NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS AND DISTRICT HUMANE SOCIETY
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With a view of curbing the spread of COVID-19 while also maintaining our services for Timmins’ animals in need, we wish to share the following measures with you.
As of Tuesday, March 17, the Timmins & District Humane Society will be limiting public access to our building in an effort to keep our staff, volunteers, and the public safe. In turn, Timmins’ shelter animals will also remain safe and well cared for.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Until further notice, TDHS will unfortunately not be available for access by the general public wishing to look at and interact with adoptable animals. That being said, however, we do intend to keep pet adoptions rolling smoothly since we have many animals searching for their forever homes in the midst of all this. Please visit our website at timminshumanesociety.ca (click on the “Adoption” tab) or browse our photo albums here on Facebook for updated photos of adoptable cats, dogs, and small animals. If you require additional information about a specific adoptable pet, please do not hesitate to contact TDHS staff at 705-264-1816.
Those wishing to begin as volunteers are also being asked to stay safe at home for the time being. We would love to have you start with us as soon as COVID-19 concerns have come to an end.
In the case of an emergency involving an animal, please call us during business hours at 705-264-1816 or after-hours at 705-365-7225 (in which case, you must leave a voice message and an on-call staff person will return your call). Examples of animal emergencies referred to here involve injured stray pets or aggressive animals in public. Please note that animal welfare cases are no longer handled through the Timmins District & Humane Society and must be directed to the new provincial hotline at 1-833-9-ANIMAL. (Examples of animal welfare cases are situations of owner abuse or neglect, such as not providing food or water.)
People and pets may visit the building for the following special cases:
• Animal surrenders: TDHS will remain available to support those whom cannot care for their pets through this difficult time, be the reason medical or financial. As we’re predicting that animal intake numbers will increase through this pandemic, we’re asking that pet owners surrender to TDHS only if absolutely necessary (keeping in mind that we’ll also need space for animal emergency cases and stray community pets at this time). Please be advised that we’ll be handling pet surrenders by appointment only until further notice.
• Pet adoptions: Soon-to-be pet adopters with an approved adoption application may visit our facility by appointment only to meet with the animals and complete the adoption process. Please contact us to make arrangements for this.
• Scheduled medical appointments: Anyone who has adopted a pet from us recently likely has upcoming follow-up vet appointments with us (vaccines & spays/neuters). TDHS remains committed to and available for these important medical appointments. In these instances, we are asking that if someone is feeling ill at the time of an appointment to please stay home and contact us to make alternate arrangements instead.
• Volunteer access is limited to an as-needed and scheduled basis until further notice. Support for shelter cleaning and dog walking are still needed and appreciated, so volunteers are asked to contact us by phone or volunteer Facebook group to schedule shelter visits.
All remaining visitations will resume once we learn from health officials and government advisories that regular social interactions are safe once again. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
TO KEEP IN MIND FOR YOUR OWN PETS
• According to the World Health Organization, there is no evidence to suggest that dogs or cats have become ill with this virus or will become a source of infection of COVID-19 in other animals or humans. For more information and FAQ’s surrounding COVID-19 and family pets, take a look at the following reputable resource from the American Veterinary Medical Association here.
• Remember to plan ahead for your beloved pets as much as possible throughout this pandemic by reading this article on emergency preparedness put together by the Lincoln County Humane Society.
For anyone wondering, our shelter animals are healthy and are by no means showing unusual or trending symptoms of illness. We remain positive and are happy to continue providing care for these little furry ones as we continue to work through this challenge with Timmins and rest of the world. In the meantime, please stay aware, plan ahead, be cautious, look out for one another, and keep yourselves & your furry loved ones safe.
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