Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Randy Kirchhoff, director of H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter in Ironwood, holds one of the newest residents on Wednesday. Banjo, a 2-year-old neutered male Tabby shorthair cat was found stray recently in Ironwood.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood - H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter in Ironwood is limiting access to the facility to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The safety of staff, volunteers and supporters is of primary importance during these potentially stressful times, according to the announcement. Until further notice the shelter is limiting all non-urgent functions but will remain open to the public for animal reclaims, SNAP vouchers and pre-approved adoptions and surrenders.
"If one of us gets sick or all of us or whatever then who's going to be caring for the animals?" said Randy Kirchhoff, director of H.O.P.E. "So that's why we're taking the precautions, to limit the amount of foot traffic that we get in here and so that we're here if somebody needs to reclaim an animal."
When someone is in need of services they should contact the shelter for an appointment, he said.
Adoptions are still ongoing but the process should start by identifying an animal online at myhopeanimalshelter.org. The approval application can also be completed online or by picking up a paper copy at the office and returning it when completed.
The processing time is one or two days and then at that point they can come in and see the animal, he said.
"Then we can work on getting them to meet the animal," Kirchhoff said. "We will not take an animal out for meet and greets until an approved application is processed."
Shelter policies have always worked to ensure a safe, clean environment, he said. This is done by avoiding the spread of germs with specific cleaning and disinfectant protocols.
"We keep things as clean as we can anyway on a daily basis but right now in these uncertain times with the pandemic that is with us right now we are just trying to limit the amount of foot traffic for now and we'll see where we are in a week or two," Kirchhoff said.
With the warmer weather, flea and tick season is going to be coming and so it's important that animals get treated for monthly flea and tick preventatives, he said. It's also time to talk to veterinarians about testing for lyme disease or heart worm.
