As we are all settling into our new routines, we wanted to reach out to you to assure you that we are still here to care for your four-legged family members. We are continuously monitoring the current conditions and adjusting our protocols to keep our employees and clients healthy while still providing the exceptional patient care that you have always known and loved.
Most of you have been following the updates throughout the past two weeks and have been following the rapid shifts in protocols. Along with all of you, we too have settled into our new routine.
Essential Business
Veterinary clinics are considered essential businesses under the stay-at-home order in Minnesota. However, we have been asked to limit our services to only those services that are immediately essential. We are defining this as appointments for ill, sick, or injured pets; hospice and palliative care consultations; euthanasias; health certificates for necessary travel; essential laboratory testing; or time-sensitive visits including but not limited to puppy or kitten core vaccine boosters or scheduled medical injections. We will continue to perform urgent surgical and dental procedures as they arise. As veterinary personnel, we are trained in infectious disease management, and it is our ethical and professional obligation to do our part to keep everyone healthy.
You will continue to receive reminders for your pets’ routine services at the time that they are due. Please mark your calendars to reach out to us as restrictions are lifted to schedule these important visits for your pets. While vaccines, routine laboratory testing, and wellness examinations are not considered immediately urgent, they are essential for the long-term health and well being of your loved ones.
Revised Schedule
With the need for distancing between employees and limiting the number of individuals within the building, we have made necessary adjustments to our schedule. We will be closed on all Saturdays in April (April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th). We will continue to be open Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Throughout April, we will only have two doctors on duty each day and a limited support staff. Thank you so much for your patience as we balance providing excellent care for our patients with managing high volumes of phone calls, emails, and medication refill requests during these unusual times.
Appointments
If you are experiencing any signs of illness, have been exposed to anyone who has been ill, or have traveled recently, please inform our team at the time of scheduling. We may discuss a telemedicine consultation via phone or video in lieu of a visit to our facility. If it is necessary for us to see your pet, our team needs to know so that we may take the appropriate precautions with masks and gloves for our own health and safety. While pets are not affected by the virus, their carriers, leashes, and even their own fur may serve as a source of exposure.
For those patients who have appointments during this time, we are only offering curbside service. Clients will not be allowed into the building with the exception of euthanasia appointments on a case-by-case basis.
- We will email you a history form to complete prior to your appointment. This will provide us with the information we need to give your pet the best care. Please send this to us via email in advance. Alternatively, we will go over your answers via phone upon your arrival. We will no longer take the paper version from you.
- When you arrive, please call us at (651) 645-2808 or text us at (651) 998-7133. It is helpful to provide us with your car’s make, model, and color so that we can find you easily.
Important: Our texting capability is only for curbside check in. Do not contact us via text for any other matters.
- A veterinary assistant or technician will review your history form, discuss your goals for the visit, and bring your pet into the building. A number will be placed on your windshield and on your pet’s chart.
Please provide the phone number that you are reachable at in your car.
It is absolutely necessary for your pet to be in a carrier or on a leash with a properly fitting collar. Your pet may be uncertain about what is happening, and we all need to work together to make sure that no pet escapes from a vehicle or slips out of a poorly fitting collar. We may add a slip leash for your dog for added protection. For fearful dogs, we may need your assistance to get him or her to the front door.
- We will not obtain signatures for release forms (i.e. drop offs, sedation/anesthesia). We will note verbal authorization on these legal forms when we obtain verbal consent from you.
- Once in the building, the doctor will perform an examination and any pre-authorized procedures or treatments. If additional conversation is necessary, we will call you.
- We will obtain payment from you via phone. As always, we also accept cash or checks. You are not required to sign credit card slips.
- We will return to your car with your pet along with your medications, preventatives, products, and discharge instructions. If desired, you may request to have documents emailed to you instead.
- If your pet is fearful, aggressive, or does not do well without you present, please discuss this with us at the time of scheduling so that we can discuss options.
- Please note that all acupuncture and laser appointments will be cared for at the main St Francis location, not St Francis Integrative Services, until further notice.
Medications, Pet Food, and Other Products
As noted above, you will not be allowed to enter the building to retrieve your pet’s medications, food, or other products.
- Please call ahead at least 48 to 72 hours in advance for all medications, pet food, or products. This will allow us adequate time to have everything ready for you.
- When you arrive, call us at (651) 645-2808 or text us at (651) 998-7133. It is helpful to provide us with your car’s make, model, and color so that we can find you easily.
- We will obtain payment from you via phone. As always, we also accept cash or checks. You are not required to sign credit card slips.
- We will bring everything to your car for you. If possible, please provide a means for our staff to place these items in your trunk, back seat or passenger seat to avoid close contact. Alternatively, you may ask our staff to place these items on the sidewalk for you to retrieve.
More than ever, we ask you to support your local independently-owned small businesses. Please consider stocking up on your pets’ spring heartworm and flea/tick preventatives by purchasing from St Francis or from our online store instead of a large warehouse like Chewy or PetMeds. Your purchases will help sustain our business and support our employees.
If you have not yet utilized our online store, visit www.stfrancisanimalandbird.com and click on Vetsource Online Store. For first-time users, you may enter either HURRAY25 or AWESOME25 for a discount off of your first order. Items will be billed and shipped to your home, but purchases will still partially benefit St Francis. This is an excellent option for ordering medications and pet food from the safety of your own home.
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We know that this is a time of uncertainty for all of us, and we are here to provide the stability you need in knowing that your pets will be well cared for. Please continue to visit our website, social media channels, and PetDesk for additional information as this situation continues to unfold. If you have any questions, you may reach out to us via phone (651-645-2808) or email (group@stfrancisabh.com) at any time.
Thank you to all of you. We are ever grateful for your ongoing support and partnership. Thinking of you and wishing everyone good health!
Sincerely,
The Doctors and Staff at St Francis Animal Hospital