Should dog groomers be working?

[EloiseTheFirst]

I refer to discussion on a previous thread that says you should work from home, unless that's not possible.

But my dog groomers (salon) has been closed since lockdown.

They told me the dog grooming association said they couldn't open because it's "non-essential".

Now they could easily deal with clients outside at 2m distance. Take dog in and return to customer outside. So no breach of social distancing.

My dog is in a right state and I would argue if it goes on much longer, her fur will be so thick it will become a welfare issue.

So what's the general consensus? Should they be open or not?

[puffinandkoala]

I think there has been a fundamental misunderstanding of the rules, which may have arisen from unclear guidance at the beginning (ha ha).

I've mentioned this before but my friend who is a plumber says he will replace my radiator if it is leaking, but not if I just want a new radiator, as the first is essential and the second isn't. That is up to him, and I'm not in any rush but I think he's wrong about what he can do.

I would have thought that you could open a dog grooming salon by appointment and put social distancing measures in place quite easily. But if vets will only deal with urgent cases and have stopped vaccinations etc, it's hard to argue that dog groomers should be working I suppose. However, I am not sure why vets can't do routine work, unless it's just to stop "unnecessary travel" and then we open a whole other can of worms.

[RumbaswithPumbaas]

Sorry, crossed post. With vets it is mainly about difficulties social distancing in a workplace where you have to be very close to each other and shortages of ppe/drugs/oxygen supplies. Probably a bit like dentists

[RumbaswithPumbaas]

BVA have advice page for owners on website

[EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall]

I'm not sure if my groomer is open or not. She only goes in to the shop when people ring and ask for an appointment

I managed to get mine done the day the schools shut just incase. He's awful for the groomer and can't imagine had be any better if I tried to do him myself!

[AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff]

Yes palace it could be but it is most unlikely and hygiene measures should minimise risk.

As an aside I think our vet is completing puppy vaccinatio schedules but other than that it is emergency only.

[palacegirl77]

Point it, the groomer is being cautious and that should be admired not questioned.

[TruffleShuffles]

I’m a dog groomer and we haven’t been told to close, we have been given advice on how best to work and certain guidelines to follow but it’s up to us whether we open or not.

We must obviously adhere to social distancing and only have one dog at a time and then disinfect everything between dogs. We also either have to pick up the dogs or ask customers to walk to us as part of their daily exercise so they are not making an unnecessary car journey. It’s much easier for mobiles groomers or groomers who work from home to stick to guidelines.

Groomers have been a bit crazy about all this and a lot who have stayed open have been named and shamed online and had numerous bad reviews left on Facebook pages by other groomers.

[AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff]

I’m not questioning a groomer’s choice to close. When did I do that?
Give over. Humans are far, far more dangerous.

No difference to vets treating animals than a groomer handling an animal. If a groomer is happy to put precautions in place and operate, in the interest of welfare they should be permitted to do so without reprisal.

[pigsDOfly]

My vet is open and like a lot of vet are only doing emergency consultations.

Very different from taking a dog to be groomed.

Most people could clip their dog's coat to some extent, okay it won't be perfect but it'll do the job for now.

I doubt very many people could remove a blockage in their dog's intestines though.

[palacegirl77]

@AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff
If a groomer wants to be cautious and remain closed they should also get no reprisal. Interesting that you say humans are more dangerous...I didn't know dogs could disinfect themselves and get themselves to a grooming parlour. The question was "should they be open" it's not essential, so no they shouldn't.

[AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff]

But when have I said they should not have the choice to close/be cautious?

It is up to the business. Read truffle’s post on how it can be done.

Each to their own. I do not have the luxury of stopping work but following guidelines, I’m still ok. Despite the dog I’m caring for...

I agree I’m fortunate, and some may say lucky, that I remain healthy going to work but I have no issue with anyone closing or staying at home who wishes to. Bravo to them.

Humans are transmitting this ergo they are more dangerous.

Sadly most, if not all people affected will have been infected by their fellow man and not a dog or a cat.

[IggyAce]

My friend is a dog groomer in a salon, they started working again last week after discussing it with the police. It’s a small salon so only one of them can work at a time, social distancing is met during hand over and the dog has to be in need of grooming for welfare reasons.

[palacegirl77]

@AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff

Well you said that it was most unlikely that a dog could transport the virus on their coat. What evidence do you have for this please? Can you link to information saying it is unlikely?

