---
title: COVID-19 Resources for Shelters, Animal Control and Vets (March 2020)
description: What animal welfare organizations need to know about COVID-19, and the steps you can take now to prepare your shelter, staff, and community.
image: https://blog.shelterluv.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shelterpic-300x200.jpg
---

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Industry News

# COVID-19 Resources for Shelters, Animal Control and Vets (March 2020)

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Shelterluv

June 21, 2025 · 4 min read

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Last Updated: 3/25/2020, 9:41AM PST

With all of the news surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s important to know what you can do to make sure that you’re prepared for its potential impact on your community.

We’ve rounded up the latest expert advice so that you can take proactive steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your animals, staff, and greater community during this time.

[Tips on how to implement some of these best practices in Shelterluv.](https://blog.shelterluv.com/2020/03/16/how-to-implement-covid-19-best-practices-in-shelterluv)

## General Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

- [**Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)**](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html)
- [**World Health Organization (WHO)**](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public)
- **[National Institutes of Healt](https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327)[h](https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327)**<https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327>**[(NIH)](https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus#!/detail/403327)**

## Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Animal Welfare Professionals

### Comprehensive Guides

- **[Animal Sheltering Magazine COVID-19 Tool Kit](https://www.animalsheltering.org/COVID19)**
- [**American Pets Alive! COVID-19 Animal Shelter Preparedness Guide**](https://sites.google.com/americanpetsalive.org/ampa-covid19/home)
- **[Best Friends Animal Society COVID-19 Resources for Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups](https://network.bestfriends.org/lifesaving-library/covid-19-resources)**
- **[Maddie’s Fund COVID-19 and Emergency Foster Care Resources](https://www.maddiesfund.org/covid-19-emergency-foster-care-resources.htm)**
- **[ASPCAPro COVID-19 Updates](https://www.aspcapro.org/covid-19-updates?fbclid=IwAR2nsqcyXNhI8R1msEVwMtzDbscPwXup96_id9dB0tQ8BlJTSdP9FUHVz1I)**
- [**5 Things Animal Shelters and Rescues Can Do To Minimize Shelter Intake and Maximize Lifesaving Due to COVID-19**](http://blog.theaawa.org/5-things-animal-shelters-and-rescues-can-do-together-to-minimize-shelter-intake-and-maximize-lifesaving-due-to-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR1lU2E5R4l4TuH5Z_KY8KyKzsjU8s93N9GBIVEcdq6F4tjBboqbH1401Ik)
- **[HeARTS Speak Communications & Marketing Guide for Shelters Amid COVID-19](https://heartsspeak.org/communications-marketing-guide-for-shelters-amid-covid-19/)**
- **[PAWS Chicago COVID-19 Toolkit](http://www.pawschicago.org/index.php?id=1128)**

### Animal Care & Control

- [**National Animal Care & Control Association Statement on Animal Control Functions During the COVID-19 Pandemic**](https://www.nacanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NACA-statement-re-Covid-19.pdf)
- **[National Association for Animal Care & Control Coronavirus Announcements and Resources](https://www.nacanet.org/covid19/)**

### Veterinary / Shelter Medicine

- **[UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Animal Services’ Role in COVID-19 Suppor](https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?r=animal-services-role-in-covid-19-support)**[**t**](https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?r=animal-services-role-in-covid-19-support)
- [**UW-Madison Shelter Medicine COVID-19 Response: Limiting Non-Emergency Surgery in Shelters and Spay Neuter Clinics**](https://www.uwsheltermedicine.com/news/2020/3/covid-19-response-limiting-non-emergency-surgery-in-shelters-and-spay-neuter-clinics)
- **[American Veterinary Medical Association COVID-19 Guide](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19)**
- **[AAWA 10 Minutes With the Experts: Shelter Medicine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibL0DMMGz7U&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0fdnW_GapFrmuFP80wapX7n2s6MyptH_cEhWjNrUA_Xe0sfJq3ux3vnlU)**

### Webinars

- **[Guidance for COVID-19 Community Response for Nonprofit, Government, and In Practice Veterinary Personnel (Wednesday, March 25, 2:00PM EST)](https://covetrus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IpntPH6NQAmEOg0UKedSuA)**
- **[Best Practice Strategies Before, During and After the Pandemic with Dr. Sara Pizano (Thursday, March 26, 2PM EST)](https://event.webinarjam.com/register/15/4v4nptv)**
- [**American Pets Alive! COVID-19 Zoom Meeting with Animal Welfare Professionals, Monday, March 23 (Recorded)**](https://zoom.us/rec/play/vJ15c7-p_TM3E4DHswSDBvcqW46_e6qsgSVNqKIEykq8VXgDMQClZrcVa-EqcFQQne02NSzQVTiudkWL?continueMode=true)
- **[Maddie’s Fund Emergency Foster Care Resources Webcast (Recorded)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyMepYf4vtM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3BVBZun-pqrpRx_VSnAKqi_Rg2ZdtrhpxqCe4P_9BS_jfU5Xckg4K9-NQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyMepYf4vtM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3BVBZun-pqrpRx_VSnAKqi_Rg2ZdtrhpxqCe4P_9BS_jfU5Xckg4K9-NQ)**
- **[Big Dogs and COVID-19: A Live Q&A With Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Kristen Hassen-Auerbach (Recorded)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmPAShelterRescueSupport/permalink/641142706667192/)**
- [**National Animal Care & Control Association Webinar COVID-19: What it Means for Animals & Animal Care Professionals (Recorded)**](https://www.nacanet.org/covid19/)
- **[Coping with Stress During COVID-19 with Jessica Dolce (Recorded)](https://jessicadolce.com/copingwithstresscovid19/?fbclid=IwAR30r-6LgowWLZMgVmhDPqvJGs0RQz-5XjM9iLcKgS33HcAW494CDoOcE8E)**

