Changing services due to COVID-19

Friday, March 20, 2020 | NHS Staff

To protect everyone's health and safety amidst COVID-19, NHS has changed some of our processes. 

SERVICES

Our Entrance: is located one door to the left of the main entrance. 

Animal Control:  
Officers are responding to all regular and emergency animal-related calls.
If you have an animal control issue please call 402-444-7800 and press 1.

Customer Service:  
Our main front door is closed to limit human contact to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
However we are continuing services including lost and found pets, Rainbow Bridge, and foster care visits.
For questions regarding these or other services that would normally bring you to the shelter please call
402-905-3463 during business hours: 9am to 7pm weekdays or 10am to 5pm weekends.

Adoptions:
We are still adopting pets, however we are switching to adoptions by appointment and only accepting applications online.  Please see the new process below. 

Stray Foster:
Those who find a stray pet are asked if possible, to temporarily foster the found animal and help find the owner. (This can be done by posting on neighborhood app, the Lost Pets of Omaha Facebook page etc.) This can help quickly reunify pets and owners without them needing to enter the shelter. If that's not possible, we ask that you drop off animals in our drop-off kennels and fill out the paperwork. This will help limit face to face interactions. To report a lost or found pet check here.

Owner Surrender: We are accepting owner surrendered pets from Omaha and Sarpy County. If you are not in an emergency situation, and can keep your pet temporarily, we ask you consider keeping your pets for another 15-30 days and surrender at a later date. That will help limit the numbers coming in all at once at a time. For information on surrendering click here. 

Programs:  
Pet Food Pantry is 2-4 pm on Fridays, in the Spay/Neuter Center on the NHS Campus.
Training Classes continue as scheduled--your instructor will contact you with changes.
Summer Camps are happening in July, however we are limiting camp sizes, having children wear masks etc. to conform health department guidelines. Find out more here.
Doggie Playgroups are running but we are limiting numbers allowed on the NHS meadow. More playgroup info here.
Doggie Driveups and Pup-Up Pawties bring NHS fun to you--find out more here! 

Donation Drop Off:
We so appreciate donations of pet food for the pantry, treats, kitty litter and puppy pads! We are also back to taking donations of towels, toys and pet supplies. Our entry doors remain closed to limit the number of people inside, but you are welcome to pop donations into the vestibule area, or give us a jingle and we will gladly accept them inside.
To help us with our greatest needs you can donate online right here.
 

Adoption Process Changes: 

To keep recommended social distancing and avoid long lines and waits at the shelter we are now offering online applications and adoptions by appointment!

1. Check the adoption pages for adoptable dogs, cats or critters. 
2. Click the photos to pull up a pet's profile and see if he or she might be a good match for you. Note their names and i-d numbers. 
3. Fill out an online application which is linked at the bottom of each pet's profile. You can list up to three pets you'd like to meet on any one application (so you don't have to fill out three applications for three dogs). 
4. After you hit submit you should get a screen confirming we have received your application. 
5. We get many applications so you will only be contacted if you are determined to be a match for the animal or animals you selected and if they are still available. 
6. All pets continue to be adopted on a first-come, first-served basis and shown by appointment only, so we cannot guarantee that the animals you requested to meet will still be available at the time we reivew your application. 
7. See adoptable pets here