We know many pet owners are anxious to have their pet fixed and we have been working on plans to restore this important program safely. Our low cost spay neuter program has been helping control pet homelessness and keeping pets healthier for 17 years.

We ask for your patience as we slowly resume scheduling on a limited basis in the next couple weeks, beginning at our North Brookfield vet hospital. We will begin by contacting pet owners with appointments that were postponed, followed by the SPOT applications and voicemails in the order they were received. We are hoping to reach you directly, but if you are awaiting a call, please be sure we are able to leave you a voicemail if we miss you.

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.

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

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:

1. 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.”
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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)

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.

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Park who was voted Best Veterinarian in Worcester Magazine‘s Best of Worcester 2019! We are so proud of all the work Dr. Park and all our veterinarians do. Everyday they change lives!

Dr. Park joined Second Chance in 2015 as our Medical Director. Her specialties include dentistry, population control, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and geriatric medicine. Dr. Park is certified in veterinary acupuncture and also has a certificate in aquatic pathobiology. She’s pictured here with her dog Miles.

Dr. Park sees patients at our Worcester and North Brookfield Hospitals. If you are looking for a vet for your pet, give us a call today.  Veterinary Hospitals

The spay/neuter program reached a major milestone May 17th when Second Chance surgeon Kristen Cormier (pictured with Izzy) performed Second Chance’s 50,000th spay/neuter surgery.  Second Chance staff is specially trained in cutting edge surgical techniques for spay/neuter. The program has been helping to control overpopulation and pet homelessness in Massachusetts since 2004. We are grateful for the continued support for this program that provides a low cost alternative to pet owners. Lucky patients will be going home with a special toy to mark the occasion.

If you need to get your pet spayed or neutered, check out our spay/neuter program here.

It may not feel like spring just yet, but our Spring Vaccine & Microchip Clinics are underway.  Visit the Event Page for a complete list of upcoming clinics where you can get your pet’s rabies, distemper and microchip.