To all my clients (pet owners and pups):
First, thank you for being a part of the Pupwash911 family. We hope you are all safe, healthy, and doing well during this difficult time. Just like any business, we are taking preventative measures by washing our hands thoroughly, staying home when sick, disinfecting equipment and surfaces, and always keeping the interior of our truck clean and tidy in between grooms and at the end of the day. In case you are wondering what's going on with our business, we are still in operation. Our business does not have a lot of foot traffic in and out of our truck and does not hold large crowds. We understand if you feel uncomfortable in scheduling a grooming appointment or want to cancel. Your health and safety is a priority. Please do not schedule a grooming appointment if you or a family member are sick and/or feeling unwell.
We do not know the impact this is going to have but we do know it WILL impact our health, everyday lives, and businesses. Luckily, I am the sole operator of my business. Yes, I am worried because I am still in the early stages of growing my business. I can’t even imagine what other businesses are going through with taking care of their employees, payments for rentals and/or brick and mortar locations. Small businesses don’t have capital like large corporations. For Pupwash911, we are taking it day by day. Right now we have to keep moving forward and implement safe practices. There are so many questions for us right now and not enough answers. Please remain calm and help support one another when and where we can.
There's a lot of confusing and misleading information about the Coronavirus and pets. We are all concerned with the safety and well-being of all our family members including out pets, so it's natural to feel anxious. I have not read any reports on pets having the Coronavirus and/or transmitting the virus to and from humans in the US. However, I do know that in times of emergency preparedness, be sure to include your pets! Here are a few things to keep in mind.
First Aid Kit - In case your pet gets injured and you are not nearby a vet clinic, you can quickly patch up the wound. You can purchase one here or simply create one here.
Basic Necessities- Have at least an additional 2 week supply of food, water, and medicine on hand until help arrives.
Owner’s contact Info and updated pet records - As a pet owner, you should keep track of the papers and documents throughout your pet’s life. Documentation is an essential part of owning a pet. Prepare and save all paperwork (i.e. registration, medical records, vaccination records) because you will be leaving your pets vulnerable. Those who do not have paperwork often don’t know where it is if there is an emergency that requires use of it. All paperwork should be updated, stored, and organized in a folder in case you can not be with your pet at all times and/or the information needs to be passed on, so people know the ins and outs of your pet.
ID Tags and/or microchip - Make sure your pet wear collars with updated ID tags and/or microchip in case they get lost.
Portable crate or carrier - Crates and carriers come in various shapes and sizes. Transport your pet in a portable crate or at least have one on hand to utilize in case your pet need to be placed at a local pet rescue center. This will be quicker and safer for people to handle your pets properly.
I'm not an expert in the field, but I do want to point you guys to the right direction where you can find reputable information, and not simply watch the media. We should all sit down and read the facts and data. Below are the reputable sources to be on top of the information.
For in-depth coverage and updates on everything related to the Coronavirus, check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website here.
The Worldwide Health Organization (WHO) has global coverage of the outbreak. Read and learn more here.
The AVMA covers animal-related topics and can be found here.
At this point, it doesn’t appear you should be worried about the health of your pets. Continue to read the resources to get updates. Take good care of yourself and your family. Let’s work together to contain the spread of this virus.
Woof,
Jess & Bella
