Living during a global pandemic has been...weird. And I imagine that will continue for a while.
I'm grateful I get to work outside with animals. But there were still some business practices that needed to be adjusted for everyone's health and safety.
Precautions I take include: Wash/sanitize hands regularly, and routinely between appointments. Wear a mask around all humans, except for my husband. Give distance between myself and others. I wear a mask in public, in clients' home, and usually the whole time I'm walking dogs outside(I really try).
Meet and Greet appointments were also affected. Masks can be confusing for dogs & other animals, and it's sometimes difficult to get an adequate "feel" or connection on Zoom. Because of these factors I've gravitated towards a combination of the following:
***We can schedule a phone or video call to discuss the details of your pet and its needs.***
***We can meet outside, I'll be wearing a mask for the majority of the time. But an outside meeting will allow me to take down my mask, if needed, and better connect with your pet.***
***We can meet inside, as long as every human over 3yo is wearing a mask. Inside meetings won't likely be the only time we discuss details, in an effort to keep exposure to each other short. ***
To be clear, it is now common to basically "meet" at least two times prior to your pet's first appointment. If you'd like to schedule an appointment following our meet & greet, we'll need to discuss key/home access instructions. I offer a lockbox. This allows for contact-free key pick up, or consistent key storage outside your home (small deposit if keeping lockbox for longer than 48hrs).