### Fundraising

- [**AAWA Animal Welfare Fundraising During Coronavirus and Economic Uncertainty**](http://blog.theaawa.org/animal-welfare-fundraising-during-coronavirus-and-economic-uncertaint)

### Grants and Relief Programs

- **[PetSmart Charities Commits Up to $1 Million to COVID-19 Relief Efforts](https://petsmartcharities.org/press-releases/petsmart-charities-commits-up-to-1-million?fbclid=IwAR3W-ASBTB0vb0USMKTKsZk8nvSZ5tJ6iO1KYq9OntGcR_R2rJOqAH5BWgY)**

### Facebook Groups

- **[American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue Support](https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmPAShelterRescueSupport/)**

### Podcasts

- **[Profiles in Leadership with Tawny Hammond: Voices of Animal Services Leadership During COVID-19](https://anchor.fm/profilesinleadership/episodes/Episode-12---Voices-of-Animal-Services-Leadership-during-COVID-19-ebqc1r)**
- **[Profiles in Leadership with Tawny Hammond: Dr. Erin Katribe on COVID-19 and the Future](https://anchor.fm/profilesinleadership/episodes/Episode-11--Dr--Erin-Katribe-on-COVID-19-and-the-future-ebq8m1)**
- **[Profiles in Leadership with Tawny Hammond: COVID-19 and Lifesaving Measures in the City of Norfolk, Virginia](https://anchor.fm/profilesinleadership/episodes/Episode-10---COVID-19-and-Lifesaving-measures-in-the-City-of-Norfolk--Virginia-ebmjoj)**
- **[Profiles in Leadership with Tawny Hammond: Texas Animal Services Director Talks COVID-19 & Lifesaving](https://anchor.fm/profilesinleadership/episodes/09---Texas-Animal-Services-Director-Talks-COVID-19--Lifesaving-ebkfv3)**
- **[Profiles in Leadership with Tawny Hammond: COVID-19 and Animal Shelters with Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Kristen Hassen-Auerbach](https://anchor.fm/profilesinleadership/episodes/Episode-08---COVID-19-and-Animal-Shelters-with-Dr--Ellen-Jefferson-and-Kristen-Hassen-ebi7rb)**

### Other Resources

- **[Rescue™ Disinfectants and Coronavirus](https://help.rescuedisinfectants.com/knowledge/do-rescue-disinfectants-kill-coronavirus-covid-19)**

## **Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Companion Animals**

- **[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/science/animals-pets-coronavirus.html)**
- **[Science Magazine](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/quarantine-cat-disinfect-dog-latest-advice-about-coronavirus-and-your-pets)**

## Ideas to Steal for Your Shelter

- [**Fort Bend County Animal Services Dog Dash Program**](https://www.facebook.com/FortBendAnimalServices/videos/205836943814891)
- [**KC Pet Project Emergency Foster Facebook Live Q&A**](https://www.facebook.com/KCPetProject/videos/452422668815459)
- **[Memphis Animal Services Open Foster Policy](https://www.memphisflyer.com/NewsBlog/archives/2020/03/13/mas-changes-intake-policy-amid-covid-19-concerns-seeks-foster-homes-for-pets)**
- **[Gateway Pet Guardians: Sharing Resources in a Time of Uncertainty](https://www.gatewaypets.org/sharing-resources-in-a-time-of-uncertainty)**
- **[Korean K9 Rescue Adoption Event Livestream](https://www.facebook.com/KoreanK9Rescue/videos/908050799652443)**
- **[San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter Facebook Live](https://www.facebook.com/SanMarcosAnimalShelter/videos/1597254903761443)**
- **[Kern County Animal Shelter Foster Drive-Thru](https://www.bakersfield.com/news/county-animal-shelter-floored-by-response-to-foster-drive-thru)**
- **[Palm Valley Animal Society “Stimulus Pet” Adoption Event](https://www.facebook.com/pvastx/posts/3134820163229360)**

## Animal Welfare Conferences

We are keeping track of our [conference schedule](https://blog.shelterluv.com/2020/03/12/shelterluv-2020-conference-schedule) along with any cancellations. For animal welfare professionals who cannot meet us in person for any reason, we will set up a virtual booth and provide other online resources so you can keep up your lifesaving momentum without missing a beat. We look forward to connecting with you, whether it’s in person or online!

We will frequently update this post with more resources as they become available, and please share any tips that you have in the comments below.

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## Keep reading

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### [![2020 Animal Welfare Conferences and COVID-19 Cancellations](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/2020-Conference-Schedule-1.png?width=400&height=250&name=2020-Conference-Schedule-1.png) Industry News 2020 Animal Welfare Conferences and COVID-19 Cancellations Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/2020/03/12/shelterluv-2020-conference-schedule)

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