Pet groomers are not considered essential businesses in Massachusetts and, under state guidelines, most are closed. However many are petitioning the state to consider allowing groomers to reopen.
Keri Smith of the Canine Cuttery in Palmer started an online petition.
“The hygiene for a dog is just as important as hygiene for us,” she told Boston 25 News.
She believes the service is essential.
“There are ways we could do it safely and still make it work and a lot of times there are dogs with skin issues that need to be tended to on a regular basis,” Smith said.
The New England Pet Grooming Professionals Organization is not taking a stance on whether their services should be considered essential but have provided the state with some industry guidelines showing how they could reopen safely.
“It is not essential for life, but it is definitely important for the health of the dog and I think that’s what we need to focus on,” said Secretary Joyce Kahakalau.
>>>MORE: ‘You can’t tell a homeless person to self-isolate’: Shelters make changes to help the homeless
She added that groomers in Massachusetts are not supposed to be open right now, but in certain cities and towns their individual boards of health may not be enforcing the state mandates, which is why you may notice some groomers still operating.
“I would be concerned given that everyone is supposed to be closed in the state. I personally would be concerned going to someone who is open just because are they really doing it safely if they are open when it’s not safe to open?” she asked.
In an emergency, she recommended going to your veterinarian.
“If you have something that is an emergency, if you feel like mats are painful or they are causing some kind of skin irritation, veterinarians are fully capable of doing that," she said. "It might not be the most beautiful haircut in the world, but it will be medically sound, and they are great for nail trimmings.”
Smith said some of her customers are crossing state lines.
“I know we have lost a few customers to Connecticut because they are still open," Smith said. "Their grooming shops are still open down there so kind of trying to find a medium where we can do it in this state as well, but we just need the ok to go ahead. And there are ways we can do it remotely and curbside pickup [...] and no one would go into the shop type of thing.”