Health & Vaccination Policy
Overview
At Woofur, we promote a natural and healthy approach to caring for animals. Vaccinations, when administered appropriately, is an effective method to guard against life-threatening or life-altering diseases. However, as there is increasing evidence and studies showing over-vaccination is detrimental to an animal’s health, our Health and Vaccinations Policy balances the needs for complying with local by-laws, with the needs of our clients, and the health and well-being of their pets. For these reasons, we encourage parents to research about safer vaccination schedules and consider the practice of titre testing as an alternative to annual vaccinations.
NOTE ON BORDETELLA VACCINE:
Please note that the Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine is NOT a requirement at our facilities and it is NOT recommended. Understand why this vaccine is ineffective and extremely dangerous for your pet’s health. In fact, if your dog has recently received the Bordetella vaccine, we kindly ask that you keep your pet home for 14 days as your dog could be actively shedding the virus after the vaccination had been administered. This also provides time for your dog’s immune system to respond to the vaccine and to safe guard against any potential adverse effects that could affect other dogs in the facility.
For Woofur to render services on your pets, we require your pet to be compliant with our Health and Vaccination Policy as outlined below:
1. Vaccination Requirements
a. Puppies and Kittens under 5 months of age
Proof of DDA2PP (canine) or FVRCP (feline) combination vaccines or boosters. First vaccine is recommended to begin at 12 weeks for a better chance to see increased immune response. Any vaccines given prior to this is too early for your pet as the immune system is too young to produce an antibody response. (See recommendations here from a Holistic Veterinarian. )
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of veterinarian’s invoice or vaccine certificate showing the name of pet and/or owner’s name and the date of inoculation. The date of inoculation should be within the last 5 months
b. Dogs and Cats under the age of 2 years of age
Proof of DDA2PP (canine) or FVRCP (feline) combination vaccines
Proof of Rabies vaccination
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of veterinarian’s invoice or vaccine certificate showing the name of pet and/or owner’s name and the date of inoculation. The date of inoculation should be within the last 18 months (1.5 years)
OR
A valid Rabies Titre
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of a rabies titre test confirming a pet’s immune response is sufficient in protecting against rabies. The date of the rabies titre test should be within the last 12 months (1 year)
c. Dogs and Cats older than 2 years of age
Proof of Rabies vaccination
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of veterinarian’s invoice or rabies vaccine certificate showing the name of pet and/or owner’s name and the date of inoculation. The date of inoculation should be within the last 36 months (3 years)
OR
A valid Rabies Titre
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of a rabies titre test confirming a pet’s immune response is sufficient in protecting against rabies. The date of the rabies titre test should be within the last 12 months (1 year)
d. Senior Dogs and Cats (8 years old or greater)
Proof of Rabies vaccination
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of veterinarian’s invoice or rabies vaccine certificate showing the name of pet and/or owner’s name and the date of inoculation. The date of inoculation should be within the last 36 months (3 years)
OR
A valid Rabies Titre
Acceptable documents: Original hard copy, photocopy or scanned image of a rabies titre test confirming a pet’s immune response is sufficient in protecting against rabies. The date of the rabies titre test should be within the last 12 months (1 year)
OR
A signed vaccine waiver form or a letter from a veterinarian indicating the pet no longer receives vaccinations due to age or other health reasons
2. Communicable Diseases and Ill Pets
For your pets to enter Woofur facilities, they must be free from communicable diseases or having symptoms of communicable disease, such as, but not limited to:
Bordetella* (Kennel Cough)
External parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mange
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms
Fungal infections like ring worm
Upset stomach or diarrhea
Pets with a communicable condition (e.g. coughing or sneezing from a viral or bacterial infection, puppy warts or papilloma virus) or is a female in heat, he/she may not attend Woofur until he/she is fully symptom-free, or has veterinary clearance. If your pet has any of these conditions, or you are not sure, you must notify one of our staff members to discuss potentially rescheduling your appointment.
*NOTE ON BORDETELLA VACCINE:
If your dog has recently received the Bordetella vaccine, we kindly ask that you keep your pet home for 14 days as your dog could be actively shedding the virus after the vaccination had been administered. This also provides time for your dog’s immune system to respond to the vaccine and to safe guard against any potential adverse effects that could affect other dogs in the facility.
3. Senior or Chronically Ill Pets
If your pet is coming to Woofur for the first time and is 10 years of age or older, we would like you to know that pets who are aged, or those who are suffering from a chronic illness, could be susceptible to a higher than normal level of stress, especially when they are placed in a new environment along with other pets, people, and loud noises. Sometimes, the increase in stress may cause latent physical conditions such as heart, liver, and kidney disorders to become active. For these reasons, we require the owners of senior pets to read, understand, and sign our Aged Pet Waiver when they register for services at our facility.