Vet Services Archives - Second Chance Animals

Mobile Veterinary Clinics Resume – Now With Pre-Registration

To help get your pet caught up on their vaccines, we are holding additional mobile vaccine clinics on May 10th and 24th, as well as June 7th and 28th in Dudley & Southbridge. At this time we are accepting registration for May 10th – you must pre-register to attend.

Woofy’s Grooming, 17 W Main Street, Dudley: 9AM-Noonhttps://www.secondchanceanimals.org/woofys/

Southbridge Community Vet Hospital* Parking Lot, 700 Worcester Street, Southbridge 1-3PM
https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/southbridge-vaccine/

*Watch for more news on the Second Southbridge Community Vet Hospital opening later this summer.

Thank You

We are humbled! Thank you for voting Second Chance Animal Services BEST NON-PROFIT in the 2020 Best of Central Mass.

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Jackie Celmer, finalist for BEST VETERINARIAN.

We are so proud of the work Dr. Jackie and all our caring and compassionate veterinarians do each day, providing access to world class veterinary care for all. Your support helps our doctors keep pets in their homes with the people who love them. Thank you!

Clinic helps Fitchburg pet owners during the pandemic

FITCHBURG — Second Chance Animal Services returned to Fitchburg last weekend for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak canceled a scheduled spring vaccine clinic.

The low-cost community vaccine and microchip clinic offered Fitchburg-area pet owners an opportunity to get their pets up to date on life-saving vaccines using Second Chance’s new pre-registration format developed to safely resume vaccine clinics.

Second Chance CEO Sheryl Blancato said she is grateful to the North Central Community Foundation of Massachusetts, which underwrote the vaccine clinic with a generous grant aimed at helping pets in the Fitchburg community.

“North Central Community Foundation was understanding when the spring vaccine clinic could not be carried out as planned. They recognized the clinic’s importance in preventing the spread of rabies and parvo, which is a serious concern with so many pets now overdue,” Blancato said.

Many vaccine clinics throughout the state were canceled in the spring in response to COVID-19.

Second Chance, determined to resume its hospital weekly vaccine clinics safely, developed a pre-registration process that can now be used for clinics in the community.

Pet owners complete clinic paperwork and pay in advance to limit contact on clinic day. Each pet is assigned an arrival time and pet owners remain in their vehicle while pets are brought inside for vaccines and microchips, and quickly returned.

The Fitchburg clinic marks the first time the new process was used for a community vaccine clinic on location.

Blancato said the new process has received high marks from pet owners.

“We planned this as a temporary process, but it’s been such a positive experience for both pets and their owners. No more waiting in lines, no more filling out paperwork while holding a squirming pet, and much less stress for pets. We’ve decided to keep our pre-registration process permanently,” she said.

Second Chance hopes to resume community vaccine clinics next spring.

In the meantime, pet owners looking to update their pet’s vaccines can visit the vaccine clinic page at secondchanceanimals.org to pre-register their pet for an upcoming clinic at a Second Chance Community Veterinary Hospital in North Brookfield, Springfield or Worcester.

Full-service veterinary care is also available at each location by appointment following a curbside process where pet owners remain in their car and can speak directly with veterinarians via their cellphone.

Sentinel & Enterprise Story

Vaccine Clinic Registration – Now Offering Nail Trims too!

Nail trims are coming to vaccine clinic days!

It’s perhaps the most asked question we get on Facebook – when are Spa Days coming back? We heard you and we’ve found an even more convenient way to bring nail trims back – adding them to our weekly vaccine clinics. Now you can get your pets rabies vaccine and nails trimmed all in one trip!

Pre-Register today for an upcoming vaccine clinic below. Remember to check your pet’s records to see if they are due for vaccines and check your schedule to make sure you are able to bring your pet for the date you sign up for. In order to help all the pets waiting, we have a no refund policy.

See available dates.

We encourage everyone to use our convenient online form to pre-register for vaccine clinics. We are still receiving a record number of phone calls at all locations – this helps keep our phone lines open for emergencies.

*Registration is available by phone for those without access to the internet. *A $5 manual registration fee applies.

Full-service veterinary care is still available by calling our vet hospitals to schedule an appointment.

How is your pet handling the pandemic?

For some pets, having the family at home all the time has been a dream come true — more play time, perhaps more treats, and a lot more walks. For some other pets, too much of a good thing has been way too much, and they want their house back. Second Chance Animal Services is reminding pet owners to think about how the changes brought on by COVID-19 have impacted their pet.

We all need downtime, and pets are no different. Especially in larger households or families with young children, pets may need a break from the activity, noise, and attention. Having someplace quiet to escape for a break is a good idea for pets in these homes if possible. If you find your pet wandering away from the action to take a nap, let them be for a while.

