COVID-19 recommendations

Monday January 23, 2023

COVID Update

It has been a while since we updated about our COVID protocols so I thought an update might be helpful.  As we know COVID is still around, even 3 years after it started, as much as we would like it to go away.  We are still taking precautions to prevent the spread, and keep our staff and clients safe.  Masks are not mandatory, although some staff and clients may decide to wear one.   If you are more comfortable if our staff member wear one around you, we are more than happy to do that.

We ask that if you or anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID that you inform us before coming in so we can direct you with how is best to run your appointment.

We hope that everyone stays safe and if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Friday June 12, 2020

COVID Safeguards at Community

Here at Community Animal Hospital and Community Animal Inn & Spa, we have
put safeguards in place to keep you and your pets safe as well as the
well-being  of our employees.

1.      Our employees are wearing facial coverings at all times while
working inside/outside of our building
2.      We are keeping a social distance of at least 6 ft away from each
other whenever possible inside the building
3.      We are keeping a social distance of 6 ft when speaking with clients
car side
4.      Employee hand washing/sanitizing is happening frequently
5.      High touch areas are being sanitized on a regular basis
6.      Any employee showing symptoms of sickness is mandated to stay home
7.      We are continuing our car side service in the hospital and in our
Inn & Spa to limit the exposure to others for clients as well as our
employees
8.      The majority of our communications are being conducted over the
phone, e-mail or through text exchange.

We are asking for your help as well.  Please wear a facial covering when
speaking with our team in person. Be sure to keep a social distance of 6 ft
between you and our team members.  Please notify us if you have tested
positive for COVID or have been in contact with a COVID positive person.
Please do not come to the hospital or the Inn & Spa if you are positive or
exhibiting any symptoms of COVID.  Have another person bring your pet in for
the visit with us.

Together we can help to do our part in the fight against COVID-19

Friday May 8, 2020

Update on Pets and COVID19

-       Worldwide, there have been several animals including dogs and cats who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Experts agree that there is very little risk that pets will contribute to the spread of this virus. In fact, all of the infected animals identified thus far are suspected to have contracted the illness from the people who interact with them. Given that people are the primary source of virus exposure to pets, it is recommended that anyone who has been advised by a doctor to isolate themselves should isolate themselves from their pets as they do from other human members of their family.

-       The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend routine testing of pets for the virus. If your pet is showing symptoms of illness like coughing, sneezing, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, it is recommended that your veterinarian evaluate your pet for much more common causes of these symptoms. If there is a reason that your pet may be at high risk for contracting COVID19, please advise us of this risk at the time of your appointment.

 We appreciate everyone who has been gracious in working with us through so many changes recently and we hope that you all stay safe!

The Team at Community Animal Hospital and Community Animal Inn & Spa

 

Tuesday 4/28/2020

Community Animal Hospital is still open and is running our service as "car-side" only.  We understand that our phones are extremely busy with this process and apologize for any inconvenience you may have with trying to reach the hospital.  In an effort to reduce the phone traffic we are happy to introduce that we now have 2 way texting capabilities.  Clients can now text us at (508)755-6723, and let us know when they are here for an appointment or to pick up medications or food.

Please continue to keep you and your pets safe and reach out if you need us.  We are here for you!

 

Monday 3/23/2020

Dr. Lorraine O'Connor, our State Veterinarian, stated that veterinary medicine is designated as "essential" in the community to aid in the health and well being of animals.  Therefore Community Animal Hospital and Community Animal Inn & Spa are essential businesses and will continue to be here to care for you and your pets.  We
will continue to offer clients and patients all care; in all capacities with the same business hours.  For the protection and safety of our clients and
staff, we will continue to offer care with our car side service or drop off appointments for your pets.  Be sure to check our Facebook page, website, and be on the lookout for e-mails with any updates to this status.  Thank you to everyone who has been so understanding and patient while we continue to master this new service model.

Please continue to keep you and your pets safe and reach out if you need us.
We are here for you!

 

Friday 3/20/2020

Car side service

Community Animal Hospital and Community Animal Inn & Spa have been and continue to be committed to caring for the lives of our pet patients and their people. We are therefore working hard to implement policies that will allow us to keep our services available during this troubling time.  

Like most healthcare facilities, human and veterinary, we have had to make some difficult decisions and quickly adopt policy changes to minimize the risks to our clients and our team members.

Due to growing concerns over human-to-human contact spreading COVID-19, we will be moving to “car side service”.  This will create less exposure by minimizing human contact points and maintaining the recommended social distancing, while still allowing us to provide the same great services and care that you and your pets are accustomed to.

