Good morning District Dogs Family,
We care about your dogs. Period. That fact has remained the same since the first day we opened back in 2017. It’s the reason we have 24/7 in-store staff, create specialized programs like Structured Daycare, and why we get to know both you and your dog on a personal level throughout your time with us. It’s also the reason we have implemented such stringent safety and cleaning protocols – because once you hand your little one over to us, they become part of our family.
It has been a trying few weeks for all of us in the pet services industry. This is, quite frankly, the worst season of Canine Influenza we have ever seen. While an uptick of upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms in dogs can almost be counted on at this time of year, and the vast majority of pups will make it through this season unscathed, it’s important to be aware of the signs of URI and the “dog flu” so you can make the best decisions for your family. We recommend the following:
- Monitor your pup’s health.Canine Influenza is highly contagious. The virus can be spread from dog to dog through licking, coughing or sneezing, or by sharing similar toys or feeding dishes. Common symptoms can include cough, runny nose, lethargy, fever, and reduced appetite. If your pet is showing any of these symptoms, consider keeping them home and immediately quarantine them to avoid spreading it to other household pets.
- If your dog is experiencing symptoms, do not hesitate to get them the care they need.
After quarantining your pup, your best bet is to give your veterinarian a call. Should your pet begin to show URI symptoms during their stay with us, our first step is to alert you while we make them comfortable in a freshly disinfected, private room. We will immediately offer either an earlier pick up time or, if your pup is scheduled to stay with us for a longer period, for one of our employees to personally escort your dog to the vet for further care. - If you do need to take your dog somewhere, whether it be for daycare, boarding, the park or a grooming appointment, make sure you’re using a trusted care provider.
We recognize that our services are an essential part of your routine, which is why we feel it’s so important to remain open. Fortunately, District Dogs has the right safety protocols in place to ensure that our facilities are held to the highest industry standards. Wherever you take your dog this season, double check they have the proper security measures in place to ensure your dog’s health.
Every District Dogs location is fully equipped to handle communicable diseases not only during the winter months but year-round. Each of our locations contains state of the art HVAC systems to minimize the airborne spread of germs. We also use veterinary-grade disinfectant to clean every inch of our playrooms, private boarding rooms, grooming and training areas, and other common spaces, like hallways, in between each client.
Since the nation-wide rise of Canine Influenza cases, we’ve doubled-down on these cleaning practices and started screening every pet that walks through our doors for URI symptoms. Should a dog exhibit any symptoms, we kindly ask that you reschedule for a day that your pup is feeling better. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, clean space for your pup to relax in, and will continue to see to it that it remains that way.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the staff at any of our locations or learn more about our extensive safety and cleanliness policies below.
