*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:

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