SPPOT has linked in with the Community Coordination Hub and is able to offer dog walking, shopping, telephone and online befriending to people who are in quarantine or shielding across various areas of Pembrokeshire.

If you need help to walk or care for your dog or the dog of a family member, please contact us:

01437 767648

07962220625

enquiries@sppot.co.uk

SPPOT would like to reassure our customers and participants that we are doing everything possible to protect all people from the pandemic while providing a service to as many people in need as possible – including those who are self-isolating.

We are particularly aware of the increased risks associated with the new variant of Coronavirus which is even more infectious. As a result, we have increased our safety measures and these are detailed in the sections below, for each of our services.

Our Staff Team and Board of Directors are experienced social care management professionals, including a pandemic response trained social care manager who has written pandemic plans for local authorities and health boards.

We will of course continue to monitor the situation, following the daily advice from the UK Government, Public Health Wales and Pembrokeshire

• If you are over 70 years of age, have an underlying health condition or are pregnant, you must follow the latest advice from the Welsh Government.
• If you develop symptoms of Coronavirus – cough, fever or shortness of breath, you must self-isolate and follow current advice issued by the Welsh Government.
• Then please inform us because we can still walk your dog, using our ‘Airlock System – a simple distance and barrier plan to prevent infection.
• Wash your hands or wear gloves, pop your dog into the hallway or front garden just before your (symptom free) Volunteer Dog Walker arrives, then go back indoors.
• They will have cleaned their hands and be wearing fresh dispoable gloves and will attach their own biothane lead (a washable silicone type material) which will be cleaned with virucidal cleaner between dogs.
• You and your Volunteer Dog Walker will reverse the process when they return.
• In addition, if you are in quarantine and need essential supplies, please let us know as we may be able to help.

Normally we would do a home visit to meet new customers and the dog to register all your information, but that isn’t currently possible. Therefore, please fill this form out online and we will get back to you as soon as we’ve received the form and spoken to our volunteers.

• We are currently open, for dog daycare, in line with Welsh Government rules, following strict procedures to help all customers, staff and volunteers to stay safe.

Handover Procedure

• Customers should attach a long line or extendable lead to their dog, taking care to keep it short while on the pavement outside.
• Then please Customers and all other visitors to the building must ring the bell on the gate and wait.
• Please be patient as we are always busy, if we do not respond within 5 minutes, ring us on 01437 767648
• We will open the front door, then you can open the front gate. Pop through the front gates with your dog, shut the gate and remove the lead.
• We will call your dog and have some tasty treats ready in gloved hands, ready to reward.
• We will then and attach a disinfected clean biothane lead, disconnect your lead so you can reel it back in, then you can close & exit the gates.
• Please do not forget to bring your dog’s lead when you collect him or here later, when the process will be reversed.

The full facts about Coronavirus in relation to people are still being discovered.

• We know that dogs cannot catch COVID-19.
• Scientists currently say that the virus can live on cold hard surfaces like metal for up to 72 hours.
• It is less clear how long it can live on softer surfaces like envelopes and packaging but it is believed to be around an hour.
• Therefore, we will also wipe your dog down with aqueous wipes and as usual, give your dog a clean-up and brush before they leave.

We are not currently able to provide any dog training services, indoor or outdoors, due to the Welsh Government Lockdown rules. We are moving our dog training courses online, so customers can watch each recorded teaching session from their own home and access the course notes,
homework and resources remotely. We have a private (completely optional) Facebook group, where customers can talk to each other and our dog training staff and share photos, videos and ask questions.

In addition, our Dog Training Coach is providing a live online Q & A session at a regular time each week, where customers can ask questions and receive live coaching and problem-solving.

Many of our volunteers have continued to walk dogs for vulnerable people throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Just two Volunteers are helping to walk Keyworkers’ dogs from SPPOT DHQ, following the same strict handover procedures as we use for dog walking. Everyone else is staying safe at home, until the vaccination programme is rolled out and the pandemic subsides enough to enable a safe return. A few have been able to help look after Keyworkers’ dogs in daycare

DAILY HYGIENE PROCEDURES

*Existing Measures

**COVID-19 Coronavirus Increased Measures

** During the Coronavirus outbreak we will continue to clean all floors, hard surfaces and wipe clean surfaces with DEFRA Approved Anigene HLD4V High Level Surface Disinfectant at virucidal strength (as anti-bac kills bacteria – not viruses).

** We will only use only wipe clean or machine-washable dog beds, furniture and furnishings and wash down with Anigene at viricidal strength.

* We clean up human and canine vomit, blood and diarrhoea using only British Standards Tested biohazard clean up kits consisting of: apron, gloves, scoop & scraper, paper towels, waste bag, SoChlor NaDCC Granules, SoChlor Chlorine Tabs with diluter.

*We clean up normal dog poo with poo bags and external bins, followed by correct handwashing

*We empty the internal business bins into the trade waste system bin bags wearing gloves

**We will seal and dispose of the dedicated tissue bins and toilet cubicle bins directly into the outdoor bins, wearing disposable gloves and face protection

HANDWASHING & PERSONAL CARE

• Wash your hands with hot water and soap for at least 30 seconds
• Use a nailbrush for under your nails
• Wash your hands when you leave home and again when you enter another property or after being on public transport.
• Wash your hands before eating and drinking
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing
• Wash your hands after going to the toilet
• Avoid touching your face with your hands at all
• Avoid putting things like pens in your mouth or biting your nails
• Use 60% alcohol hand gel when soap and water are not available

COUGHING & SNEEZING

• Use a tissue and put it straight in the bin.
• Use gloves to empty all bins (as usual)
• If you have no tissue, sneeze or cough into the inside of your elbow
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water – this helps your immune system

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF & OTHERS

• No hugs, kisses or hand shakes or high fives
• Foot tap or thumbs up instead
• Stay at least 2m apart from people in the street and avoid using public transport if possible