Emergency Plan

This Plan has been produced in recognition of the importance of operating effective contingencies for dealing with foreseeable emergencies such as fire, loss of power, loss of heat, extreme weather (hot and cold) and widespread disease outbreak. This plan will considers dealing with evacuation and shelter contingencies for dogs at [premises].

Fire Safety

Smoke detectors are located in the hall and on the upstairs landing.

Upon discovering a fire, the member of staff will immediately sound the alarm.

All dogs will be put on a lead. Leads are kept in the utility room. We will wait with all dogs outside of 14 Moorfield Lane. If possible dogs will be placed in our transport van, which holds 7 dogs. 

The dogs will only be returned to the house when it is safe to do so. Dogs that can no longer be accommodated due to damage shall be transferred to another Licensed Dog Boarding establishment forthwith.

Fire drills are undertaken twice per year, one shall involve the removal of all dogs from the house.

Carbon Dioxide

There is no gas located at the property. All central heating and hot water is provided by electricity.

Loss of Power

Emergency torches are located in the cupboard under the stairs and in the front bedroom. The torches are tested monthly to ensure the batteries are working. 

In the event of a power loss the power company will be called to ascertain when the power is likely to be returned. If the power is likely to be off for more than 24 hours then consideration to hiring a generator shall be made. 

Loss of power in winter is likely to lead to loss of heating, so the loss of heating plan shall be followed. Alternatively, if the power cannot be restored via main or generator then arrangements to board the dogs in nearby Licensed boarding establishments will be made. 

Emergency contacts for all boarded animals shall be kept ‘on the cloud’ so they can be accessed remotely or on a ‘grab sheet’ in the kitchen.

Loss of Heating 

In winter the loss of heating could be serious. Ensure all doors and windows are closed prevent any dogs entering the outside areas and to prevent the unnecessary loss of heat. See scenario for loss of power. 

Consider providing alternative heating arrangements such as gas heaters. Before gas or solid fuel appliances are used a thorough risk assessment will be performed considering fire, burns and potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Only heaters approved for indoor use shall be used. Alternatively, if the temperature cannot be safely maintained above 10°C arrangements to board the dogs in nearby Licensed boarding establishments will be made.

Extreme Weather Conditions 

Heat: Fans are provided, and escape proof windows can be opened to help with the air flow. In the unlikely event that the temperature cannot be maintained below 26°C air conditioning units will be hired to lower the indoor temperatures. 

Dog walks will be limited to the coolest part of the day (early mornings & late evenings) and dogs will not be encouraged to be active when it is hot.

Regular replenishment of cool drinking water will be undertaken. Wet cool towels will be provided for dogs to lie on and a padding pool will be provided in the shaded area of the garden. 

Cold: If the current system cannot maintain the temperature above 10°C supplementary heating electric or gas heating will be provided. Before electric or gas appliances are used a through risk assessment will be performed considering fire, burns and potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Only heaters approved for indoor use shall be used. 

Damage to buildings: In extreme weather the dogs shall be restricted to indoors only. In the event that the house is damaged (e.g. falling trees, roofs missing significant tiles or flat roof come away) arrangements to board dogs in nearby Licensed boarding establishments will be made if there is no longer sufficient suitable safe accommodation at Happy Hounds. Efforts should be made to capture any dogs that have escaped, but only if safe for the staff to do so.

Loss of Water 

In the event that there is a loss of water the utility company will be contacted to determine how long Happy Hounds will remain without water. If it is to be no longer than 24 hours, then sufficient water bottles will be purchased from a local shop to ensure the dogs are supplied with fresh drinking water. Sufficient water for handwashing and spot cleaning should also be purchased. (Note sanitiser is not a suitable alternative to handwashing but can help to reduce the bacteria and viral loading on a person’s clean hands). 

If the premises are to be without water for longer than 24 hours then it becomes difficult to deep clean, use washing machines and maintain hygiene standards. In this case dogs will be placed with other Licensed Dog Boarding premises until the water supply is re-established. When the water supply is re-established then the premises will be deep cleaned.

Feeding Regimes 

At Happy Hounds we provide fresh water for each dog on a daily basis in separate water bowls. 

