Should I give up these two dog walks?

[Honeysucklecastle]

I have two part time jobs, one as a PA for a disabled lady. Her family are now looking after her so this job is on hold. The other job I do is as a dog walker. One is for a 90 year old lady who obviously has to stay in, I walk her dog every morning. The other is for a man who is a Tesco delivery driver, I walk his dogs twice a week. I also have my own dog and 2 dc so need to walk with them each day. I don’t want to over the one walk a day restriction if I don’t need to.
So here is my dilemma, I notice on my local Spotted group that a local dog walker has posted she is giving up all of her dog walking for the time being as she is afraid of catching the virus and also because she doesn’t she the walking is essential work.
I am doing everything I can to help with my part to control this virus. Apart from walking my dog once a day in open fields (no one about) and walking these other two dogs I am staying at home with dc.
Would these dog walks be classed as essential work? Should I give them up? The Tesco delivery driver would be able to walk the dogs himself but the 90 year olds dog wouldn’t be able to get a walk without me doing so.
Should I give them up now? I really don’t know what to do!

Other people may well disagree with me but I think you're fine to continue provided you adhere to distancing rules. You're helping a vulnerable person and her dog and someone doing essential work.

You're working. You can't do it from home. So I think it's fine to keep going as long as you observe social distancing, including from the 90yo lady when you drop her dog back off.

I would definitely keep walking the 90 year old’s dog if she wants you to keep doing so. You are still allowed to go out to work if you can’t work from home in jobs in which you can maintain social distancing.

rookiemere thanks. I really don’t want to let these two people down. The Tesco worker lives near fields and I very rarely see anyone on our walks. The 90 year old is in a village and I walk around the village but as soon as I see anyone I cross the road so completely keep my distance (much more than 2 meters).

I think it sounds fine.

Thanks all. I am distancing myself from the 90 year old, used to go in for a long chat each day but now she brings the dog to the door. Feel I can’t abandon her as she has no family and is very scared.

Should have said I don’t want to abandon her.

I'm sure the 90 year old very much looks forward to chatting with you - my octogenarian DPs are finding it hard and they've got each other or maybe that's part of the problem.

Keep talking to her - provided you're keeping 2 m apart it's fine - this is a scary time for all of us particularly the elderly.

Keep doing what you're doing.

No it can't be counted as essential work.
You could walk the 90 year old's dog, without charging though if they're not able to do it themselves.
Our local voluntary group is asking for people to walk dogs for the elderly who can't go out.

@slartibarti that’s not correct.

A. Work can continue if can’t be done from home and social distancing

B. If the woman’s dog needs to be walked by volunteers then it would appear to be essential anyway!

Yes not sure why OP cannot continue to be paid by her employer as she is still in effect working for her. We know nothing about OPs finances, but I would assume that like everyone else she needs money to survive.

You are helping a vulnerable person. I think you can continue.

It's fine. I don't know why people have the idea that you can only go out for 'essential' work. That hasn't been said. If you can't work from home you can go out to work, whatever your job is.

I’d carry on .

i'd keep going. if you maintain your social distance and clean up when you get home the risk is minuscule.

Sounds like the Tesco worker could walk their own dog, but please continue to help the old lady.

She needs the contact, som someone knows if she runs out of food, gets ill or needs other help

Thanks all. I will most definitely carry on with my old lady as I do worry about her anyhow and wouldn’t abandon her. My have to give up the other one though.

It's fine. People are allowed to work, it doesn't have to be essential as long as they are not close to others.

It's fine, check the legislation