The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t so rough for the animals at the Orillia Animal Centre (OSPCA). It just means more time and attention from the staff.
“The staff are providing the same high-level care that they always have and are getting to spend lots of time with the animals which they love. Things are wonderful on that front,” said OSPCA manager Carol Beard.
While the animals have adapted positively to the change in routine, the staff are still adjusting to the new changes.
While currently closed to the public, the OSPCA is not able to accept help from their legion of loyal volunteers.
“We miss our volunteers that’s for sure. We’ve kept in really good communication with them,” Beard said.
“The animals really love seeing them come in, they know who they all are, so it will be nice to get back to normal but for the time being they are definitely enjoying their time with the staff," said Beard.
Although volunteers are missed, the staff now have more time on their hands to make up for those lost interactions.
“The staff has time to walk all the dogs multiple times a day. When we are on normal operations it's difficult for the staff to do that here but being shut down has created an easy flow and the staff and animals are enjoying it,” Beard said.
The cats at the OSPCA are getting lots of attention, too. They are being petted, brushed and played with multiple times a day, Beard noted.
The one unfortunate effect of COVID-19 for the animals is none of them will be finding a new home as adoptions have been put on hold.
Beard urges the community to keep attuned to their social media for when the ban on adoptions is lifted. Animals who are waiting to be brought into the OSPCA will also have to wait to find their new homes.
“We’ve reached out to everybody who was on our list for intakes and they have all understood. Most have kept the animals with them for the time being,” Beard explained.
The only exception to that rule is if an animal needs to be brought into the centre for urgent attention. In that case, the staff will work with people who need to surrender their animals immediately while keeping physical distancing in mind.
Even though the OSPCA is closed, they are still relying on the community to help fund the care that they are providing the animals each day. Animals are still being taken to the vet, need nutritious food, toys, and other care items.
For local residents who want to help the OSPCA financially, they can visit urgentanimalcarefund.ca
“No matter how big or small, whatever people can give is helping because at this time and not being open, we aren’t seeing our typical donations and we certainly need the funding,” Beard said.
The OSPCA is still taking food donations as well. They are asking people to call ahead and they will be instructed to leave donations out front of their facility.
“Our staff are checking for that through the day and are bringing those donations in where they get disinfected and put into the area where they will be used,” Beard explained.