Pet owners should be on the lookout for signs of stress in their pet like excessive licking and chewing, whining, or destructive behavior or accidents in the house. Any new behavior can be a clue that something’s amiss. If the behavior continues, pet owners should talk to their veterinarian to help address the issue.

Second Chance CEO Sheryl Blancato is also reminding pet owners to help their pet adjust as people return to work. “Consider adjusting your schedule slowly or have a friend or family member check on them if that’s an option. Pets thrive on routine, so every time you have to change that routine, be patient.”

Blancato was thrilled to see how many pets were adopted from Second Chance as stay-at-home restrictions were put in place. “It was an ideal time for pets to be welcomed into a family. Now, as those families may be spending less time at home, we hope adopters will help their new pets adjust to the change.”

For those who have been home with their pets this whole time, Second Chance Medical Director Grace Park recommends taking steps to teach the pet to be alone again, or for the first time with newly adopted pets. “This can include leaving them home alone for a short period and gradually extending the length of time you are out. As you head out the door, you can reward calm behavior with a special treat. A peanut-butter-filled Kong or a food-dispensing puzzle toy is great if your pet is unable to destroy them.”

Most of all, Blancato and Park urge pet owners to remain understanding and not rush to surrender their pet if they return home to an accident or chewed-up shoe. With a little time and training, the pet can adjust to the new schedule. Pet owners who think their pet may need extra support can reach out to their veterinarian for help.

UPDATE 3/23/2020

We know there have been many updates so here’s the status of our programs:

VETERINARY HOSPITALS:

? Hospital Appointments – As an essential service, all hospitals are committed to continuing to serve the pets that need care while safeguarding the health of all. At this time, we are restricting access inside the hospitals to mitigate exposure – appointment will be met in the parking lot (sidewalk in Worcester.) We’ll take your pet inside and conduct exams via phone. At this time we are in the process of rescheduling non-urgent appointment. Our staff will reach out to affected pet owners to reschedule. Evening and weekend hours have been suspended until normal operations resume.

? All Walk-In Vaccine & Microchip Clinics and Spa Day Clinics have been suspended until further notice.

? Spay/Neuter Clinics – We have suspended our spay/neuter clinics in our hospitals to conserve supplies needed for emergency surgeries. Affected clients will be contacted and we ask for patience from anyone who has recently filled out a SPOT application.

? Mobile & Local Vaccine Clinics have been postponed until further notice. We will work to reschedule clinics as soon as we are able.

ADOPTIONS:

? The Adoption Center is currently open for published adoption hours so we can continue to find fur’ever homes for pets who have already been through so much. While many of you will be spending more time at home, right now might be a great time to adopt. Visitors are limited to one family at a time for everyone’s safety. Please come to the door to check in.

? All cats were adopted this past weekend at our Satellite Adoptions inside the Framingham and Northborough PetSmarts. We continue to monitor the situation closely with our PetSmart partners and will update when we are able to bring more cats to these locations..

? All Mobile Adoption Events have been suspended until further notice. We look forward to getting back on the road when it’s safe for everyone.

PET FOOD PANTRY:

? We are continuing to distribute food to our food pantry partners and expect the need to increase. We are currently low on dry cat food. Anyone who would like to help can have food sent directly to Second Chance, 111 Young Road, East Brookfield, MA 01515

VOLUNTEERS & FOSTERS:

? Volunteers – yesterday we asked volunteers to stay home. The animals and staff will miss their daily visits, but we want to keep these very important people safe! Rest assured we have plans for the pets in our care and we look forward to welcoming everyone back as soon as we can.

? Fosters – at this time our foster program mailbox is full of applications! Thank you to everyone who has reached out to help! We ask for you patience and understanding.

DINNER AUCTION:

? The 21st Annual Dinner Auction was originally rescheduled for May 9th. We realize this date may not be possible. We are monitoring the situation with our good friends at the @Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center and are looking forward to hosting a live event for all to enjoy when safe

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

? Please consider adopting – many people will be spending more time at home right now so it might be a great time to adopt. If you aren’t ready to adopt, please encourage others to do so by sharing pets we spotlight or creating your own spotlight from our adoptable pets page at secondchanceanimals.org

? Donate – we need your support to continue to provide all the critical programs pets in need rely on. Please consider making a donation here or through our website: https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/donate/

Important Update for Anyone Coming to Our Vet Hospitals

In our continuing effort to keep our staff healthy to continue to serve your pets during these uncertain times, we have made the decision to restrict client access to our clinics. Effective immediately, only employees will be permitted inside our hospital. We will continue to see appointments and perform surgeries, but our protocols are being temporarily adjusted for the safety of all.

