Operations update

May 17, 2021

The Governor's recent announcement regarding facial coverings is an exciting sign of progress in our community. Though we at HSCC are optimistic about this progress, we will continue to require all employees, volunteers, and visitors to wear masks in our facility for the time being.

We have made this decision for several reasons. First and foremost, it is our priority to keep our staff safe by ensuring that everyone who wishes to be vaccinated can do so. Some of our staff members are still in the process of getting vaccinated, and in the meantime, we can keep everyone as safe as possible by continuing to wear our masks to protect ourselves and those around us.

Second, HSCC must continue to comply with the City of South Burlington's mask mandate, which states that businesses must require masks for all individuals until either (1) The City Council rescinds the mask ordinance or (2) When the Governor lifts the state of emergency, whichever comes first. The Governor's recent announcement is only an amendment to his executive order, and the City Council has not rescinded the ordinance, and so HSCC must continue to comply with the City’s mask ordinance.

For the above reasons, HSCC will continue to require all employees, volunteers, and visitors to wear a facial covering that covers both their nose and mouth until further notice. We thank you for your continued understanding and for helping to keep our community safe and healthy. 

We continue to be open to potential adopters and those looking to purchase items in our re-sale shop. We remain closed to those just visiting. You do not need an appointment to visit. 

March 30, 2021

Daily cases of COVID-19 have increased significantly in Vermont and across the country. As such, we wanted to reiterate HSCC’s current safety protocols and provide guidance about how we are handling COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. That being said, our business model requires interactions between staff members, vendors, volunteers, and members of the public. Given this high degree of personal interaction, HSCC has implemented the following guidance: 

• We are directing employees and volunteers to remain at home if they feel ill or are symptomatic, have just returned from travelling, or believe they may become ill because of close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. If they are symptomatic, they will be required to self-isolate and seek testing in accordance with State guidance. We are committed to providing assistance to our non-exempt staff that may become unable to work due to illness.

• We are adhering to the State of Vermont’s safety and hygiene protocols. These include all building entrants regularly washing their hands and using hand sanitizer, wearing a facial covering that covers their nose and mouth, refraining from touching their face with their hands, and submitting to a health screening (including a temperature check). We also continue to implement a staggered staffing plan to ensure that fewer people in the building at one time and institute additional rigorous disinfecting protocols.

• Our facility remains closed to the general public, but is open to potential adopters coming to visit with adoptable animals and complete adoption counseling. In adherence with current safety and hygiene protocols, we are limiting the number of people in the lobby to 12 and ask that visitors wait for a spot in their cars or socially distanced outdoors from other visitors. All visitors must complete a health screening, wear a facial covering that covers their nose and mouth, use hand sanitizer upon entering the facility, and maintain appropriate distance from staff and volunteers as much as possible.

• 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. Risk of contracting COVID-19 from contact with animals is considered low.

• Transport partners coming from outside of Vermont are required to follow all HSCC safety and health guidelines (as outlined in the update below) in addition to those applied by the State of Vermont.

• Due to confidentiality laws, HSCC is required to keep an employee’s medical information confidential and will disclose it on a need-to-know basis. If an employee or volunteer tests positive for COVID-19, HSCC will immediately notify parties that have come into close contact (as defined by the CDC) with the individual.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at bestfriends@hsccvt.org

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in working with us to ensure the safety of our team and community at large – stay vigilant and stay safe!

-The HSCC Team

Adoptions update

February 19, 2021

• Starting February 23rd, we will no longer be doing appointments to visit our adoption lobby. We will continue to be open to potential adopters only. Still no general visitor at this time.
• We have a maximum capacity of 12 people in the lobby at a time. When you arrive at the shelter, please go to the front doors and someone will come out to greet you. If we are at maximum capacity in the lobby, we will take down your name and number and call you when space opens. You must be able to get to us within 5 minutes of our call. 
• Before entering, you are required to pass Covid-19 health screening questions, have your temperature taken, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer. 
• Please come prepared to take your new pet home. Cats must leave with a collar and in a carrier. Dogs must leave with a collar and leash. Small animals must leave in a carrier. All of these items are available for purchase at HSCC.
• All adoptions are "first come, first served" and you must be 18 or older and have a picture ID to adopt.
  