Beginning on Monday, March 23rd, we will be starting our “car side service.”   This service will be for all appointments, drop offs, surgeries, dentals, grooming, boarding reservations, and medication or food pickups. 

-When you arrive at Community Animal Hospital or Community Animal Inn & Spa please call.  For the hospital call 508-753-7077. For the Inn & Spa call 508-755-6767.

-Tell us the number listed on the parking sign in front of you and one of our team members will be out to assist you shortly.

- We will collect your pet from you. Dogs will be taken inside the building on a double leash and cats will be taken inside in carriers. We will also ask you for a phone number to reach you. Extra leashes and carriers will be provided upon request.

-One of our team members will call the number provided to take a history.  Your veterinarian will then perform a physical exam and setup a treatment plan. After you and your vet have formulated the treatment plan, services will be performed. Preferred payment would be a credit card over the phone, but cash and checks can be accepted car side as well. Your pet will then be returned to your car by one of our team members along with any medications or other necessities recommended by the doctor.

-Drop offs for routine care are available at the lower level. Your pet can be dropped off as with our car side service, but we can call you to return after your pet is ready for pickup. 

-If you are here for a euthanasia appointment, we will take you into the hospital to an exam room for your appointment.  

-If you are here for medications or pet food please call the hospital, and we will facilitate the exchange and payment from your car. 

This action plan will help to keep possible exposure to a minimum while still allowing your pets to receive the best care possible.  Our team is ready to assist you and your pet by providing the same quality care that this practice has prided itself on since 2000.

We will always make any modifications necessary to keep the members of our Community family, including our pets, clients, and employees, safe.  Check our website, cahvets.com as well as our Facebook page for the latest updates and for any new developments. We are here to support our Community in any way that we can!

 

Monday 3/16/2020

At Community Animal Hospital and Inn and Spa, we are honored to provide care to so many families in the community. While our usual focus is on the health of our pet patients and guests, we have also been focusing recently on maintaining the health of our community as a whole in the face of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

It is important to mention first that pets are not known to be at risk of contracting or spreading the COVID-19 at this time. Human-to-human contact is the major source of exposure and spread of the virus. Given that we work closely with all of the human family members of our beloved pet patients and guests, we are taking precautions to ensure we do our part to maintain the health of the people in our community by limiting the spread of a very contagious virus while still providing quality care to the pets in our community.

As always, we will continue:

  • practicing good hygiene including washing our hands and cleaning our exam rooms, kennels, treatment areas, and medical equipment between each patient and guest.
  • sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces with a human and pet safe hospital-grade cleaner that is EPA approved to be effective against the Coronavirus.
  • ensuring staff members who are showing any signs of respiratory illness and/or fever use their paid sick time to remain at home. It is important to note that no staff is showing signs of illness at this time.

Additionally, we will take the following precautions:

  • sanitizing our reception counters, seating, interior and exterior door handles, cabinet handles, and commonly handled equipment (phones, pens, computer mice, keyboards, etc) every 2 hours.
  • no longer offering lollipops and dog treats from a communal bowl.
  • no longer offering communal snacks to our staff members.
  • avoiding direct contact such as handshakes and hugs with our beloved clients.
  • asking that people in high risk categories recruit a friend or family member to bring their pet into the hospital for them if their pet is in need of medical care. In this instance, we will be happy to call you to discuss your pet’s health status and our recommendations over the phone once we have completed our physical exams. These high risk individuals include:
    • people with respiratory illness and/or fever
    • people who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
    • people at high risk of severe illness from Coronavirus
    • people who must have close contact with someone at high risk of severe illness from Coronavirus
    • people who have traveled in the last 14 days to areas outside or inside of the United States known to have a high incidence of COVID-19
  • asking clients who are in high risk groups that must bring their pet to the vet to remain in their car in the parking lot and call reception to notify them of their arrival. Staff will meet these clients at their car to provide assistance.

It is also important to note that we are currently experiencing a large volume of requests for prescription medication and prescription food refills. We do encourage you to have a 2 week supply of your pets medications on hand just as you should have this extra supply for the humans in your family. We will be able to fill your pets’ medications as you are requesting them, but please understand that it may take 2-3 days to complete your request at this time. If you need medication more urgently, please talk to our team about your needs so that we can accommodate these special requests appropriately. Please keep in mind that prescription food orders can take up to 1 week to fill. We will call you to confirm your prescription has been filled so that you will know when you can pick it up at our reception desk.

We will continue to respond quickly and appropriately to implement the recommendations of national infectious disease experts and organizations, and we thank you for working with us as we change some procedures to do our part in maintaining the health of our entire community.

 

Stay well,

The Staff at Community Animal Hospital and Inn and Spa