(Hi all – This is an update to our earlier email. We added a new resource regarding spay/neuter surgery and also added a crucial comma to clarify that you should dilute only concentrated Rescue, not premade product. Take care out there! – KSMP team)

Hello all,

As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we know you’re getting information from all sides on how best to respond. We don’t want to add to the overwhelm but just wanted to be sure you were aware of the recommendations we developed with the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program for our shared Resource Library, discussing how animal shelters can best protect pets, the public, and staff members. These recommendations, including a sample protocol for shelter intake of pets from households where humans with coronavirus are present, can be found here:
https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/animal-services-role-in-covid-19-support 

Browse to the link below to read how shelters can best manage limitations on elective surgery in order to conserve medical supplies:
https://www.uwsheltermedicine.com/news/2020/3/covid-19-response-limiting-non-emergency-surgery-in-shelters-and-spay-neuter-clinics

We will continue working with the UW Shelter Medicine team to keep these links updated as our understanding of the virus continues to evolve.

And a note on hand sanitation and hand sanitizers 

Those of us in the animal sheltering community are already familiar with the critical role of hand sanitation as a way to slow the spread of illness. While fomite transmission is thought to be less significant than droplet spread/close contact with infected individuals for coronavirus spread, it is possible. Just think about all the colds you’ve ever caught when a bunch of other folks at work were sick, even if you didn’t have close contact with any of them. Coronavirus can survive for at least several hours (and in some cases longer) on surfaces such as touchscreens, doorknobs, phones (those ubiquitous little fomites) and other frequently touched surfaces. So, interrupting the pathway from faces (especially nose/mouth/eyes) to commonly touched surfaces and back to faces will be a key part of successful control.  

The good news is that coronavirus is an enveloped virus (unlike, say, parvo, panleukopenia or calicivirus) so it’s not hard to inactivate with many common disinfectants. Even soap will disrupt that lipid envelope and help inactivate the virus, as well as removing it by washing it away. However, while handwashing done correctly is the very safest bet, hand sanitizer is often more practical to interrupt that face-to-surface-to-face chain as you, your volunteers, and clients are going about your days.

The good news is alcohol hand sanitizer gel is not the only thing that works. Any effective and safe disinfectant can be correctly diluted and distributed in small spray bottles for everyone to have in their pockets, on their desktops, in their cars etc. You can buy spray bottles online or, in a pinch, wash out spray bottles you have around the house (just make sure you label everything clearly!).  

Because accelerated hydrogen peroxide (aka Rescue) has good activity in the face of organic matter, is non-toxic, rapid-acting and reliable against coronavirus, we especially like it for this purpose. The premade solution, or the concentrate at 1:16 concentration (1 cup per gallon of water), is labeled to sanitize in 30 seconds (1:64 is labeled for 5 minute contact time, so no need to go to this higher concentration for regular use around the shelter). Mixing the concentrate with distilled or deionized water further enhances effectiveness. 

Whatever disinfectant you use, the key is to make this easy. Ideally have enough sanitizer dispensers and spray bottles around so there is one on every counter and near every frequently touched surface. Also try to ensure that volunteers and staff have their own bottles as they go about their necessary work.

More information from other organizations

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association, WSAVA, has compiled information from global authorities on the current understanding of the role of companion animals and COVID-19. Among other things, they recommend against vaccinating dogs with commercially available canine coronavirus vaccines, as there is no evidence those vaccines will provide cross-protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. 

For more information visit WSAVA’s information page:  
https://wsava.org/news/highlighted-news/the-new-coronavirus-and-companion-animals-advice-for-wsava-members/. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health has a helpful FAQ here: 

https://www.oie.int/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/ 

You can find the NACA statements on animal control functions during the pandemic and continuity of services, as well as their cat intake protocol recommendations, here: 

https://www.nacanet.org/covid19/ 

Animal Sheltering’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) shelter kit can be found here: 

https://www.animalsheltering.org/COVID19 

Contact us at sheltermedicine@ucdavis.edu for details or if you have any questions about sheltering during this tumultuous time.

And stay safe and sane out there. We’re thinking of you.
Kate and the KSMP Team