COMMUNITY ANIMAL SHELTER CUSTOMER SERVICE UPDATE COVID-19

Please refer to :
https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/covid-safe-business/agriculture,-forestry-and-fishing-sector-guidance

The Covid 19 pandemic is bringing new challenges to our team and part of these challenges is that we are seeing very low impound rates for animals, especially for cats. As a result, the numbers of animals available for adoption is very low.

Please be mindful that these Covid 19 restrictions are beyond our control and when communicating with our team please be respectful.

Animal Shelter changes to operations:

• Our Animal Shelter remains open.

• When you are picking up a pet you should keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others and practice good hygiene, including washing your hands regularly.

• You are required to wear a face covering.

• Customers are requested to enter the building one at a time.

• If you are interested in adopting animals please view pets online and request an application form. Appointments will then be organised for successful applicants to meet and greet.

We are now using the Pet Rescue status option of "On Hold." We use it on our profiles when we have received many applications and our furbabies have meet and greet appointments booked in. This way people are not wasting their time in applying for an animal that will be adopted.

We are operational Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat/Sun 10am-4pm.

You may contact us via email on casgroup@mornpen.vic.gov.au or during business hours on 03 5950 1838

We are closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Two stories to show you what happens to our furbabies and how they become to be adopted.

1. Cats are impounded at the Pound/Shelter

2. During the first stage the friendly staff interact with the cats, clean their pens and assess them. They fill out daily observation charts. Feliway spray is used in the pens to help calm the cats, settle and prevent stress. Music is also used in their room. All our cats are fed a high quality diet and provided alternative foods for special requirements.

3. The shelter team will exhaust every available avenue in attempts to locate animal owners, including but not limited to:
o scanning for microchips and posting on the lost page of the Shire’s website.
o letters are sent to identified owners
o rangers attend properties where owners cannot be contacted.
o we network with the Lost Dogs Home, RSPCA and other council organisations to search their records for identified animals.

4. Identified potential owners are offered opportunities to view our impounded cats to confirm whether their pet is with us.

5. If the cat is not reunited after the eight day period and able to be rehomed, the cat will then go to the vet to be de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped and FIV tested.

6. The cat will wait out their vaccination days in our quarantine room. Toys, blankets and music are used in conjunction with Feliway to help ease any stress felt. Our cats are always kept inside and to get used to being inside. Our caring and dedicated staff work hard to help this process by:
o providing daily exercise, playtime, quality healthy food and most importantly plenty of cuddles.
o our shelter team will spend a lot of time daily with the cats to help them learn how to trust and love people.

7. During this time, the shelter team assess each cat and get to know their personalities and needs. Then their adoption profiles are written up and advertised to the public.

8. All applicants go through a screening process to ensure our cats go to the right forever home. This will ensure people are not impulse buying a cat and it won’t end up returned.

9. All new adoptive owners are given educative material regarding responsible pet ownership and containment requirements.

10. On average, the Community Animal Shelter Team spend around 28 days preparing our cats for their new forever home.

1. Dogs that are found lost and or wandering are impounded at the Pound/ Shelter

2. The shelter team will exhaust every available avenue in attempts to locate animal owners, including but not limited to:
o scanning for microchips and posting on the lost page of the Shire’s website.
o letters are sent to identified owners
o rangers attend properties where owners cannot be contacted.
o we network with the Lost Dogs Home, RSPCA and other council organisations to search their records for identified animals.

2. All the dogs in our care are fed high quality nutritious food, provided enrichment, receive a nice clean pen each day and our tireless staff use every opportunity to spend time with the dogs to help them to connect and regain trust.

3. After the eight business day holding period and there has been no success at finding the owner or the owner has abandoned or surrendered the dog, the animal will then go on to our next step in the re-homing process.

4. The dogs go to the vet for desexing, vaccination and general health checks

5. Our caring and dedicated staff walk the dogs, provide training and socialisation. The dogs experience different environments and adventures. They are properly trained to walk on a leash with head control, they are exposed to traffic, pedestrians, loud noises and general daily life experiences. Some dogs need lots of work and training. Our team are highly experienced, qualified and are up to the challenge of assessing and preparing the animals for rescue and adoption.

6. All applicants go through a screening process to ensure our dogs go to the right forever home.

7. All adoptive owners are educated on responsible pet ownership, keeping your dog contained, registering your dog and walking your dog on lead.