COVID-19
With the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) changing rapidly, the Humane Society of Charlotte is taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Charlotte community while still upholding our duty to care for the animals at our shelter and the members of the community that need us. Please read below to see temporary changes and closures to our everyday services and operations. All changes are currently valid through April 1 and are subject to change.
Be assured that we are monitoring the situation closely and following the advice from public health officials. The health and well-being of the animals in our care, HSC staff and the communities we serve are always our top priority. Infection prevention is something we practice every day at HSC to keep the animals safe, so we already have many best practices ingrained in our culture. While we do not know the future impact of this virus, we are attempting to be as prepared as possible. HSC is taking this day by day and the safety of our animals, staff, volunteers and the public is of the utmost importance. We thank you for your support and your patience as we navigate this unprecedented time.
See below for details on all HSC programming:
Adoptions
Temporarily, all adoptions will be done by appointment only. If you are interested in adopting an animal from HSC, we ask that you visit our Adoption pages and complete the application on the animal’s profile to have your adoption appointment scheduled by our staff.
Applications will be used only to help streamline appointments and minimize exposure between members of the community. We will continue our practice of open adoptions and will not be instituting interviews or home-visits.
There have also been questions about whether pets can get sick from COVID-19 or if they can make us sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, there is no evidence that companion animals, such as cats and dogs, have been infected or could spread the virus that causes COVID-19.
If you have concerns or questions about specific animals, their behavior or their adaptability with other pets in your home, please visit their profiles on our website, or email our customer service team.
Fostering
To limit exposure, HSC will not be accepting new fosters at this time. All foster orientations and information sessions will be canceled through April 1. If you are a current HSC foster, please reach out with any questions or concerns to our HSC Foster Coordinator.
Volunteering
To limit exposure, HSC will not be accepting new volunteers at this time. If you’re an existing volunteer and would like to help out, please utilize Volgistics to sign up for any shifts that remain open. Remaining volunteer roles include cleaning dog kennels, cleaning cat kennels, dog walking, and feline socialization.
- Individual volunteers should not come to volunteer shifts if you are considered in the “at-risk” category as defined by the CDC or if you are exhibiting ANY signs of sickness.
- Volunteers should not sign in on the kiosk. Please use the physical sign in sheet available so your hours can be entered manually by the Volunteer Programs Manager.
- All volunteer orientations and information sessions will be canceled through April 1.
- All group volunteer sessions will be canceled and rescheduled for another date.
Animal Surrenders
- Animal surrenders will be scheduled through appointment only. Please click here for more information.
Supplies & Donations
- Donate to the Humane Society of Charlotte by ordering from our Amazon Wishlist and allow Amazon to deliver directly to the shelter.
- Monetary donations are incredibly helpful during this time and will allow us to purchase items that as needed. Please donate here.
Behavior Training Classes & Appointments
Saturday First Class Canine Training Classes scheduled through March 31 will be canceled and rescheduled for a future date. Class dates will be announced as soon as possible.
Community Cat Program
- Community Cat TNR procedures will continue until further notice for Community Cats caretakers currently in possession of traps
- Community Cat Trap new loans will be suspended until April 2.
- Community Cat Pet Food Bank on 3/26 is canceled. Please contact our Community Cat Programs Manager with questions by clicking here.
- Working Cat Adoptions will continue via appointment only.
Humane Education
- Due to CMS school closures, HSC Humane Education classroom visits and tours will be suspended. We hope to resume these in April or when CMS resumes classes.
- HSC Humane Education will continue to accept reservations for birthday parties, classroom visits and tours with appointments re-starting in April.
Pet Food Bank
- Pet Food Banks will operate on a delivery system for existing Pet Food Bank clients beginning on 3/21. We ask that the Pet Food Bank recipients help us by following a “no-contact” delivery system. HSC Community Outreach Coordinator, K.C. Thompson will drop off supplies on the recipient’s front door, ring the doorbell, and then leave.
- Individual outreach requests will be taken on a case-by-case basis by appointment only. Please email our Community Outreach Coordinator here.
Clinic Services
- The Humane Society of Charlotte Spay/Neuter Clinic will be closed to the public until Thursday, April 2. Please contact our clinic via email to reschedule your pet’s surgery.
Critter Care
- Critter Care Wellness Clinic is suspended through March 31. HSC currently plans to resume Critter Care on April 1.
Pet Palooza – Currently Scheduled for April 25
Mecklenburg County has been closely assessing the situation and is working side by side with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec team. At this time, the county is focusing on events within the next 30 days. As we fall outside of that window, Pet Palooza 2020 is currently on as scheduled.
We are in close contact with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation team, who is as mentioned above, are working closely with county officials. If anything changes, we will let you know as soon as that information comes to us.
If Pet Palooza is affected, we will reschedule the event and your sponsor or vendor payment, as well as participant fundraising efforts, will be credited to the event to be held at a future date.