Water will be changed once daily or sooner if visibly soiled/contaminated. Water bowls are kept separate from food bowls and positioned in several areas around the kitchen to allow all dogs to access water. 

When dogs are confined to their designated rooms a water bowl will be provided in that room. 

All dogs will be fed separately unless the owner has given permission for them to be fed together with other dogs. 

Dogs that show signs of aggression when fed shall be fed separately. 

All dogs will be fed at least one meal per day, unless advised differently by their owner or Vet. 

We will work with the owner to ensure their dog’s dietary requirements and eating habits are met. 

Food intake will be monitored on a daily basis and veterinary advice sought if a dog has not eaten for 24 hours.

Cleaning Regime 

At Happy Hounds we recognise that cleaning and disinfection are important to help prevent the spread of infectious disease. The house and designated rooms are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected following departure of any dogs. We use a pet-safe disinfectant and cleaners. Each designated room is checked and cleaned daily as necessary. Soiled toys or bedding materials will be removed and cleaned and disinfected. Water and feed bowls are emptied and cleaned daily. 

Cleaning Procedures 

Daily cleaning tasks:

1. The designated rooms will be hoovered to remove debris such as dog fur. Smooth floors (tiles, lino etc) will be moped. Carpeted rooms will be spot cleaned if there is soiling. 

2. Clean food and water bowls in hot, soapy water. Throw away broken or damaged bowls. Refill food and water bowls. 

3. Dog beds/crates will be checked for soiling. 

4. Use hot, soapy water and paper towel to spot-clean the designated room. Pay special attention to scrub vomit, faeces, mud, etc. 

5. All communal areas will be moped and disinfected daily. 

6. Wash all cleaning instruments by dunking and agitating in a bucket of hot, soapy water. Disinfect all cleaning instruments after cleaning, Allow all cleaning instruments to air dry. 

7. Clean sink area by wiping down with hot soapy water. Disinfect sink area by spraying with disinfectant.

Deep cleaning designated rooms; between different dogs or weekly:

1. If not vacant remove dog from designated room. 

2. Remove all bedding, toys, and dishes from the room. 

3. Wash in warm soapy water then disinfect all dishes, toys, crates and dog beds. 

4. Vacuum and/or sweep the room. 

5. Soft furnishings such as carpets, sofas, cushions, rugs will be mister sprayed with disinfectant spray.

6. Soft dog bedding, blankets and towels etc will be washed on a hot wash. 

7. Allow disinfectant to remain on the surfaces for the time specified in the manufacturer’s instructions (most require several minutes to be effective). Wash off the disinfectant (unless the instructions advice otherwise). 

8. All cleaning equipment will be cleaned with detergent and hot water and then disinfected. 

9. Carpets and soft furnishing may need to be shampooed if heavily soiled. 

Cleaning other areas: 

1. The kitchen will be swept and moped daily with dog friendly disinfectant. All kitchen units will be wiped down with warm soapy water and then wiped down with dog friendly disinfectant

2. The garden will be inspected daily for dog faeces, urine and vomit. Dog faeces will be removed forthwith. Dog vomit, urine and poorly formed stools will be rinsed away and the area treated with disinfectant where necessary. 

Happy Hounds Vehicles

1. All vehicles will be cleaned with hot water and soap and disinfected daily (If used). 

2. If a dog soils the vehicle, the vehicle will be cleaned and disinfected before being used again.

Transportation

Happy Hounds vehicles include a Peugeot Partner van. Dogs can be transported to and from an owners home, to a place for daily exercise and to or from the vets. 

Dogs will be placed in a secure dog crate to ensure their safety. 

Dogs will only be transported for a maximum of 1hour and all long journeys will be planned in advance to minimise delays due to traffic. 

Sufficient drinking water will be carried for the dogs when transported and being exercised away from the home. 

Sufficient cleaning materials will be kept in the vehicle to deal with soiling when away from the home. 

Dogs will not be transported in the vehicle in extremely hot or cold weather, unless in an emergency. The vehicle will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected according to the cleaning regime.

The prevention of, and control of the spread, of disease. 

