointme…
2. For cats and smallies, an adoption counselor will email you a link, inviting you to a Zoom meeting during your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you to go on a "virtual tour" of the shelter to see the available cats and smallies. If you do not have a webcam or smartphone, the counselor will send you videos of the animals and will counsel you over the phone on the one(s) you have chosen. For dogs, you will be emailed pictures and videos and then counseled over the phone.
3. If you find a cat or small animal that you would like to adopt, we will schedule a time for you to pick them up at the shelter. You will take the animal home and foster him/her for up to 1 week to make sure it’s a good fit before the adoption is finalized. Please review the adoption fees before committing to take an animal home.
If you find a dog that you would like to adopt, we will schedule a time for you and your family to come to the shelter and meet him/her. If you would like to adopt after your visit, we will send him/her home with you at that time. All visitors are required to socially distance to 6’ to the extent possible, wear a self-supplied mask, and thoroughly sanitize hands before and after your visit.
We look forward to helping you find a new furry companion!
The HSCC Team
*HSCC Operations Update*
April 1, 2020
In adherence to Governor Scott’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, in-person operations for non-essential business and non-profits throughout the state have been suspended. While animal shelters are exempt from this order, we feel strongly that HSCC has a responsibility to our staff and community members to do our part in helping to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.
As such, we will continue to limit the number of staff members in our building and are not allowing visitors or volunteers at this time. However, our free outdoor pet food shelf will remain
available to those in need from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and we kindly ask that those using the food shelf follow social distancing guidelines (at least 6 feet of space between individuals).
Thanks to an overwhelming response from our community, most of the animals in our care are now staying in loving foster homes and some have even been officially adopted by their foster
families. This has allowed our reduced on-site staff to devote more time to caring for animals with medical and/or behavioral needs and continue to provide assistance to community members
through our surrender prevention programs. We are also able to accept animal intakes by appointment only and with minimal human contact. At this time, however, we are not
accepting new applications by potential adopters as our staff is processing those that have already been submitted.
We are continuing to practice vigorous disinfecting protocols throughout the facility, proper hand hygiene, and social distancing for staff who are on-site. Staff members who can do so are
working remotely and we ask any employee who isn’t feeling well to stay home for at least 14 days before returning to work.
While this global health crisis has no doubt impacted our organization from top to bottom, we are still 100% committed to serving the people & pets in our community and doing all that we
can to provide resources to those in need. We are so grateful to all who have supported HSCC during this time and we thank you for your understanding as we adapt to this ever-evolving
situation.
Please stay tuned to our website and social media for the most up-to-date information and feel free to reach out to us at (802) 862-0135 or bestfriends@hsccvt.org if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
Thank you and be well!
The HSCC Team
*FOSTER PROGRAM UPDATE*
MARCH 24, 2020
Thank you to all who have emailed or sent in a foster application! Due to the overwhelming response from our community, we are not currently accepting new foster applications. We are working hard to review those that have already been submitted and get the information into our system so that we can match fosters with animals based on their unique needs. More detailed updates will be sent to fosters as their applications are approved and we will share important news on our website & social media as the situation develops. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
*Important covid-19 update*
March 23, 2020
In accordance with Governor Scott's mandate for businesses & nonprofits to be closed to anything other than essential business effective at 8 p.m. this evening, HSCC will be doing the following:
- Temporarily closing our facility to all visitors. Pet adoptions are currently on hold, but we are working on safe alternatives to continue our adoption process. Please stay tuned!
- Limiting animal intakes to truly emergent cases only
- Relying on foster families to give our current residents a new place to stay
- Continuing with our outdoor free pet food shelf, provided that those at the food shelf adhere to social distancing rules of AT LEAST 6 feet of space between people. We will have a staff member around to monitor the food shelf and unfortunately will have to discontinue this service if enough space is not granted OR if people are taking more than the 2 items allowed per household.
A limited number of staff will be on-site, but you are still welcome to reach out to us at (802) 862-0135 or bestfriends@hsccvt.org with any questions or concerns. We will be updating the public as soon as possible with further changes.
Thank you for your patience & understanding during these uncertain times.
HSCC updated adoption/relinquishment policy
March 18, 2020
The Humane Society of Chittenden County, caring for animals and people since 1901, will be open by appointment only for those wishing to adopt a pet, or that have an emergency animal relinquishment, effective immediately. The pet food shelf will be accessible by calling ahead to 862-0135 X10. To do our part to stem the tide of COVID-19 and protect our community, our facility will be closed to the public for all other business.