When you arrive in our parking lot with your pet, please let the staff person that will be monitoring the parking lot know you are there. You will be checked in by one of our staff. When we are ready to see your pet, one of our staff will retrieve the pet from you at your vehicle. You will have the opportunity to speak to the doctor over the phone regarding your pet’s appointment during the visit.

When the appointment is complete, one of our staff will bring your pet back to your car, along with any medications or products needed, and you will be checked out at your vehicle. It is imperative that we abide by the CDC guidelines for social distancing to prevent further spread of the disease and keep everyone healthy. The pets depend on our ability to assist you so please be patient during these trying times so we can keep everyone safe.

If you are picking up medication or food for your pet, the same protocol applies.

Please bring your own pen in for signing of any documents.

IF YOU ARE ILL with respiratory issues, please do not come for your appointment. Please follow CDC guidelines and reschedule your appointment. If this is a pet medical emergency please alert staff from outside the building and we will assist your pet.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However the safety of you, our staff, and your pet are our utmost concern. We hope you understand our desire to keep everyone healthy and to keep the clinics open to help keep the pets healthy.

Thank you,
Sheryl Blancato, CEO

Caring for your pet during the COVID-19 pandemic

A reminder from Second Chance to make sure your pet is prepared too. Ensure you have enough food, litter, medication and additional supplies. Decide who can care for your pet if you are unable to.

If you do get sick, the CDC website has important information including caring for your pet – current recommendations including limiting contact with your pet and having another family member care for the pet, if possible.

Visit the CDC website for up-to-date information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

COVID-19 Advice for Pet Owners

There is currently no evidence that domestic animals can develop disease from the COVID-19 virus or, if infected, transmit it to other animals or people.

Nonetheless, we would like to offer some precautions that we and other veterinary professionals recommend pet families keep in mind as the situation with COVID-19 continues to develop:

Remember to keep your pets needs in mind when implementing your emergency preparedness plan. The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) recommends “animal owners should continue to include pets and other animals in their emergency preparedness planning, including keeping a two-week supply of food and medications on hand.”
Take this opportunity to remind your family that while we all love snuggling with our pets, practicing good hygiene is important. Even though we have no evidence that our pets can carry and transmit COVID-19, there are other diseases that can be passed from domestic animals to humans. Wash your hands after petting, playing or interacting with your pet.
While there is no clear evidence that pets are able to transmit the COVID-19 virus, the CDC recommends that people sick with the virus or COVID-like symptoms avoid caring for their pets if possible. If you must care for your pet, limit contact and wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER pet interactions in an attempt to limit exposure for your pet.
In an abundance of caution, if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, please alert your veterinarian before having your pet seen for any health concerns. If it is possible your pet is contaminated with coronavirus, we don’t yet know whether veterinary hospital staff could be exposed to the COVID-19 virus when working with pets that had contact with exposed owners. It is best to discuss by phone how your veterinarian can best assist you and your pet while still protecting the staff in the event that your animal needs immediate medical attention.

Our Medical Director, Dr. Amy Alwood, provides additional information about COVID-19 and the corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) below:

Scott Weese is a leading international infectious disease specialist and veterinarian. For more information about why animals may be affected differently, check out his blog: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2020/02/articles/animals/cats/covid-2-and-potential-animal-hosts/

Other good resources to monitor include:

The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html)
Other entries on Dr. Weese’s blog https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/resources-pets/
The client education site: Veterinary Partner (https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=9548687)

Parvo Alert

We encourage all pet owners to make sure your dog’s DA2PP vaccine (distemper/parvovirus combo vaccine) is up-to-date after we learned of two confirmed cases of Parvovirus in Springfield.

WesternMassNews.com

The DA2PP vaccine protects against several common diseases of dogs including the deadly parvovirus. Parvovirus is widespread in the environment and easy to contract. All dogs are susceptible to this disease, especially the young, unvaccinated or undervaccinated dogs or dogs with poor vaccination history or lapsed vaccines. This deadly virus has claimed the life of one of the puppies that contracted Parvo.

Second Chance is hosting a special vaccine clinic this Saturday, August 17 from 10 am to noon at our Springfield Community Veterinary Hospital, 67 Mulberry Street. Rabies and DA2PP vaccines will be offered for $5 each thanks to a grant from Petsmart Charities. The vaccine clinic will be first come, first serve and open to all. Pet owners are reminded to bring along any prior vaccination history not on file at the hospital. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.

The DA2PP is initially a series of shots given 3-4 weeks apart. If your pet has never had the series or is overdue for the booster, you should make plans to get your pet vaccinated. Both the DA2PP and rabies vaccinations are also available at our weekly walk-in clinics too! Regular $12 pricing applies. Weekly Walk-In Vaccine Clinic

Please pass along this alert to fellow pet owners in the area so we can help stop the spread of this deadly disease.