|
Dear HRA Community,
As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, we are committed to doing all that we can to keep our community of animals and people safe and healthy. I encourage you to regularly check our website for new information and potential changes to our operations. You will find a few key updates below:
Our commitment to animals: We are continuing to operate those programs most essential to the health and well-being of the animals in our communities and in our direct care, including animal care and control, adoptions, and foster services. Animals currently in our shelters and foster homes will receive daily care and enrichment from staff and foster parents, and our field services team will continue to respond to animal emergencies 24/7. Additionally, we will continue to provide support and resources to pet owners as long as we safely can do so, because we want people to be able to keep their pets during this difficult time.
Our commitment to people: The safety and well-being of our employees, who have impossible to replicate skills and knowledge, is a top priority. In accordance with CDC guidance around social distancing, we have directed all employees whose responsibilities do not require them to be on site to provide direct animal care and other essential services to stay home through March 31 and have committed to paying all employees during this time. To ensure the safety of our front-line staff, volunteers, and members of the public who come to take an animal home, we implemented accelerated cleaning for all areas of our buildings, and we are limiting the number of visitors in our buildings at any given time.
How can you help?
Many people have asked how they can support our work during this time of crisis. Here are several things you can do to help right now:
- Keep your animals safe: Please keep your pet in mind when you plan your COVID-19 response and be prepared with a several week supply of pet food and medication. Identify a backup caregiver should you be faced with an emergency. Both the CDC and the World Organization for Animal Health have issued advisories saying there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus. For more information, refer to our Preparing for Emergencies Guide.
- Adopt: We have many wonderful animals in our care in need of loving homes. If you have been seriously considering adoption, view our available animals here or come meet them at our New York Avenue and Oglethorpe shelters. We are taking heightened precautions to keep our shelters clean and we will practice social distancing by limiting the number of people in the shelter at a time.
- Become a foster parent: Foster training will soon be offered virtually. From the comfort of your home, get all the training you need to become an HRA foster parent. Learn about our foster care program and sign up here.
- Donate to support animals in-need: Please consider making a direct contribution to support our essential operations of adoption, medical care, animal care and field services. We are temporarily not accepting supply donations (other than pet food) in order to minimize the number of people in our shelters.
The situation around COVID-19 is constantly evolving, as are the needs of our region’s animals and people. We are making the best decisions in real time and will stay agile to best ensure the safety of our animals and our team.
Thank you, as always, for your generous support of our community of animals and the people who love them.
Stay safe and well during this time.
All my best,
Lisa LaFontine
President and CEO,
Humane Rescue Alliance
|