Dear Clients: 

In the coming weeks we will be facing unprecedented challenges in the war on COVID-19.  Veterinary services are considered essential and the team at Londonderry Animal Hospital plans to continue providing care for the animals in our community, as we have for the past 50 years.  However, the situation is evolving rapidly and therefore our response must also.   In an effort to protect the people and animals in our community, and in response to guidance from the Office of the Governor, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, as of March 20, 2020 we are altering our protocols in the following ways:

1. If you are sick, stay home. If you are quarantined, stay home. 
2. We will be operating with limited staff and with limited office hours. Our office hours will be reduced to 8 am – 4 pm on weekdays and 8 am – 11 am on Saturdays. We will not be able to honor requests for your pet to see a specific veterinarian or team member. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we try to accommodate the needs of all our patients despite major disruptions to normal operating procedure.   
3. We will continue to treat patients for illness and injury. In an effort to conserve critical medical supplies that are in shortage worldwide, and to reduce person to person contact, all routine and wellness care must be postponed under the new regulations.
4. If your pet has an appointment, please remain in your vehicle and call from there to let us know you have arrived. No clients are permitted to enter the building at any time.  We will collect your pet from the vehicle, examine your pet while you wait outside, and consult with you over the phone.  Please be sure your pet is secure on a leash or in a carrier.
5. If you normally obtain prescription or other diets from us, we can set you up to receive food shipments direct from the manufacturer. Please call for information.
6. If you are picking up medication refills, please call us from the parking lot to make payment arrangements. We will deliver the item(s) to your car.  
7. At this time, all area emergency clinics are open, but are operating under the same constraints including no clients permitted in the building. Please consider carefully if your pet’s situation is truly a life threatening emergency, if it could wait until we reopen, or if it could be handled with a telephone consultation.
8. There is no evidence to suggest that pets can become infected or transmit COVID-19. However, common sense dictates that if you are sick you should avoid contact with pets as much as possible, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask.

Let’s all do our civic duty and work together to keep each other safe!

Sandra Cartelli