DON'T WORRY - WE ARE STILL HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR PETS!

While the COVID-19 Pandemic and the responses that we need to make are likely to continue to cause significant disruption over the next few months, there is no need to worry about your pets.

At this stage there is no evidence that pets can play a role in the spread of this human disease, and it is extremely rare that they will become sick with COVID-19.

While Australia has so far successfully "flattened the curve" and seems to have avoided overwhelming the medical system, the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to cause challenges. We continue to have a responsibility to reduce the risk of infection to our staff, their families and our other clients. This means that we will be making some small adjustments to how we run. We also are continually dealing with rostering challenges due to the number of staff unable to work directly or indirectly due to COVID.

If you are at risk of transmitting COVID-19 please advise the clinic prior to arrival. We will continue to treat your pet as per normal however we will, depending on Government advice at the time, minimise your contact with staff and our clinic environment. This includes anyone who is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 or is a contact of a covid case. We would also appreciate if you advised us if you have been contact with any people who are suspected of exposure to COVID-19.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, to protect our staff, our clients and to minimise the risk of having to reduce services due to staff being placed in quarantine due to close contact eposure, we will be instituting the following range of policies:

1. If you are unwell (with any potentially infectious condition even what you believe to be a mild cold) and you need our services please advise the clinic prior to arrival. If possible arrange for someone else to bring your pet to the clinic and we will ring you to obtain a history. If this is not possible and you feel it is essential that your pet is seen, we will still take care of your pet to our normal high standards. To prevent person to person transmission of any type of infection we will initiate steps to minimise contact.
In line with current government recommendations (COVID Safe Voluntary Plans):
2. We are able to provide all of our normal services, but we will be taking extra precautions to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
3. Please respect 1.5m distancing.
4. Some of our staff will choose to wear masks. If you are in a consult room with staff wearing masks b>we would really appreciate if you would wear a mask too.
5. To reduce the number of people in the clinic, please minimise the number of people that come with you to the clinic. We may request to limit the number of people in the consult room at any one time.
6. To manage the number of people in the waiting room/reception area we may, at times, be keeping the door closed. Please ring doorbell on arrival, so that reception team are able to manage the flow of customers.

We understand that these policies can be challenging. We are finding it challenging too. We have not taken these decisions lightly, however we have an obligation to provide a safe working environment and if we have to close because too many staff become ill, it would be even more challenging and we run the risk of being unable to provide essential care for our customers and their pets.

If you are concerned about your risk of contracting COVID-19 and would like to take extra precautions while still looking after your pets please advise the clinic in advance. We can take simple precautions to minimise the risk of you getting COVID-19 through your interactions with us.

We have had questions regarding coronaviruses more broadly in dogs and cats. At this stage there is no evidence that pets can play any significant role in the spread of this human disease, and it it is extremely rare that they become sick with COVID-19.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that look like the sun (aka 'corona') under an electron microscope, but each coronavirus has its own DNA and infection pattern. So while there are coronaviruses that may affect dogs and cats, these have nothing to do with the human COVID-19 virus. Vaccinating your pets for cat or dog coronavirus has no affect in reducing your risk to COVID-19.

We will continue to monitor the situation and expect to be able to continue to look after your pets to our usual high standards, while looking after all our people too. 

We are all about caring for you and your pets. Thank you for understanding.