The organization Pets in the Park provides free vet care for pets belonging to homeless people. I volunteer at the monthly outdoor clinics for the Canberra chapter. When the COVID-19 shut-down hit Australia after 20 March, the monthly clinics closed.
Pets in the Park started in Sydney in 2009 and has spread across Australia. The monthly clinics in Canberra began in March 2017. For those living on the streets in Canberra, pets can be their closest companions; they’re crucial for mental health. The health checks for the pets include free vaccinations and worming along with examinations for lumps or other medical conditions.
In a pandemic, additional barriers affect the clients of Pets in the Park. You can’t isolate at home if you don’t have one. It’s hard to practice good hand hygiene if you don’t have ready access to soap and water. People living in cars may be traveling to hotspot areas and are unlikely to have a COVID-19 app to help with contact tracing.
The overriding question for Pets in the Park was: how can we provide safe services to our clients in this environment? Pets in the Park started working with the state government to develop a protocol that would help keep everyone safe. After five months off, the monthly clinic reopened on 2 August with new procedures.
All volunteers wore masks, while the vets and nurses wore gloves as well. We received a COVID safety brief, and a dedicated COVID officer was there to make sure everyone followed the new procedures. In our outdoor clinic, treatment areas were roped off, as was an open-air waiting area. We also had a designated intake area and admission area, with standing places marked in tape to encourage proper social distancing. Each treatment area had a folding chair for the client an appropriate distance away from the examining table.
New guidelines for clients included:
In a pandemic, additional barriers affect the clients of Pets in the Park. You can’t isolate at home if you don’t have one. It’s hard to practice good hand hygiene if you don’t have ready access to soap and water. People living in cars may be traveling to hotspot areas and are unlikely to have a COVID-19 app to help with contact tracing.
The overriding question for Pets in the Park was: how can we provide safe services to our clients in this environment? Pets in the Park started working with the state government to develop a protocol that would help keep everyone safe. After five months off, the monthly clinic reopened on 2 August with new procedures.
All volunteers wore masks, while the vets and nurses wore gloves as well. We received a COVID safety brief, and a dedicated COVID officer was there to make sure everyone followed the new procedures. In our outdoor clinic, treatment areas were roped off, as was an open-air waiting area. We also had a designated intake area and admission area, with standing places marked in tape to encourage proper social distancing. Each treatment area had a folding chair for the client an appropriate distance away from the examining table.
New guidelines for clients included:
- Answering questions (Have you been to a hotspot? Do you feel unwell today?)
- Using hand sanitizer and masks
- Maintaining 1.5 meters social distance
- Refraining from hugging people or petting other animals
- Leaving the area immediately after their appointment rather than hanging out
Almost ready to start ...
Working as an administrative volunteer, I was nervous about this reopening, particularly about asking people to wear masks. While not the norm here, Australia has its share of anti-maskers.
Turns out I had no reason for concern: both the staff and clients performed remarkably well. Everyone was polite, kind, and compliant. (The rule we all found hardest to observe was the no-hugging and no-petting—it was just so nice to see everyone again.) We took care of 16 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 birds.
Turns out I had no reason for concern: both the staff and clients performed remarkably well. Everyone was polite, kind, and compliant. (The rule we all found hardest to observe was the no-hugging and no-petting—it was just so nice to see everyone again.) We took care of 16 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 birds.
I am honored to contribute to the well-being of so many beloved pets, who give unconditional love and companionship to their people. Looking forward to next month’s clinic!
All photos courtesy of Pets in the Park
All photos courtesy of Pets in the Park
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