Dear friends of the WHS,
You’ve likely been following the news about COVID-19 (coronavirus) and are aware that Manitoba has confirmed cases, with more suspected. The World Health Organization has deemed this a pandemic, as such we must be prepared. We want you to know what WHS is doing to prepare for any eventuality. We are committed to providing you as complete a picture as possible.
This is a fluid situation, and our understanding of this virus and its impact is changing by the hour. We are monitoring the presence and spread of COVID-19 and planning for all possible scenarios, from minimal to extreme, and from short-term to long-term.
Right now, WHS is unaffected by the virus and is continuing operations as normal. Our goal is to be there for the animals in need, continue to provide good customer service to all of our visitors and ensure all staff and volunteers are employing best practices. It’s important to note that there is one known case of COVID-19 being transferred from human to canine, with the pet being in good health. However, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with animals.
The steps we are taking here at the shelter include:
- Continuing to implement our stringent existing shelter cleaning protocols including changing gloves and aprons in between the cleaning for each animal room.
- Implementing extra cleaning protocols for our bathrooms, offices, workstations, phones and doorknobs.
- Ordering extra supplies to be prepared for an emergency scenario.
- Working with our Board of Directors and Finance Department to ensure we have enough financial stability for any closures.
- Promoting and utilizing our 25+ handwashing stations in the shelter, all equipped with soap and paper towels.
- Advising staff and volunteers to monitor their health for any symptoms and to stay home if they are sick.
- Putting together a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan to guide each department and account for different scenarios.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this situation, but we are doing everything we can to develop our business continuity plan to keep the shelter running smoothly and ensure all animals in need receive ongoing care.
If you are looking for ways to help, we are always in need of your donations – now more than ever. We are currently running our 1001 Donations campaign, where your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $60,000. There’s never been a better time to give and show your support.
Thank you for caring about our organization and the welfare of our animals. We couldn’t do it without you.
With gratitude,
Javier Schwersensky
WHS CEO