Ill Health 

No animal suffering from, or suspected to be suffering from, any infectious or contagious disease can be accepted. 

Happy Hounds will refuse admission to any animal showing signs of ill health pending advice from a Vet. 

Daily observations are made to check if any dogs are showing signs of illness. Should an animal in our care show signs of suffering from an infectious or contagious disease they will be immediately transferred to the isolation facilities or our Vet (Vets 4 Pets, Burscough) who provide isolation facilities. The dog will be treated according to the agreements in the consent form. 

The home and vehicles are cleaned according to the cleaning regime.

Vaccinations

An up-to-date vaccination card must accompany all dogs. 

It is compulsory that all dogs must be vaccinated against: 

· canine parvovirus 

· canine distemper 

· infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus) 

· leptospirosis 

At Happy Hounds we also ask that dogs are vaccinated against: 

· bordetella bronchiseptica 

· canine parainfluenza virus

Fleas and Worming 

It is Happy Hounds policy to ask all clients to worm and flea treat their dogs within 1 week prior to boarding for their own well-being. If there is evidence of fleas, lice, ticks or worms whilst they are staying with us, we will contact the clients vets to arrange treatment. The cost of any treatment will be invoiced to the client. 

Handwashing

1. Staff will wash their hands when they start work, before interacting with any dogs. 

2. Staff will wash their hands in the dedicated hand wash sinks after interacting with dogs. 

3. Staff will wash their hands after undertaking any cleaning jobs. 

4. Handwipes and sanitiser will be provided for staff when they are walking dogs away from the home. 

5. A clean hand drying towel will be provided daily or more frequently if soiled.

Infection Control for dogs in Isolation 

A dog showing signs of an infectious disease will be placed in the bathroom. This room has smooth floors and wipeable surfaces for easy cleaning and infection control. Fabric items will be removed from the room except for the dogs bed or blankets, which can be easily washed in the washing machine. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn by all staff and visitors (owners/vets etc) entering the bathroom that is housing a potentially infectious dog. At a minimum, this consists of disposable gloves, disposable apron and impermeable shoe covers that are only worn in the isolation area. Gloves, apron and shoe covers must be discarded after a single use. Designated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be removed before leaving the bathroom.

Contaminated items (e.g., dishes, toys and laundry) must be bagged prior to being removed from the isolation area, to be cleaned and disinfected, or disposed of. Waste from an isolation room must be treated as infectious and must be bagged prior to being removed from the isolation area. Bags should then immediately be discarded in the external bins. 

Hands must be washed immediately after leaving isolation. If clothing becomes soiled then it must be changed and washed before the staff member interacts with other dogs, to avoid spreading any potential disease. 

Happy Hounds also has an agreement with Burscough Vets 4 Pets for them to act as an isolation facility and house sick dogs whilst they are treated.

Monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all Dogs 

The health, safety and welfare of our resident dogs is the top priority at Happy Hounds.

Dogs are checked continuously throughout the day and interactions with each dog are recorded on the daily record sheet. 

1. Check to ensure that the dogs are feeding and drinking normally, 

2. Undertake a health check as agreed with the owner 

3. 1st Daily Dog Walk 

4. 2nd Daily Dog Walk 

5. Access to external garden for at least 20 minutes 

6. Dog is defecating and urinating & behaving normally.

If there is concern for the health or safety of a dog more frequent observations maybe undertaken and recorded separately to the daily observation sheet. The date and time of every check should be listed, and notes made on the observations (temperament, behaviour, vomit, diarrhoea, lethargy etc) and the decisions made on next steps e.g., make further observations in an hour, move to isolation, contact a vet. 

Enrichment

Enrichment activities are essential for a dog’s mental wellbeing. Daily enrichment for dogs will be undertaken which is tailored the individual dog’s needs. 

This includes; 

· Human interactions such as ‘play time’ or grooming activities 

· Interactions with other dogs 

· Two 30 minutes walks per day (as a minimum!) 

· Opportunity to spend time in the garden

· Puzzle feeders 

· Access to a variety of dog toys 

Veterinary Interventions 

If Happy Hounds believes the dog requires treatment by a vet we will first try to contact the owners or the owner’s local proxy, except in emergencies. 

