“Visitors and staff will wear masks inside the building with the exception of dog kennels due to an increased risk of inciting a bite situation,” said Michael Cooper, Clark County Public Information Officer.
The shelter will allow one to two visitors in at a time and recommend setting up an appointment for both adoptions and redemptions as those with appointments will be seen before walk-ins, Cooper said.
Clark County Dog Shelter has continued to take in animals while closed to the public.
“Since March 1, we have handled 111 dogs,” said Clark County Dog Warden Sandi Click, who is also the shelter’s director. “Of the dogs from March 1, five are still in the shelter, 20 of those dogs have been adopted, 34 have been sent to rescue and 42 of those dogs were redeemed by their owners.”
Although the shelter has been able to reopen, they are still in need of some supplies.
“We continue to be in need of cleaning and disinfecting supplies,” Click said. “We are always in need of paper towels, disinfecting wipes, bleach, Pine Sol, Rescue disinfectant, Odoban disinfectant and puppy pads.”
Click said the shelter could also use some plants for outside of the building.
“We would benefit greatly from just a few bright, hardy plants to put in the large flowers pots out in front of our building,” she said. “We could use some additional mulch as well.”
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The shelter, 5201 Urbana Rd., is open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Animal Welfare League of Clark County, located at 6330 Willow Dale Rd. in Springfield, is also requiring all visitors to practice social distancing and wear masks when entering the kennel or cattery..
Shelter hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesdays and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
The hours at the thrift store, which reopened this week, are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Shelter volunteers are also always needed and welcomed to walk dogs or interact with the cats.
The Champaign County Animal Welfare League, 3858 State Route 56 in Mechanicsburg, has yet to reopen but are still doing adoption appointments for pre-approved applicants.
“Currently we have 11 kittens, one adult cat, one adult mom and eight puppies (not yet age of adoption), 16 dogs, three fox, eight rabbits and our Petting Zoo group (two cows, one sheep, three goats and two mini donkeys),” said executive director Tiger Franks.
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Since May 1, the shelter has had 43 adoptions, Franks said.
As the shelter remains closed, they are still in need of some supplies, which can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on the porch of the main adoption building.
“We are in need of bleach as quantities are limited and hard to find, scoopable cat litter, Purina One kitten food (dry), Purina One Healthy Puppy, liquid laundry soap and paper towels,” Franks said.
To help raise funds, the shelter has done several small fundraising events and live feeds through their Facebook and are planning some in the future.
“We currently are planning a fundraiser as we are making homeopathic soaps and salves to sell using essential oils, beeswax from our bees as well as honey and goat milk,” he said. “We are hoping to do some fundraising at the end of June, early July depending on how the virus goes.”
Anyone who has an appointment with the shelter must wear a mask, and are only allowed to enter one room.
“We are doing most meet and greets outside when weather permits,” said Franks.
The shelter’s Low Cost Clinic is open, but only for curbside drop off and pick up.
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