APLB Host Chat Room Rules
- Be considerate, empathetic and respectful to chatters and each other. We don’t allow inflammatory, racist, sexist, offensive, transphobic, homophobic, etc. posts in the chatroom. Posting impacts about abuse to animals is allowed if it is part of the visitor’s grief.
- Do not allow unsupportive content, including targeting or attacking others in the group. Disagreements may happen, but always maintain a respectful tone and try to move the conversation forward in an on-topic, constructive way. Sometimes this means to agree to disagree.
- Do not give medical advice. Medication and drug names may be shared, but do not give advice about giving a pet specific medications. If the pet dies as a result of your suggestion, the APLB could be sued.
- Keep chatters focused on pet loss and bereavement. The chatroom is not a social hangout.
- Do not let chatters talk about personal issues. It is disruptive and can cause others to feel ignored or disrespected.
- Avoid posting long messages. Encourage chatters to keep posts to no more than four sentences to keep them focused, and to make it easy for them to participate.
- When giving advice to a chat visitor, ALWAYS explain why you are giving it. Otherwise, it may be confusing and/or disappointing and they may end up leaving before they get the assistance they came for.
- Refrain from using “I” statements when giving advice. Instead of saying, “This is what I would do…” you can say, “Some people find it helpful to try, or “In our experience we see, or find that. …”
- When closing the Chat Room for the evening, turn on ADMIN mode and leave this message: The Chat Room is now closed. The next scheduled chat is [specify date, specify time]. If you need to contact us before then, please use the After Hours Support button below. National Suicide Hotline is 1.800.273.8255.
- Be on time for a chat unless an unforeseen situation arises. If you are going to be late, notify your team members ASAP. Evening chat starts at 8 pm, Eastern time, and you are expected to be in chat shortly before that time. Sunday afternoon chat starts at 2 pm, Eastern time.
Banning a Chatter
- If a chatter has been given 3 warnings about their behavior in a chat session and they need to be banned, you have administrative rights to ban that person/s (use ban, not disconnect). The person/s will be banned for one month.
- Advise the Chat Team about the ban through the CD. Turn the chatter’s row purple and add “Banned until mm/dd/yy” next to the chatter’s name.
- Hosts can find out who is banned and when the ban expires by checking the CD.
- If the banned person enters the Chat Room during a ban, advise them through a personal message that they are banned and eject them.
- If a person returns from a ban and exhibits the same behaviour, they are to be banned permanently. One warning is enough. Make note of their ban on the CD.
The APLB disclaims any and all legal liability for anything that takes place in these chatrooms, or as a result of them. The service we offer is intended to be short term. If you do not accept our guidance, or are unable to do so, we will suggest that you seek psychological counseling by a licensed professional. Despite the highly trained and experienced supervision, our chat rooms are not a replacement for licensed counseling service. No fees are charged and all legal liability is disclaimed.
APLB Chat Room Schedule
Topic – Pet Loss Grief Support
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8pm – 10pm ET
Sun: 2pm – 4pm ET
Topic – Anticipatory Grief Support
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month: 8pm – 9:30pm ET
By entering our Chat Room you agree to accept and uphold the terms and conditions and to abide by the Chat Room Rules as listed above.