Happy Hounds will always endeavour to take the dog to it’s usual vet, but if that is not possible it will be taken to Burscough Vets 4 Pets. 

If expensive treatments and investigations are required Happy Hounds will again try to make contact with dogs’ owner or owner’s local proxy. If the owner or proxy cannot be contacted Happy Hounds will take advice from the Vet and make the decisions based on the health and welfare of the dog. If euthanasia is recommended, on humane grounds by the Vet, Happy Hounds will try to contact the owner or proxy however Happy Hounds will not unnecessarily prolong the suffering of dog.

Medicines

Happy Hounds will administer all medicines according to the instructions of the owner or Vet. 

All medication is stored safely in the medicine tin in the upper kitchen cupboard.

New Dogs 

All new dogs are closely monitored, especially in the first 48hours to ensure they are enjoying their stay. 

When mixing dogs from different households, a supervised trial session of new dogs will take place to introduce the new dogs to each other. This will be recorded, including which dogs have mixed and the relevant behaviours. Any dogs which display aggression towards others will not be accepted for boarding.

Daily Records Sheet 

Daily records are kept to demonstrate: 

1. That the dogs are feeding and drinking normally, 

2. The health check as agreed with the owner, has been undertaken 

3. They have had their 1st Daily Dog Walk away from the home 

4. They have had their 2nd Daily Dog Walk away from the home. 

5. They have had access to external garden for at least 30 minutes 

6. Dog is defecating and urinating normally 

7. The dog is behaving normally and not showing signs of stress or ill health.

The death or escape of a dog 

Escape of a Dog 

Every effort is made to ensure that the home is secure, and dogs cannot escape. 

All boarding dogs must wear a collar at all times. Happy Hounds will attach to the collar a tag with the premises name, address, phone number and name of licensee. 

In the unlikely event that a dog does escape the following procedure will be followed:

1. Staff will make an immediate search of the Happy Hounds premises and grounds. 

2. The Dog Warden Service will be contacted to see if the dog has been handed in and details of the dog left with them to make contact if the dog is found. 

3. The local RSPCA will be contacted to see if the dog has been handed in and details of the dog left with them to make contact if the dog is found. 

4. Local Vets will also be contacted to see if a dog has come to their attention. 

5. The owner and local proxy will be contacted and kept informed of the situation, if possible, the home address will be checked by the local proxy, or member of staff, in case the dog has returned home. 

6. Posters will be placed, and local streets searched. 

7. Social media posts will be utilised asking local residents etc to share a photograph of the dog and report any sightings to Happy Hounds.

8. A thorough investigation will be undertaken into the circumstances of the escape and procedures implemented to prevent a similar occurrence. The Incident Investigation Form will be completed.

Death of a Dog 

In the unlikely event of a death of a dog the following procedures will be followed. 

1. The dog will be removed from the home and taken to Happy Hounds nominated Vet. 
2. The Vet will be asked to determine the cause of death. 
3. The owner and/or local proxy will be contacted at the earliest opportunity to inform them of the death. 
4. The dogs body will be stored at the Vets until the owner is able to collect the body, or gives instructions for the dogs disposal. 
5. An Incident Investigation form will be completed.

Happy Hounds Incident Investigation Form 

This form should be completed when an unusual or unexpected event occurs, such as the escape of a dog, injury to a dog or death of a dog. It should also be completed after an emergency situation such as loss of power or water. 

Briefly describe the incident; Consider who, what, where, when and how. 

Identify the root causes of the incident: This should help you determine the causes behind the incident. 

Think beyond the obvious. Are the procedures adequate?

Procedures to follow in the case of the suspension or revocation of a licence

If the License is suspended or revoked by the Licensing Authority, then Happy Hounds is no longer allowed to board dogs. Arrangements will be made to place any dogs in local licensed dog boarding establishments within 24 hours. West Lancashire Council will be informed when all dogs have been placed. All dog owners or their local proxy will be informed of the name, address and contact details of the dog boarding establishment that is now caring for their dog. In the unlikely event that the dog is unable to be placed with a licensed animal boarding establishment, the local proxy will be contacted to care for the animal.