Please give us a call at 862-0135 if you have further questions - thank you for your understanding!
HSCC Business Continuity Plan
March 12, 2020
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus and its recent designation as a global pandemic with known cases in Chittenden County, the Humane Society of Chittenden County is committed to maintaining a healthy work environment for our employees and our volunteers while continuing to provide the highest quality care for our animals. With this in mind, we are asking our customers and members of the public to assist us in taking the following precautions:
1. We are directing employees and volunteers to remain at home if they feel ill or are symptomatic, have just returned from China, South Korea, Iran and Italy, or believe they may
become ill by being at higher risk for the virus according to the CDC warnings.
2. We are asking the public to adhere to our hygiene protocols upon entering our facility and are limiting any visits from the public that is not expressly for the purpose of adopting
an animal, e.g. ‘just looking’, until further notice. Additionally, we are asking those customers who display symptoms of the virus, have just returned from Japan, China,
South Korea, Iran and Italy, or believe they may become ill by being at higher risk for the virus according to the CDC warnings, to postpone their visit.
3. We are reviewing meetings and events and postponing where needed while also encouraging conference/video calls in lieu of in-person meetings.
4. We have instituted additional rigorous disinfecting protocols as well as provided staff with good hygiene routines.
5. We are preparing for the possibility that some of our staff may have to work remotely and are making accommodations for those who do.
6. We will be asking for more information prior to community intakes of animals to determine if their family members may have been exposed or are symptomatic.
7. We are committed to providing assistance to our non-exempt staff that may become unable to work due to illness.
8. We are not taking any drop-off donations (towels, blankets, animal accessories, carriers, etc.) until further notice.
It is important to note that there is nothing to suggest at the time of this writing that COVID-19 can be transmitted from companion animals to humans or vice versa.
We will be updating our messaging as things evolve. For more information please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
Events
Thank you to all who participated and helped raise $5,975! We can't wait for Candid Canines 2021!
Thank you to all who participated and helped raise $10,162! We can't wait for Fabulous Feline 2021!
Join the Humane Society of Chittenden County for our Virtual 26th Annual Walk for the Animals & 5K Doggie Fun Run! This year's virtual event allows you to enjoy your course from anywhere (your neighborhood, favorite park, or even your own treadmill!) all while supporting HSCC.
Participants are encouraged to share their race day photos on our Facebook event page and by using the hashtag #HSCCVirtual. Make sure to create your fundraising page - all fundraisers who raise at least $100 will receive commemorative event memorabilia (to be picked up at HSCC).
Many thanks & woofs for joining the fun and supporting HSCC!
Register for HSCC’s 26th Annual Walk & 5K today at https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/Burlington/HSCCWalkand5KDoggieFunRun!
Bark & Brew Series
Stay tuned for Bark & Brew 2020!
Helyn Kerr Humane Education Series
The May, 14th seminar on Animal Transports has been cancelled. Instead we will be covering this topic in our GO LIVE Fridays on our Facebook page at 12-12:30PM this Friday, May15th. Please
join us on Friday to learn about what goes into an animal transport and what HSCC does to ensure responsible medical protocols while also saving more lives.
***Not able to join us on Friday exactly at 12PM? No worries! After filming we will post it to our feed for later viewing!***
We have a special opportunity thanks to Alana Stevenson, Animal Behaviorist and Trainer.
Alana has generously put together two webinars about Feline Fundamentals: Humane Handling.
To access these webinars please visit: https://www.alanastevenson.com/
Login using username: HSCCVT
Password: HKHES2020!
Desk Top Directions: After Logging in click "My Webinars" on the left side of the screen. There are two listed, a part one and part two.
Mobil Phone Directions: After site loads select "Webinars," then Log In to My Webinars using above information. Then once logged in select "My Webinars."
Enjoy! Thanks again to Alana Stevenson for providing us with these webinars!
(Any questions please email Erin Alamed erina@hsccvt.org)
The Helyn Kerr Humane Education Series offers free seminars on various humane education topics that are geared towards anyone interested in knowing more about their companion animals. Past seminars have focused on how dogs think and perceive the world, the latest in feline nutrition, our work in humane investigations, Vermont's animal cruelty laws, first aid for pets, and much more!
Purrrses for Paws
Thank you all for coming to Purrrses for Paws 2020! Until next year!
Community events
Adoption Center Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Please note that our facility remains closed to walk-in visitors and adoptions are available by appointment only. Visit the Pet Adoption page for more details and to schedule a time with an adoption counselor.
Happy Stories
