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Ontario to reopen pet grooming services with restrictions

Ontario allowed pet grooming businesses to reopen on Thursday after the businesses were forced to close over a month ago due to lockdown restrictions.

Pet grooming businesses can now operate for “necessary” services, according to a statement from Steven Warner, press secretary to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones over email.

Warner noted the government is “providing clarity” around pet grooming services through an amendment to the stage 1 reopening rules.

The amendment includes a variety of restrictions to determine whether a pet grooming business can open. It must be providing services that are “strictly necessary” to prevent an animal from requiring foreseeable and reasonably imminent veterinary care. This also applies if the groomer is providing services that an animal owner has been required to obtain under Ontario’s animal welfare act.

Pet grooming businesses that decide to reopen can do so if they only provide services by appointment – and appointments must be for one animal at a time. Businesses must set up curbside pick-up and drop-off for the animals.

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton mayors and chairs called on the province on Monday to provide further clarity around pet grooming services.

“In light of the inconsistent treatment that has arisen… a clear determination is requested so we can have clarity across the region and across the Province,” the group said in a statement.

Pet groomers and owners have been questioning the decision to exclude pet grooming from essential services back on December 26, when Ontario implemented a province-wide lockdown.

At the time, the province allowed for grooming only when it was “necessary for the immediate health and welfare of the animal,” to be provided by veterinary services.

Toronto has also paused enforcement of curbside pick-up and drop-off pet walking services last week after public comments from the province allowing those services. Pet walking is permitted under the Reopening Ontario Act as a necessary service for an animal’s health and welfare, though dog walking was not specified in the act.

@nowtoronto

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