FAIRMONT — Whether you live alone or are confined with your family, the “stay-at-home” order issued by Gov. Tim Walz this week to stem the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic might provide the ideal time to adopt a pet.

“It would be a wonderful time to bond with a new pet,” said Cindilee Connor, president of the Martin County Humane Society.

“We’re still doing pet adoptions, but it’s by appointment only, and people have to have an approved application on file in order to do so, which is a little bit different,” she said. “Usually, people would come to the shelter, look at the animals, decide which one they want and fill out an application. Because we’re closed to the public and don’t have open hours anymore, they have to have an approved application on file.”

The Carl Nettifee Memorial Animal Shelter at 522 E. Margaret St. has been closed to the general public for about two weeks and will remain closed for at least another two weeks.

“We’re following what Gov. Walz put into place, and we’re also just using our own judgment to be responsible,” Connor said.

But people can still view the pets available for adoption by going to www.pawprints.petfinder.com

“We have 12 dogs and almost 30 cats, but this can change every day. That doesn’t count what we have in foster care,” said Connor, adding that the animals range in age from puppies and kitties to adults.

The website also offers an online application which, when completed, is emailed directly to the Humane Society.

“We contact them when their application is approved, and then we set up a time,” Connor said. “They can’t just call first. They have to have an approved application on file, and then it’s by appointment only.

“We space out appointments so not more than one family is here at a time. We practice the six-foot rule of social distancing.”

Because of the shelter’s closure to the public, volunteers are no longer allowed to play with the animals or walk the dogs, but the pets are absolutely not being neglected.

“We have two full-time and four part-time employees that are taking care of the animals,” Connor said. “We are very fortunate. We have a stellar group of workers who are very dedicated to the animals. They are doing everything that they possibly can to make sure that the animals stay happy and well.”

There have been some animal shelters in the country that have experienced people dropping off pets in the mistaken belief that the virus can be transmitted from dogs and cats to humans.

“That is a myth,” Connor said.

Her statement is backed up by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control, which last week stated there is no evidence that animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19.