LIMITED OPERATIONS ADMID COVID-19 CONCERNS

(UPDATE - As of 4.27.20)

IN SHELTER VOLUNTEERING REMAINS SUSPENDED

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Monday, April 27, 2020

UPDATE amid COVID-19 concerns

With the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) still on the rise worldwide, it is important for us to update everyone as things change for Montgomery County Animal Services (“MCAS”). First and foremost, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association still states that there is no evidence that companion animals can be infected with or spread COVID-19. This is also the view of the World Health Organization. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, people with confirmed COVID-19 should, however, avoid contact with other people as well as pets.

MCAS has altered its operations with regards to intake, adoptions, fostering and rescue in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The situation with COVID-19 is still very fluid and we will update as things change.

MCAS will continue to have its doors “closed” to the public but we will be able to facilitate adoptions, fostering and rescues. We will be moving to an appointment based system for these services. This will allow us to comply with gathering restrictions as well as help us keep our staff and citizens safe.

Big news! All adoptable animals at MCAS have either been adopted or place in foster care.

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• STRAY ANIMAL INTAKE BEGINS SATURDAY, MAY 2:
  At this time MCAS will be limiting intake to stray animals only. While the shelter is re-opening for intakes, the threat of COVID-19 remains and in an effort to keep the shelter population down in order to continue the shelter’s two-shift process, owner surrenders will not be accepted until further notice. If you have found a stray pet visit www.mcaspets.org/lost-pet to view our guide to surrendering. If you must surrender a found pet to the shelter, visit https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcassurrender to schedule an appointment.

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• FOSTER, ADOPT, RESCUE, VOLUNTEER:
  Starting May 2 the shelter will begin taking stray animals from the public All stray pets are held for 4 days to give owners the opportunity to reclaim their pets. After the stray hold animals will be available for adoption or foster. Adoptions and fostering will be handled via appointment.

• ​FOSTER: Individuals interested in fostering will need to sign up for a foster appointment at https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcasfostering
  Foster’s Clinic times and days will remain the same. If you come to the foster clinic we ask that you stay in your vehicle or maintain social distancing outside of the facility and check into the wait list at https://app.waitwhile.com/welcome/mcasfoster. The wait list becomes available for sign in only during the scheduled days and times. If you have any urgent needs please contact

• ADOPT: To adopt an animal please visit https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcasadoption to schedule a time. We will be doing fee waived adoptions to eliminate the handling of cash and credit card terminals during this time.

• RESCUE: Rescue organizations should contact mcassist@mctx.org to tag and arrange pulling of animals.

• VOLUNTEER: In-shelter volunteering is still on hold for now as the shelter is working to limit the number of people on the property at any given time. An update will be provided as soon as volunteering resumes.

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Please note that if you come to the shelter you may be required to answer some screening questions before being allowed to enter the shelter

WELLNESS: Services are by appointment. https://app.waitwhile.com/book/wellnessmcas 

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Animal Control Services

If you have found a stray pet visit www.mcaspets.org/lost-pet to view our guide to surrendering. Here are other suggestions if you find a stray pet.

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• Take the animal to any a veterinarian, emergency animal hospital or pet store to have the pet scanned for a microchip.

• Post the pet as found on sites like Nextdoor, Craigslist and Facebook Lost and Found groups, etc.

• Hang flyers where the pet was found, as most pets are found less than 1,000 feet from their home.

Animal Control Officers (ACO) will still be responding to calls of service in the community based on priority level response, which consists of rabies quarantine/bite investigation calls, and aggressive and/or injured animal calls.

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If you must surrender a found pet to the shelter, visit https://app.waitwhile.com/book/mcassurender to schedule an appointment.

If a resident has lost their pet and believes the pet is at MCAS, please contact us by emailing Shelter.Counter@mctx.org to begin the process of reclaiming your pet.

With moving things to a more electronic approach there can be some technical difficulties. Should you experience any difficulties please just reach out to us, Shelter.Counter@mctx.org.

We greatly appreciate your patience during this difficult time.

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Thinking about surrendering your pet?