10/24/2017
Due to the news that the Canine Influenza virus has been confirmed in central Ohio we are updating our safety protocols to ensure every dog who enters our facility is as safe and protected as possible. We have puppies at our facility on a regular basis who have young, underdeveloped immune systems and want them to continue to get the vital benefits of early socialization without the risk of contracting an infectious disease.
We will still have Puppy Day School, group classes and private lessons as regularly scheduled. The Puppy Halloween Party will be CANCELLED.
Water Bowls: We will no longer have a community water bowl available in order to reduce the risk of spreading disease. Please make sure to bring your own water bowl to class. Day school dogs will each be given an individual water bowl in their crate.
Sick Dogs: If your dog is showing any signs of illness, please leave them at home, as always. If your dog is diagnosed with any contagious illness please let us know so we can inform other students and take proper precautions as needed. Any dogs showing signs of illness upon arrival will be sent home immediately.
Day Care/ Boarding/Dog Park: The highest risk of disease spread is at places where dogs are coming into contact with many other dogs, such as daycare and dog parks. Please be aware of this when attending these places. You may still attend class after your dog has attended these places. However, if your dog is attending group play we ask that they have not been to a dog park/daycare/boarding in the past 5 days. Puppies can still come to class, they will just play on their own during playtime. This is because the incubation period (time from infection to getting sick) is 2-4 days and dogs are highly infectious during this time period without showing any signs of being sick. If your dog has been to any of these places and attends day school please contact us before sending your puppy to school.
Nose to nose contact: Please avoid letting your dog say hello to other dogs unless specifically asked to by an instructor. Likewise, please only give treats to your own dog (and not anyone else’s) unless told otherwise.
Cleaning protocol: We already have a regular cleaning protocol in place, but will be increasing the number of times a week we bleach in order to ensure the safety of your pet. Our crate room has an air purifier in order to reduce the risk of any diseases being spread.
Your pet’s safety is, and always will be, our primary concern. If you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact our staff veterinarian, Dr. Abigail Curtis. She will be more than happy to address any concerns you might have.