How things change. 

In a way, our vaccine policy is based off of our policy for dogs. We have always required dogs - especially puppies with their weak little immune systems - to be vaccinated for the deadlier dog diseases, namely parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus. We're rational about it - we don't care about rabies because domestic dogs in BC don't tend to get rabies, and we consider titre testing or simply a long history of regular vaccination in a now-elderly dog to be quite good enough. 

But we do require it because we've seen viruses kill, and we're in the business of improving dog lives, not ending them. Our clients trust us to keep their dogs safe and that means we don't intend to create vet bills when we visit. 

Now we must discuss this same policy with regards to people.

We do require proof of vaccination if you wish to continue in-person appointments with us unless (and this is important!) your doctor says it is not a good idea for you to be vaccinated.

Why? Because our clients trust us to keep them safe, and their dogs trust us not to endanger their beloved guardians lives.

We are big fans of challenging immune systems with fake virus instead of real virus, even if challenging the immune system is always a tad risky. We're delighted that the new mRNA vaccines can train our system to fight off covid without introducing actual virus into our bodies, which was a real down side to traditional vaccines. 

But we work with disabled folk and many of our clients are immunocompromised. Most of them still got vaccinated, but did so knowing the vaccine might not be enough - that they might still get sick if they encounter COVID in the wild - especially Delta plus or any of the other strains (apparently we're up to Mu now??).

For other people with disordered immune systems, any challenge to the immune system could be a health risk for them.

If your immune system wouldn't benefit from a vaccine, then that's IMPORTANT and your immunologist definitely knows better than your dog trainers do regarding YOUR life and what's best for you.

We are vaccinated because we preferred to take the risk of challenging our own immune system to protect the people around us - especially our vulnerable clients - whose immune systems are less likely to rise to meet that challenge.

We have clients with multiple sclerosis. Diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Cancer. Organ transplants. Cystic fibrosis. ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and more.

We will fight for them and protect them, including with our own bodies by taking on the risks of vaccination.

We accept that risk.

We will not risk meeting with an unvaccinated person whose strong immune system could result in their being infected but asymptomatic, because we could become vectors of death to our vulnerable clients, and we will not accept that risk.

We believe that all of you must make the decisions that feel right for your bodies, your families, your health, and your personal beliefs.

And we believe you will understand why we must do the same.