Eastern Townships SPA gradually reopening

Having been completely closed to the public on March 21, the Eastern Townships SPA announced a plan on Wednesday to gradually reopen its shelter.
Effective immediately, the animal welfare service will begin offering some of its services again by appointment only in order to limit traffic through the building and protect staff and clientele. Animals available for adoption will once again be posted online at www.spaestrie.qc.ca. Those with a serious interest in adopting are invited to look at the website to preselect those that may be suitable for them. Once a decision has been made, prospective adopters can call 819 821-4727 to make an appointment. A first virtual meeting between the adopter and the desired animal can be offered in order to reduce contact and back and forth to the shelter. People without an appointment will not be allowed to enter the shelter.
Animals will also only be admitted to the shelter on an appointment basis. The SPA has limited the number of animals it will accept at any given time to ensure that a new home can be found for all adoptable animals brought in. The population is asked for patience and cooperation and anyone thinking of dropping off an animal is asked to contact the shelter to discuss the different options available to them and to make an appointment if necessary.
Lost or found animals can still be reported to the SPA immediately by phone or by filling out the form provided on the organization’s website.
“For a found animal, please contact us immediately,” The SPA stated in their announcement. “If our offices are closed and this is an emergency, we invite you to contact your police force who will contact us as soon as we receive your call. If this is not an emergency, please keep the found animal if possible and contact us as soon as our offices open.”
The SPA’s storefront is also open to the public again, but the organization is asking people to plan their purchases in advance and communicate them to the store before coming to facilitate pickup. Purchases can be collected at the front desk of the shelter, and a staff member is available to bring things directly to the trunk of a car if desired.
These and future measures are being taken in order to conform to directives given by Quebec’s public health directorate and may change over time.

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