Biosecurity & Visitor Policy

Stokeshire Designer Doodles – Medford, Wisconsin

Protecting puppies, adult dogs, families, and team members through thoughtful visitor guidelines and disease-prevention practices.

1. Purpose

The goal of this Biosecurity & Visitor Policy is to reduce the risk of infectious disease entering or spreading within our program. Because puppies and pregnant or nursing mothers are especially vulnerable, all visits to Stokeshire are planned, controlled, and documented.

By scheduling visits in advance, screening visitors, and limiting access to high-risk areas, we help protect everyone’s future family member and honor the investment of every Stokeshire family on our waitlist.

2. Visitor Scheduling & Screening

  • By appointment only: We do not allow unscheduled walk-ins. All visits are arranged in advance via email, text, or our online booking link.
  • Health & exposure questions: Before confirming a visit, we ask about recent illness in household pets, shelter or dog-park visits, boarding stays, or exposure to contagious disease.
  • Limited group size: To keep dogs calm and safe, we may limit the number of people per family and the total number of visitors on site at one time.
  • Age-appropriate access: Young children are welcome with close adult supervision and may have restricted access to certain areas for their safety and for the comfort of the dogs.

3. Arrival, Hygiene & Clothing

  • No outside pets: For biosecurity reasons, we cannot allow visitors to bring their own animals onto the property or into the kennel.
  • Clean clothing & footwear: We ask guests to avoid visiting dog parks, shelters, boarding facilities, or pet stores in the 24 hours before their appointment, and to wear clean clothes and shoes that have not been in high-risk environments.
  • Hand hygiene: Hand-washing or use of sanitizer is required when entering the building and before handling any puppies or adult dogs.
  • Boot covers or disinfection mats: At our discretion, visitors may be asked to step on disinfection mats or wear disposable boot covers when entering sensitive areas.

4. Facility Zones & Restricted Areas

For both welfare and disease-prevention reasons, different areas of the kennel have different access levels:

  • Lobby / meeting areas: Primary space for greeting families, reviewing information, and, when appropriate, interacting with adult dogs or older puppies.
  • Training hall / playrooms: Access may be granted during scheduled selection days or training demos, with staff supervision.
  • Whelping & nursery rooms: Access is extremely limited. In most cases, these rooms are for staff only to protect neonatal puppies and nursing moms.
  • Staff-only zones: Storage, laundry, isolation, and medical prep areas are closed to visitors.

5. Illness, Isolation & Post-Visit Care

  • Rescheduling when sick: If anyone in your household or your pets are ill or have been exposed to a contagious disease, we ask that you contact us to reschedule. Your deposit and place in line are never harmed by choosing to be honest and cautious.
  • On-site illness: If a dog at Stokeshire shows concerning symptoms, that dog is moved to isolation and visit plans may change to protect puppies and other dogs.
  • Enhanced cleaning: After visits, high-touch surfaces, floors in contact areas, and any used equipment are cleaned and disinfected using veterinarian-approved products.

7. Policy Updates

Because disease trends, veterinary guidance, and regulations can change, this policy may be updated periodically. The most current version is posted on our website and referenced in our online application and deposit forms. Continued engagement with Stokeshire (including submitting payments or scheduling visits) indicates acceptance of the most recent version of this policy.