01/02/2021
**MODIFIED COVID-19 OPERATIONS**
Due to the ongoing disease-control challenges that we're all facing surrounding COVID-19, the Timmins and District Humane Society remains closed to the public until further notice.
This decision was made in consideration of existing procedures currently in place at other humane societies and OSPCA branches in the province. We wish to continue protecting the staff, volunteers, and the public.
What does this mean?
While our doors will remain closed, we are still available by phone, email, and by appointment during our business hours! Rest assured, we are still providing care for many homeless animals inside the building! We are also still performing animal sheltering duties, facilitating pet adoptions with restrictions (see below), accepting surrenders of animals by appointment, and providing medical care for our pets in foster homes.
Until further notice, appointments are necessary. With our doors closed, we respectfully ask the public to contact us via phone from their vehicles in order to inform us they are here (This excludes those coming for their scheduled foster animal spay/neuter appointments) so we may unlock the door and give you the green light to come in. With social distancing requirements and disinfection policies in place, we want to ensure the entrance is clean and ready for you, our next client. This is also to avoid a bottleneck at the entrance since we can only have one person & pet in the building at a time for appointments. We are very often already at capacity inside the building.
Please arrive to your appointment on-time and please remain in your vehicle until your scheduled time. If you’re running late, please call to let us know.
Upon entering, visitors will be asked to remain at the entrance. We have hand sanitizer available. As per the direction of the Health Unit, masks/face coverings must be worn by all.
In order to set up an appointment, contact the shelter via telephone in order to explain the reason for your appointment. Appointments will be scheduled based on availability and urgency. Reach TDHS Reception at 705-264-1816; please always leave a voicemail if the lines are busy.
Our business hours continue to be Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm.
*For animal-related emergencies, please call us immediately upon recognizing the situation as an emergency. We will manage each case with the welfare of the involved animal as our primary concern. True animal emergencies and scheduled appointments take priority, so depending on staffing, we cannot guarantee that those without appointments will be seen same-day. Thank you in advance for your understanding.*
As always, we ask if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last two weeks, are supposed to be self-isolating, or are exhibiting symptoms to please stay home. If you have an emergency, please contact us via telephone to inquire on alternate arrangements. You can find a list of Covid-19 symptoms at the Porcupine Health Unit’s website, https://www.porcupinehu.on.ca/.../covid-symptoms.../.
What if I am interested in adopting?
For the safety of the public and staff, we ask all interested adopters to send their applications electronically, either via fax (705-264-3870) or via email ([email protected]). A copy of our applications can be found on our website. If you need assistance with how to send your application, please give us a call! If you are unable to send us your application electronically, a hard copy can be filled out at the shelter.
Those with approved applications will then be able to make an appointment to meet the animal they applied for. Dog meet-and-greets will occur outside, and for feline meet and greets, the cat will be brought to the front lobby for viewing.
All animals available for adoption can be seen on our website along with our TDHS Facebook and Instagram pages!
What if my pet is in the pound?
If your pet has been brought into the TDHS pound facility through animal control, you should contact TDHS during business hours in order to make an appointment for pick up (Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm). For stray pick-ups on weekends, please call 705-531-2998 between 11am-4pm to make arrangements.
I am a volunteer/I am interested in volunteering, can I? Unfortunately, the general volunteer program at TDHS will remain closed for 2020. We appreciate all the help our volunteers have done for us and we look forward to reinstating this program hopefully in the new year.
*Zero Tolerance Policy*
The TDHS and Animal Control wishes to remind the public that while we are in the midst of a difficult situation, we have a strict zero tolerance policy for any aggressive, violent, and disrespectful behavior. Regardless of the reason, individuals displaying these behaviors will need to leave the TDHS facility, which could impact chances of adopting a pet in the future.
We are truly living in unprecedented times and appreciate your understanding as we continue to assist pet owners and homeless animals in our community.
Thank you,
TDHS Management and Staff
