Kingston Humane Society temporarily closing due to COVID-19 outbreak
In a case of bad timing during a pandemic, the Kingston Humane Society will be closed to the public this coming weekend due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The outbreak has occurred within the Humane Society’s Customer Care team, forcing the shelter to close for Saturday, Jul. 23 and Sunday, Jul. 24, 2022. According to the organization, six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 30 days and, while many of those employees have now recovered, the additional outbreak amongst the Customer Care team means the shelter will be unable to process any appointments or public interactions over the weekend.
“All adoptions, appointments and surrenders previously arranged for those two days will be rescheduled, and drop-offs of stray or abandoned animals by members of the public will not be accepted,” the Kingston Humane Society said in a press release on Wednesday, Jul. 20, 2022.
“We will maintain availability for animal control officers working with our partner municipalities of Kingston, South, Central and North Frontenac, Gananoque, and Stone Mills.”
What makes the timing of this outbreak and subsequent closure so unfortunate is that the local Humane Society current has 242 animals in its care in a facility designed to house a maximum of 144 animals, explained Gord Hunter, Executive Director of the Kingston Humane Society.
“We’re not immune to what the rest of our community – the rest of our province – is experiencing,” Hunter said in a statement.
“Hospitals are having to reduce their hours, businesses are unable to serve the public, the strain on any organization that provides community services is reaching a breaking point.”
Hunter also expressed that the Humane Society “has to recognize their limitations and focus on continuing to provide treatment and attention to the animals already entrusted to their care.”
The organization expects to re-open on Monday, Jul. 25 at 11 a.m., however, should additional changes to operations be required, the Kingston Humane Society said they will communicate those changes via their social media channels.