Small businesses and non-profits are especially hard hit during the coronavirus outbreak. We get it! Baltimore Fishbowl is a small business, too. To help small businesses and non-profits, we will provide regular updates to let you know how they are coping.
The following is an update from Andy Beres, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Maryland SPCA, on how they are adapting and coping during these times.
How have you altered your business to adapt to the quarantine?
For the safety of our clients and staff, we temporarily closed our facilities to the public on March 23. However, we’ve continued to support our community. We recently launched a virtual adoption process, allowing us to place pets in forever homes while observing social distancing per CDC guidelines. We’re also offering virtual training classes via Zoom.
Additionally, we’re providing community pet food assistance; supporting our fosters with food, supplies, and vet care; and providing free phone consultations.
Our 25th annual Festival for the Animals was postponed until September 26, 2020. For the time being, we’ve also suspended our humane education classes, spay/neuter services, and veterinary care to the public.
Are you doing something for the community or your employees that you want to share with our readers?
The need for pet food assistance has skyrocketed during the pandemic. People are experiencing job loss, lack of transportation, and many other issues. The Maryland SPCA is committed to helping people keep their pets. With our Kibble Connection Food Pantry, people can fill out an online form to request assistance. As long as supplies last, we’ll arrange for them to pick up free dog and cat food.
What is the status of your employees?
The Maryland SPCA has retained all its employees during the pandemic. We’re following all CDC-recommended guidelines, including maintaining strict limits on the number of staff who occupy our buildings at any one time. Employees who are able to telework are doing so. Our staff is more committed than ever to our mission of helping pets and people thrive.
How can readers help you get through the crisis?
Revenue is down for the Maryland SPCA and shelters nationwide. We’ve had to suspend special events and our fee-based services, including in-person training classes, spay/neuter surgeries, and Wellness Clinic visits. The best thing you can do right now is become a monthly donor, which will support our pets as well as critical efforts like the Food Pantry. People can also donate food through our Amazon Wish List as well Chewy.com. Now more than ever, we’re counting on our community’s incredible generosity.
How are you coping, personally?
We miss being with our community. Whether it’s our incredible volunteers, happy adopters, or children in our reading program, we’re energized by our community’s love for animals. We look forward to the day when it’s safe to be together. For now, we’re using social media to stay connected. On a personal level, many of us are relying on our own dogs and cats for emotional support. Pets provide love, companionship, and entertainment every day.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
We can’t wait to reopen our facilities to the public. Until then, please know that we’re still here for you.
If you need pet food assistance, fill out our request form and we’ll do what we can. For a free behavior consultation, call (410) 235-8826 x151 or email trainer@mdspca.org. You can also visit our website to adopt a pet or sign up for a virtual training class.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and MDSPCA.org for more information.
If you represent a local small business or non-profit and would like to share your update with our readers, contact Nicole Allen at nicole@baltimorefishbowl.com. During the crisis, we will offer these sponsored posts for free as a service to the community until May 15.
