A Letter from the Executive Director re: COVID-19

In response to growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (WVHS) and Wenatchee Valley Animal Care and Control (ACC) are closely monitoring recommendations from public health officials about possible changes in how we do our work or deliver programs to provide services to lost, homeless, injured and sick animals in our community. 

Guidance issued Thursday from the National Animal Care and Control Association advised shelters to take extra measures to reduce intake and mitigate the short and long-term effects of the coronavirus. The World Health Organization has said there's no evidence dogs or cats can be infected with or spread the COVID-19 virus.

Currently, over 100 animals are sheltered at WVHS, in the care of our amazing team of dedicated staff and volunteers. Should this team be effected by this novel virus, the care of the animals would suffer.

For this reason, WVHS AND ACC have elected to temporarily close to the public to limit the amount of possible exposure to the COVID-19, effective immediately. Information regarding the virus is updating daily and we will continue to carefully watch information provided from public health officials on where we go from here. We will be reassessing on Monday, March 16, 2020 and updating the public accordingly.

WVHS is committed to the pets and people who love them and services will still be available, just on a limited, scheduled basis. Animal surrenders have always been by appointment, and will continue to be done this way.

Animals available for adoption are available to view on our website in real time and those interested in adopting are encourage to browse the website, then call to schedule an appointment for a meet and greet.

If you find or lose a pet, you are encouraged to complete a lost/found pet report on our website so they can be listed on our website. During this period, ACC and WVHS staff will also be posting lost and found pets on our Facebook page.

ACC Officers will still be responding to emergency calls, but non-emergency calls will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

License renewals can be completed online or over the phone. Shipping and convenience fees for this service will be temporarily waived during this period.

To contact WVHS during this time, email us at wvhs@wenatcheehumane.org or call 509-662-9577. Adoptables and lost/found pet reports can be accessed on our website.

To contact ACC during this period, please call 509-662-9577, opt. 1.

We know our community is committed to the care of the animals at the shelter and understands the reality of what could happen without our committed, but small, team to tend to their needs. We are all in this together and together we will succeed.

Sincerely-

Dawn Davies
Executive Director