Pet Cleaning Protocol for Animal Shelters

After careful consideration, you decided to find a dog to add to the family. You did your research and you know what breeds you’re looking for, so it’s time to go see who needs a home!

According to The Humane Society, there are about 3500 animal shelters in the United States. You’re sure to find your forever friend in a nearby shelter!

When you’re walking up and down the rows of kennels, you notice how clean everything is! But, do you know how they keep everything sanitary? Keep reading to learn the proper cleaning protocol for animal shelters.

What Products Should You Use?

When you go to clean areas that animals live in, you want to make sure the cleaning products won’t poison the animals. These are some of the kinds of animal shelter cleaning products you should use.

Detergent

Using a gentle dish soap like Dawn is one of the best ways to clean hard surfaces in the shelter. You can add some soap to a bucket of warm water to make a handy cleaning solution.

Degreaser

For stubborn stains and greasy messes, you’ll need something a little stronger than dish soap. Degreaser can tackle those tough messes and remove any sticky grime. Make sure to find a pet-safe formula or you’ll also need to wipe the area down to remove any residual chemicals.

Disinfectant

It’s not enough to make the area look clean, you’ll also need to sanitize the area. Using a veterinary disinfectant like KennelSol Germicidal Cleaner & Deodorant sanitizes and leaves a pleasant scent without harming any animals in the shelter.

Animal Shelter Cleaning Protocol Example

The first step is to remove any movable items from the area you’re cleaning. Bedding, toys, and any organic waste should not remain in the kennel during the cleaning process. Be sure to clean and sanitize the bedding and toys before replacing them.

Once you clear the area, use the detergent solution to wipe down all the walls and surfaces. Make sure to clean from the floor to the ceiling, even if the pets can’t reach that high. If you need to, use a degreaser on any tough stains.

Then, use the veterinary-grade disinfectant to go back over the whole area again. Let the disinfectant dry all the way before putting anything back, including the animals.

Rescue Your Next Forever Friend Today!

Some people get paid to help take care of shelter animals and some volunteer their time. But, paid or not, these workers go through huge efforts to care for the animals in the shelter.

Since shelters care for both sick and healthy animals, keeping everything clean and sanitary is crucial! That’s why they always follow a strict cleaning routine.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned all about proper cleaning protocol for animal shelters. For more informative articles about pets, vets, and much more, check out the rest of our blog today!