Covid 19 Information

Posted on May. 20th, 2020 by david

For information on Group Dog Walking, Individual Dog Walking, and Emergency Plans, please see the individual sections below.

Introduction
As outlined by the Canine & Feline Sector Group (CFSG), it is important for business to carry on not least to ensure the economy keeps working and in the case of pet businesses to help safeguard the welfare of the nation’s pets. Pet businesses play a key role in this and should operate within the strict advice on social distancing and hygiene. Therefore, the procedures below have been put in place to allow business to resume and ensure the safety of customers, pets, and PHG pet sitters.

Group Dog Walking
As outlined by the Canine & Feline Sector Group (CFSG), it is important for business to carry on not least to ensure the economy keeps working and in the case of pet businesses to help safeguard the welfare of the nation’s pets. Pet businesses play a key role in this and should operate within the strict advice on social distancing and hygiene. Therefore, the procedures below have been put in place to allow business to resume and ensure the safety of customers, pets, and PHG pet sitters.

Group Dog Walking Procedures

Prior to resuming the group walks, the PHG pet sitter will call each customer and answer any queries they may have regarding the procedures. During the call, also check each customer is still happy to allow their dogs to take part in the group walks.
During the call, the dog owner will be asked to confirm as to whether any of them are shielded (self-isolating) or are from a household where people have, or are suspected of having, Coronavirus (including anybody that has shown symptoms in the last 14 days); if so, their dogs will need to be walked individually after all other dogs have been walked. Please refer to the Individual Dog Walking Procedures below.
The pet sitter will wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water before leaving home. Thereafter, they will wash their hands for twenty seconds as frequently as possible using anti-bacterial gel which is at least 70% alcohol based.
The dog owner will be asked if someone from the household is able to open and close doors for you, or agree on a suitable handover process in advance, including a pick-up time and drop-off time (bearing in mind these will be approximate).
Handover should take place in a room or space large enough for the pet sitter and dog owner to maintain social distancing of at least two metres.
A lead will be provided by the PHG pet sitter labelled for that particular dog.
Upon collection, the pet sitter will wipe the dog down by applying a pet friendly disinfectant wipe (Aqueous wipes are recommended as they have been tested and proven to be effective in killing Coronavirus).
The pet sitter will wear gloves during collection, and safely dispose of them prior to opening the door to their vehicle.
The pet sitter will safely place the dog into a disinfected area within the vehicle.
The above procedures will be applied for all additional dog pick-ups.
• At the dog walking area, the pet sitter will wash their hands with anti-bacterial gel.
If the pet sitter handles their phone etc. during the dog walk, these items will be regularly wiped down with suitable disinfectant wipes.
At all times, social distancing will be observed, and if there appears any likelihood this may not be observed, the pet sitter will take appropriate action to try and ensure compliance.
The pet sitter will where possible minimise touching the dogs.
After the walk has finished, the pet sitter will connect the correct lead to the correct dog and return each dog to their designated area within the vehicle.
Before starting to return dogs, the pet sitter will wash their hands with the anti-bacterial gel.
Prior to returning each dog, the pet sitter will wipe them down using a pet-friendly disinfectant wipe (as previously noted) including their collar.
The pet sitter will wear gloves when returning the dog and safely dispose of them the moment they are taken off.
Once the dog has been returned, the pet sitter will disinfect the lead.
• The pet sitter will also clean their hands with anti-bacterial gel (as previously noted).
After all dogs have been returned, the pet sitter will ensure all areas used for transport have been thoroughly disinfected.

Additional Information
There are no confirmed instances of transmission of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from pets to people. However, as a small possibility exists that the virus could be passed from person to person via a surface such as a dog’s fur, collar or lead, the pet sitter will ensure these items are thoroughly wiped down before return the dog.

Individual Dog Walking Procedures

The pet sitter will wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water before leaving home. Thereafter, they will wash their hands for twenty seconds as frequently as possible using anti-bacterial gel which is at least 70% alcohol based.
The pet sitter will wear gloves during collection of the dog and safely dispose of them the moment they are taken off.
The dog owner will be asked if someone from the household is able to open and close doors for you, or agree on a suitable handover process in advance, including a pick-up time and drop-off time (bearing in mind these will be approximate).
Handover should take place in a room or space large enough for the pet sitter and dog owner to maintain social distancing of at least two metres.
A lead will be provided by the PHG pet sitter.
The dog will be walked in an area surrounding the owner’s home and ideally on lead. Off-lead walks are only permitted if the walk is taking place in a private, enclosed field. The pet sitter will only drive to a location for the walk if it is unsafe to walk directly from the owner’s home address.
The pet sitter will not walk dogs from different households at the same time. For group dog walking please see the specific procedures above.
• If the pet sitter handles their phone etc. during the dog walk, these items will be regularly wiped down with suitable disinfectant wipes.
At all times, social distancing will be observed, and if there appears any likelihood this may not be observed, the pet sitter will take appropriate action to try and ensure compliance.
The pet sitter will where possible minimise touching the dogs.
If the pet sitter makes any contact with the dog, they will wipe the dog down using a pet-friendly disinfectant wipe (as previously noted) including the collar.
Once the dog has been returned, the pet sitter will disinfect the lead.
The pet sitter will wear a new pair of gloves for the collection and return of the dog, and these will be safely disposed.
The pet sitter will also clean their hands with anti-bacterial gel (as previously noted).

Walking A Shielded Person’s Dog
In addition to the below solo walking procedures, when walking a shielded person’s dog, it is important for the pet sitter to:

Avoid any contact with the occupants of the home.
Keep the dog on lead to prevent them coming into contact with any people or other pets.
Wipe the dog down including their collar prior to returning them using a pet-friendly disinfectant wipe (Aqueous wipes should be used as they have been tested and proven to be effective in killing Coronavirus).

Walking a Dog From a Household Where People Have Or Are Suspected Of Having Coronavirus
For households where people have or are suspected of having coronavirus, or have shown symptoms in the last 14 days, in addition to the Walking A Shielded Person’s Dog procedures above, it is important for the pet sitter to:

Walk these dogs after any other dogs scheduled in for the day.
Take care when cleaning up after the dog, using a sturdy poop bag that is disposed of as soon as possible.

Emergency Plans
The document linked here outlines the procedures PHG pet sitters will follow in the case of an emergency situation arising.