At PetSmart Charities, we value the opportunity to support your organization’s work to help pets and the people who love them. During these uncertain times, we are working to provide updates to you to help keep your staff and volunteers, pet parents, and PetSmart associates safe while helping homeless pets find homes.
We need your help to keep the adoption centers clean and sanitized. In addition to the cleaning and safety protocols outlined in the Adoption Partner Manual and Everyday Adoption Center Manual, below is a list of requirements your organization must follow when facilitating adoptions in our stores while we face this crisis. Violations of any PetSmart Charities Policies and Procedures may be ground for suspension or termination as an Adoption Partner.
In-store Adoption Process:
- All in-store adoption events have been suspended until further notice. Unless prohibited or restricted by a governmental order, Everyday Adoption Center adoptions, 7-Day Cat Center adoptions, and small pets that live at the store are still allowed to be adopted.
- Only one of your representatives may interact with the pet parent during the in-person adoption.
- If a meet-and-greet with a pet was facilitated virtually or at another location, your representative may meet the pet parent at the store to finalize the adoption.
- Until further notice, we are no longer accepting paper adoption forms. All adoptions must be completed through the store’s iPad, and the pet parent must read and sign the PetSmart Charities Adoption Agreement through the iPad. No batch entries allowed.
Social Distancing:
- Maintain 6-feet of space between you and others while on PetSmart premises.
- Appropriate social distancing must be practiced during the adoption process and when interacting with associates and pet parents.
- Remind staff, volunteers, and pet parents of the requirement for 6-feet spacing as needed.
Face Covering:
- The CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public settings. Additionally, several state and local governments are now mandating that people wear face coverings while in public. Please check with your local public health agency and governmental orders to see if your community is now required to wear face coverings. All of your staff and volunteers must comply with the orders from your state and local government.
Cleaning & Disinfecting:
- A disinfectant formulated to kill the coronavirus, among other germs, is available for use.
- Use the disinfectant to regularly disinfect:
- Key touchpoints such as doorknobs, phones, and the store’s adoption iPad.
- Tables, chairs, clipboards and office supplies that your organization may use to help facilitate adoptions.
- Crates and cages.
- When an iPad is used, the iPad must be cleaned after each transaction with a disinfectant wipe or by spraying the provided disinfectant on a cloth and wiping it down.
Universal Precautions:
- All staff and volunteers must wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used if soap and water are not available.
- All staff and volunteers must wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer after handling pets or any items from associates, pet parents, staff, or volunteers.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands or gloved hands. It is important to remember cross contamination can happen with unwashed hands and with gloved hands.
- Refrain from having physical contact with others, such as shaking hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow, then throw the tissue out and wash your hands.
- If you, your staff or your volunteers are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you or they MUST stay home.
- To help keep associates, pet parents and pets safe, we ask that you notify your local store immediately if you, your staff or your volunteers are sick.