[TruffleShuffles]

Can you link to to the hard evidence that it can be @palacegirl77? I don’t want the ‘there is evidence to suggest’ stuff. I can’t find anywhere that a dog has been tested and it proven that the virus can live on the coat and then be transferred. It could well be possible, but is that any more dangerous that the post that gets put through your door everyday? As long as I groomer puts the dog straight in the bath to be washed the virus will be removed from the coat before it is groomed.

[AvoidingRealHumans]

One local to me has just announced that they are opening but will only see dogs that are in particular need of a groom - matted etc.
She says its because she's concerned about the dogs but I suspect it is because she can't go on with no income and I make her right.
She's complying with social distancing so theres no issue.

[DeadBod]

I don't see a problem as long as precautions are being taken.
My friend had his dog collected from his garden by the groomer, taken to the groomers garage for a trim and then returned to the garden. No human interaction at all.

[palacegirl77]

@truffleshuffle yep any piece if evidence that says it lives on surfaces. Post is essential. A new hairdo for Fido is not. If it's a case of serious health concern the vets could clip it off (well a nurse would). So that doesn't float. Can you show me some evidence that someone ha contracted it via their post? Or in the supermarket? No you can't. Because we don't know the point of transmission. What we DO know is that it loves on surfaces be them your post or your dog.

[AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff]

I posted one bit of information - and here is another.


Can a dog or cat transmit coronavirus to people?

This is highly unlikely to happen, according to scientists and vets.

There have been no cases of pets passing the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 to humans.

And the same was true during the 2013 outbreak of Sars, a virus very closely related.

And another

On 13 March the World Health Organisation said "at present there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus".

Several global health organisations have issued advisories saying there is no any evidence that pet animals can spread coronavirus or indeed be infected with it in the same way as humans.


I’m not an expert - it is my opinion based on what I have read.

Personal hygiene is key in these times.

You would wash your hands after handling someone else’s pet the same as you would after visiting the supermarket.

My work is more concerned with the threat from humans.

If you can show me cases or evidenc (I have not been told of any or read it) that people have contracted the virus from a pet, I’d take it on board.

[AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff]

I don’t want a Covid argument or discussion. I have enough of that every day.

This thread asked if groomers should be working. I said yes if a welfare issue. I won’t change my mind on that.

It’s just as well folk aren’t arguing whether or not I should be playing my part regarding providing care for the welfare of people.

[TruffleShuffles]

Well exactly @palacegirl77, so if we handle the dog like we would any of the things you’ve listed then there would be minimal danger to us. Dog groomers can fully adhere to social distancing guidelines. There doesn’t need to be any interaction with the owner within the 2m distance that’s been given, the only thing that is touched by both is the dog that can be put in a bath within a minute of being received and cleaned of any virus potentially being on the surface.

The government has not said that anyone that is not in an essential/key worker role must stop working. You can continue to work as long as you are adhering to social distancing with other people, not dogs.

[rawlikesushi]

My understanding is that, unless you're a business forced to close by government instruction, you can keep working as long as you can maintain social distancing for staff and customers.

I think a lot of businesses closed unnecessarily in the early panic, or have closed due to public pressure from misinformed people, or because they couldn't get staff to come in.

Our local dog groomer continues her work from home. Pets are dropped off on daily walks.

My own dog groomer is mobile and still working.

If you can work safely, without breaking the actual rules (rather than the imaginary ones hysterical people are touting as fact) then good luck to you.

[palacegirl77]

@AwrightDoreenTakeAFuckinDayOff OMG. I know a dog cant give me coronavirus through a blooming cough BUT you cannot dispute that it could carry it on its body as could any other surface and getting it to a groomer would also involve a non-essential journey. By your logic hairdressers could also be open (as long as clients have a shower when they come in).

[palacegirl77]

@TruffleShuffles so there is no person to person interaction? How does the dog get there then? How does the groomer take it off the owner? Is that "shower" @60 degrees? does the owner also shower it at 60 when they pick it up? (another journey). The government HAS said dogs should be on a lead when out? Why? why would they say this if a dog couldnt transmit it to another dog or person (by surface). Most groomers are self employed so should therefore be covered in terms of income to 80%. The ones that are working wont be - so you have to question why not.

[candle18]

I’m surprised to hear some groomers are open. I thought it would be fine as mine is self employed, has a shed in her garden and only has one dog at a time but she told me she had to close as they were being classed the same as hairdressers and beauty salons.