  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at bestfriends@hsccvt.org
  
  - The HSCC Team

Operations update

january 14, 2021

• We are still taking in animals in need of relinquishment by appointment.
• Our adoption lobby continues to be open to potential adopters by appointment only. General visitors are not allowed at this time and we are only able to welcome potential adopters who reside in Vermont, per current travel restrictions 
• During adoption appointments, all potential adopters are required to pass health screening questions, have their temperature taken, wear a mask, maintain a six foot distance as much as possible, and use hand sanitizer.
• Individuals looking to donate items can drop them off at the front door and staff will retrieve it. Please refer to our donation list for items we are in need of and able to take.

As always, we appreciate your understanding & patience! 

-The HSCC Team

Operations UPDATE

November 11, 2020

With COVID-19 on the rise again in Vermont, our facility remains closed to the general public.

If you are interested in adopting a pet, please visit the Cats, Dogs, and Small Animals pages to see who is currently available and follow the steps as outlined on the page to schedule a visit. All adoption counseling sessions are by appointment only and take place at HSCC. If you are looking to relinquish your pet, please follow the steps here to make an appointment.

Our free pet food & supply shelf is still available for those in need outside of our building Monday - Friday from approximately 9:00 - 5:00 pm. Available items are donation-based and vary day to day. 

If you have items that you would like to donate, please click here for our current needs and guidelines.

For all visitors: Please limit your party to 1-2 people, wear a self-supplied mask, sanitize hands before & after your visit, and practice social distancing of 6 feet or more from all HSCC staff & volunteers. If you are not feeling well and have symptoms of COVID-19, we kindly ask that you stay home and plan to visit at another time.

Thank you for your understanding - stay healthy!

-The HSCC Team

Safety guidelines for out-of-state transports

August 21, 2020

As HSCC slowly begins welcoming animal transports beginning this week, we would like to share the steps being taken to ensure the health and safety of our staff, visiting agency staff, and the overall community. Please see below for our current safety guidelines regarding transports:

• All HSCC and transport sending agency staff and volunteers are required to wear face coverings in accordance with HSCC policy and Vermont state law.
• All personnel will maintain at least 6-foot distance from one another to the extent possible.
• Sending Agency staff or volunteers may enter the HSCC facility for the purpose of transferring animals or paperwork, or to access restroom facilities ONLY if they:
  • Are free to any symptoms that could be related to COVID-19, including but not limited to cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or chills;
  • Have their temperature taken prior to entrance and do not have a body temperature higher than 100.4? F; and
  • Sanitize their hands upon entry to the building.
• Cats will be secured in disinfected HSCC carriers by sending agency personnel and placed outside the Intake Room door (or in case of inclement weather, inside the Intake Room). Carriers will be moved from the Intake Room to the Med Room by HSCC personnel and thoroughly disinfected as soon as possible after the cat(s) have been removed.
• No towels, blankets, or other linens will be brought into the HSCC facility from the sending agency vehicle.
• Trash from the transport vehicle should be bagged and brought directly to the dumpster.
• To the extent possible, all animal paperwork should be sent electronically rather than in paper form.
• The above is in addition to all standard animal health requirements.

If you have questions about our process, please reach out to us at bestfriends@hsccvt.org. 

-The HSCC Team

Adoption process 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 visitors 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

Adoption process 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!

-The HSCC Team

adoption process 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

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

Operations 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. 

-The HSCC Team

UPDATED ADOPTION/RELINQUISHMENT POLICY

MARCH 18, 2020

The Humane Society of Chittenden County 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! 

-The HSCC Team

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

-The HSCC Team