Georgia Update

 I wanted to thank everyone that helped me out with "Georgia" #a265408 yesterday. Thanks for the work you are all doing. M. Menezes

New Fiscal Year

 

July 1st, 2021 it is a new fiscal for the county. 

There are some fee changes but very few that effect us in the kennel. None of the changes effect cat or dog adoptions. Although we have added and altered small animal adoption fee of $50, this will mainly be used for altered rabbits. 

Covid update

 

As you know, California requirements for the wearing of face masks in public were updated last week. This includes updates to standards established by CalOSHA which governs and regulates workplaces statewide. Those CalOSHA standards apply equally to paid staff and volunteers.

 

Please review the following summary of the key revisions in order to ensure you understand and can continue to comply the continuing COVID safety requirements.

 

What’s Not Changing?

• Daily Health Screenings: All volunteers must check in with kennel staff at the beginning of their shift for a temperature check and health screening. Report any symptoms commonly associated with COVID that cannot be attributed to another condition or any known exposure to a confirmed COVID case, regardless of your vaccination status.

 

• California’s Travel Quarantine: Volunteers who are not fully vaccinated prior to traveling out of state must quarantine at home for 10 days upon their return before returning to the shelter.

 

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing is no longer required, indoors or outdoors, regardless of vaccination status.

 

Important Mask Updates

• Fully Vaccinated Volunteers:
• Fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks after having received a second dose of either the Moderna or Phizer COVID vaccine, or two weeks after having received a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine.
• Once they have completed the vaccination attestation process (see below), fully vaccinated volunteers are not required to wear face coverings either indoors or outdoors.
• Fully vaccinated volunteers may elect to continue wearing a face covering if they would like to do so.

 

• Unvaccinated Volunteers:
• Volunteers who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a face covering at all times while inside the Animal Services facility.
• Employees who are not fully vaccinated do not have to wear a face covering outdoors but should wear a face covering in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated.

 

• Face coverings:
• The definition for face covering has been updated to mean, “a surgical mask, a medical procedure mask, a respirator worn voluntarily, or a tightly woven fabric or non-woven material of at least two layers. A face covering has no visible holes or openings and must cover the nose and mouth. A face covering does not include a scarf, ski mask, buff, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric.”

• Upon request, Animal Services will provide respirators for voluntary use to all volunteers who are not fully vaccinated and who are working indoors. If you request a respirator, you will be provided with an N95 respirator of the correct size and provided training on how to ensure proper fitting and properly wear it. To request a respirator, please notify Volunteer Coordinator Kayla Cardoza before coming in to the shelter.
• A respirator means, “a respiratory protection device approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to protect the wearer from particulate matter.”

 

• Vaccination Attestation Process
• Per Cal OSHA, “fully vaccinated” means the employer has documented that the person received, at least 14 days prior, either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. If you are fully vaccinated, you must complete the self-attestation form prior to being exempt from the face covering.
• A copy of the Attestation form is attached to this email. Please download and complete the form, following the directions provided. Once completed, you may turn your attestation form in to Volunteer Coordinator Kayla Cardoza or you may scan and email the form to hr@co.slo.ca.us.

 

For more information around face coverings, please refer to CDPH’s Face Coverings FAQs.

 

For more information around California’s Emergency Temporary Standards for workplace, please refer to Cal OSHA’s FAQs. Updates to the County’s COVID website resources are under way.

 

 If you did not receive my email with the form you can contact me and I will send it to you directly. 

Sheba update

 

Hi There:

 

Just wanted to tell you what a wonderful little girl Sheba (now Shadow) A264347 is becoming. We adopted her from you a week ago, and she is settling in very well. Our 6-year-old female basenji has accepted her into the pack and they are starting to play together.  Our cat Smudge is still wary of her, but we’ll train them to get along.  Sheba/Shadow is an enthusiastic smart puppy who is already learning commands very quickly, is taking well to the leash, and is starting to retrieve and drop a ball on command. She was the replacement for our 13-year-old German Shepherd Brodie, that we had to say good-bye to, and she is filling the hole he left very well.  Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into rescuing her so that she could become a part of our lives.  We will do our best to create a safe and happy home for her.

 

Thank you so much,

 

Llyn Hunter & Troy Wicker

Dash, Shadow and Smudge

 

 

 

 

 

Joan you will be missed!

 

June 15th

 

Good morning,

Just a quick email to you regarding the approach to mask requirements following the change in state masking requirements which is scheduled to take effect tomorrow. Here’s the bullet point run down:

• Starting June 15, California’s face mask requirements will be changing such that 1) Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID are no longer required to wear masks in public (indoors or outdoors), 2) Individuals who have not been vaccinated, or who are not yet fully vaccinated, must continue to wear a mask in public.
• The county has taken the position that members of the public will be allowed to “self-attest” to their vaccine status and that staff should not directly ask any individual about their vaccine status. Whether a person is wearing a mask or not, will be taken a an indicator of their “self-attested” vaccine status. That is to say, if they don’t have a mask on, you should presume they are vaccinated.
• Cal OSHA has instituted a separate set of guidelines which applies to all workplaces and employees therein. This Cal OSHA requirement directs that all employees must continue to wear masks while inside the workplace. (Individuals working in closed private offices are exempt from this requirement). This requirement applies only to workers (and volunteers); members of the public are not subject to the Cal OSHA requirement.

 

So, how should we apply this to our operation:

1. Members of the public are no longer required to wear a mask when entering the Animal Services facility. If they are not wearing a mask, you should presume they are vaccinated.
2. All staff and volunteers will continue to wear masks while at Animal Services in accordance with our current COVID Mitigation Plan directions.

 

There should be an email coming out from County HR sometime today regarding facemasks and employees but I wanted to make sure that you had this information now so you can act / plan accordingly. Please make sure that you share this information and direction with all staff and volunteers.

 

Thanks,

 

Volunteer Superhero

 

Volunteer Superhero 

If you want to vote on the next months Volunteer Superhero, follow the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLv7msMCPLrg7vtbWdKegoM0YyuLDUXjM8e-u6AXq-xXnOQA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Carmel now Cara

 

Hello, Carmel has had her name changed to “CARA”. She has really adapted well with us. She has been getting daily Leash training on her Long walks. Still a little bit anxious, but a lot more calm. I have enclosed some Photos . She is the Greatest Dog! Thank You for all you do!! Art and Carolyn