Homeboarding

Similar to boarding establishments it is likely that most will be unused. Home boarders may be in a position to offer their services to local authorities. Priority should be given to board dogs from a single household of a key worker, or shielded or vulnerable people or a coronavirus infected or isolating household. The handover protocol set out by CFSG will be followed with the home boarder collecting the dog, wiping them down with a pet safe disposable damp cloth which should be disposed of properly afterwards before putting them in the vehicle and the owner retaining all equipment such as leads. The home boarder must wash all equipment with soap and water once the dog/s have left. Dogs may be bathed for extra risk prevention in a home boarder’s house if the dog is known and the bite risk is understood. An interval of three days should be allowed between boarding dogs from different households to ensure no cross contamination. The owner’s lead should be retained by them. Dogs should be walked on a lead locally, maintaining social distance from other people and pets, and not transported in a vehicle to exercise unless absolutely necessary.

When receiving a pet from the owner where the status of the household is healthy

• Agree times or book appointments with clients to ensure that you only deal with one customer at a time.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or use hand sanitiser before going to collect or receive the pet.
• Determine a way to receive or return the pet in a manner which maintains a two metre distance and if possible hand over the pet in an outside secure area.
• If safe to do so, dogs should be securely tied to a fixed object such as a hook whilst the owner retreats two metres and the staff move forward to attach the business lead and take the dog. Once the staff have moved back the owner then retrieves their lead. The reverse procedure is used to return the dog.
• If handover occurs within the premises, face masks should be worn by both parties at the point of transfer and if entering someone else’s home, you should ask them to open and close the doors for you.
• Use different equipment to the owner’s where possible. If you have to use the owner’s equipment, such as a carrier, the collector should wear gloves and wipe the equipment before taking the animal. The equipment should be washed with soap and water once away from the animal and safe to do so. The reverse should be done when returning the animal.
• To collect cats, the owner should put the cat into their own carrier before the handover and the cleaning process above should then be followed for the carrier.
• Wipe the pet with a pet safe damp cloth at the point of collection or drop off. All wipes or cloths should be disposed of immediately after use.
• Limit handling of anything else, such as your phone and your face, during any time of contact.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser once you have returned thepet.
• If you are transporting pets, disinfect any surfaces that the pet(s) has come into contact within yourvehicle with a pet-safe disinfectant spray and/or wipe surfaces, before transporting other pets.
  

  When receiving a pet from a shielded person or someone who has, or is suspected of having Coronavirus:

• If taking animals from an infected or vulnerable household, do not mix them with animals from other households and collect them after all other animals.
• Avoid any contact with occupants of the home, maintain two metres distance at all times and if possible, avoid entering the home.
• If walking a dog for an owner keep them on a lead in public spaces to avoid other pets and people touching them in case the virus is on their fur.