A puppy licks the face of a person wearing a hoodie in front of an open car door

COVID-19: Transport During a Pandemic

This Town Hall focused on how organizations have reworked their transport programs to safely move pets and people by navigating rapidly changing shelter in place orders, implementing new procedures, and leveraging the community for support.

Moderated by Bethany Heins and featured:

Whitney Bliton, operations manager, Best Friends Animal Society
Azure Davis, executive director and founder, Ruff Start Rescue
Ginny Simms, executive director, Southern Pines Animal Shelter

Click the timestamps below to skip to that portion of the town hall:

Podcast Preview- 0:45
Medical Update- Dr. Erin Katribe- 2:56
Intro to Panel- 4:40
Whitney Bliton, Operations Manager, Best Friends Animal Society- 5:53
Ginny Sims, Executive Director, Southern Pines Animal Shelter- 15:52
Azure Davis, Executive Director and Founder, Ruff Start Rescue- 22:40
Did COVID impact your robust pre-transport relationship building with destination shelters?- 35:10
How far are source shelters traveling? Has it increased over the last 3 months?- 40:08
Are you matching people with pets before the pets arrive?- 41:40
What are some things that destination partners can do to help source partners to increase sustainable local lifesaving?- 45:15
How did your large transport volunteer base maintain engagement during COVID?- 47:47
Do you have fosters in both Minnesota (destination) and Texas (source)?- 51:12
How did you handle health certificates when veterinary services were limited?- 54:05
What is one thing that you changed as a result of COVID-19 that will continue forward post-pandemic?- 55:40