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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Updated 6/16/2021.

All on-campus group events and public tours are cancelled/postponed until further notice. The campus gift shop is also closed until further notice (you can still order from our online gift shop and curbside pickup is available).

All non-essential personnel are working from home. Communications and fulfillment of donor recognition items may be delayed. Team members continue to come to campus to care for all dogs while maintaining social distancing guidelines and increased cleaning/sanitizing requirements.

The veterinary clinic is open and operating curbside service with distancing measures.

On-campus and in-home services resumed in July 2020. Our June 2021 Summer Experience Camp, presented by AAA – The Auto Club Group, will be held virtually.

According to the CDC, there is no evidence at present that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats are a significant factor in spreading the new coronavirus.

At Leader Dogs for the Blind, we are committed to keeping our dogs and our clients safe. There has been a lot of information surrounding the current global situation with COVID-19, with a lot of unanswered questions and we wanted to reassure you of what we do know at this time.

At this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people and to other animals is considered to be low. A small number of pets have been reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after contact with people with COVID-19. However, it is still good practice to always wash your hands before and after interacting with your dog.

We recommend that if you are positive for COVID-19, you follow the CDC recommendations of limiting contact with your dog, including no sharing food, bedding, being kissed or licked, and no snuggling. If you must care for your dog while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact, and wear a cloth face covering.

You can read more about COVID-19 and animals on the CDC's FAQs page.

Thank you,

David Smith, DVM

Kelly Wilson, DVM

Leader Dogs for the Blind continues to closely monitor the outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic prompted us to enact protocols to reduce the risk of infection for our clients, team members, volunteers, visitors to our campus and others who may interact with Leader Dog personnel.

As of May 28, 2020, Leader Dog was cleared to resume full operations. With safety in mind, our phased Return to Work plan has brought some people back to our campus while others continue to work from home. We will provide more updates on our plans as information becomes available. Please know that the health and well-being of every foot (and paw!) on campus remains our top priority.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and, if needed, will update our approach as information becomes available from the WHO, CDC and local authorities. We will also continue communicating with constituents and the public to keep everyone informed about what we are doing to try to keep the Leader Dog community and the community at large safe.

You can find out what life at Leader Dog was like a week after the first confirmed cases on our blog.