Illness & Communicable Disease Policy

When Your Pet Should Stay Home

Please do not bring your pet to Our Pup Town if they are experiencing, or have recently experienced, any of the following:

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• Coughing, including a dry, honking, or persistent cough

• Repeated gagging or retching

• Frequent or unexplained sneezing

• Nasal or eye discharge

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea or unusually loose stool

• Fever

• Unusual tiredness, weakness, or lethargy

• Decreased appetite

• Difficulty breathing

• Unexplained skin sores, rashes, or hair loss

• Fleas, lice, mites, or another contagious parasite

• Any other symptom that may indicate a contagious illness

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Pets must also remain home when:

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• A veterinarian has advised that the pet may be contagious

• The pet is awaiting test results for a potentially contagious illness

• The pet has recently been diagnosed with a communicable disease

• Another pet in the household has symptoms of a potentially contagious illness

• The pet has had known close contact with an animal diagnosed with a contagious disease and has not completed the recommended monitoring or isolation period

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Please contact us before your reservation if you are unsure whether it is safe for your pet to attend.

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Respiratory Illness and “Kennel Cough”

“Kennel cough” is a common term for canine infectious respiratory disease complex. It may be caused by several different viruses or bacteria and can spread anywhere dogs gather, including:

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• Daycare and boarding facilities

• Grooming salons

• Veterinary clinics

• Training classes

• Dog parks

• Community events

• Neighborhood playdates

• Other multi-dog environments

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Dogs showing coughing, repeated gagging, frequent sneezing, nasal discharge, fever, unusual fatigue, or other signs of respiratory illness may not enter the facility.

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A dog may not attend simply because the cough seems mild, occurs only occasionally, or has not yet been formally diagnosed. All new or unexplained coughing must be treated as potentially contagious until the concern has resolved or the dog has been evaluated.

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Vaccination Requirements

All pets must remain current on the vaccinations required by Our Pup Town.

Dogs

• Rabies

• Bordetella

• DHPP or DHLPP

Cats

• Rabies

• FVRCP

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Vaccination is an important layer of protection, but it does not guarantee that a pet will never become infected or develop symptoms. Several different organisms can cause respiratory illness, and vaccines are not available for every possible cause.

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Medication and Antibiotics

Being prescribed medication does not automatically mean a pet is no longer contagious.

Pets taking antibiotics or other medication for a potentially contagious illness may not attend unless:

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• The pet meets Our Pup Town’s return requirements

• The prescribing veterinarian confirms that returning to a shared pet environment is appropriate

• Our Pup Town approves the pet’s return

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Our Pup Town may decline to administer medication or accept a pet when symptoms suggest that veterinary supervision or care at home would be more appropriate.

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When Your Pet May Return

Return requirements depend on the pet’s symptoms, diagnosis, veterinary recommendations, and current facility conditions.

 

Vomiting or Diarrhea

Pets must be free of vomiting or diarrhea for at least 48 hours without medication intended to suppress those symptoms.

Fleas or Other Parasites

Pets must be treated and free of visible infestation before returning.

Diagnosed Contagious Illness

Pets must complete the isolation period recommended by their veterinarian and Our Pup Town.

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Respiratory Illness

Pets must be fully recovered and approved by Our Pup Town before returning.

Because respiratory illnesses have different contagious periods, there is no single return timeline that is appropriate for every case. Depending on the illness and circumstances, we may require:

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• Written veterinary clearance

• A specific symptom-free period

• Completion of treatment

• Diagnostic test results

• A longer exclusion period based on the identified illness

• Additional time away when multiple related cases are occurring locally or within the facility

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A veterinarian’s note will be considered, but it does not automatically guarantee readmission. Our Pup Town must also consider the health and safety of the other animals in our care.

Please contact us before making a new reservation or bringing your pet back after a potentially contagious illness.

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If Your Pet Becomes Ill During a Visit

If a pet develops concerning symptoms while at Our Pup Town, we may:

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• Separate the pet from other animals

• Contact the pet parent or emergency contact

• Require prompt pickup

• Contact the pet’s veterinarian

• Seek veterinary care when necessary or authorized

• Limit participation in daycare, group play, or other activities

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Pet parents or emergency contacts must remain reachable and arrange pickup as soon as possible when requested.

The pet parent is responsible for veterinary expenses and other costs related to the pet’s illness or treatment. Charges for services already provided remain due, even when a visit must end early because of illness.

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Reporting Illness After a Visit

Please notify Our Pup Town promptly if your pet develops a potentially contagious illness shortly after attending daycare, boarding, bathing, or another service.

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We may ask for:

• The date symptoms began

• The symptoms your pet is experiencing

• The date of your pet’s most recent visit

• The veterinarian’s diagnosis or recommendations

• Any testing that was performed

• The recommended isolation period

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Reporting an illness does not necessarily mean the pet became infected at Our Pup Town. Pets may be exposed in many different environments, and some illnesses spread before symptoms become visible.

However, prompt reporting helps us monitor other pets, review attendance records, and identify possible patterns.

Client and pet information will be kept private. We will not publicly identify an affected pet or family.

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How Our Pup Town May Respond

Our response will depend on the illness, the number of reports, possible connections among cases, and veterinary guidance.

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Actions may include:

• Reviewing attendance and playgroup records

• Monitoring pets currently in our care

• Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures

• Contacting families whose pets may have had meaningful exposure

• Temporarily adjusting playgroups, reservations, or services

• Requiring veterinary clearance before affected pets return

• Temporarily pausing new admissions

• Consulting with veterinary professionals

• Providing updates as additional information becomes available

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One sick pet does not always mean an outbreak is occurring. However, multiple related reports will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.

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Right to Refuse or Discontinue Services

Our Pup Town reserves the right to:

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• Refuse admission

• Require prompt pickup

• Discontinue services

• Establish additional return requirements

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We may take these steps when we believe a pet could pose a health risk to other animals or staff.

Failure to disclose symptoms, a recent diagnosis, a known exposure, or illness within the household may result in suspension or termination of services.

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A Shared Responsibility

Maintaining a healthy pet care community requires cooperation from everyone.

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Pet parents agree to:

• Keep sick pets home

• Provide accurate and complete health information

• Maintain required vaccinations

• Notify us of possible contagious illness

• Follow veterinary and facility return instructions

• Remain available while their pet is in our care

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We appreciate your help protecting the pets, families, and staff who make up the Our Pup Town community.​