Florida's Safe-at-Home order has forced Pet Groomers to close their businesses with no further notice leaving not only groomers without a job, but leaving pets at high risk of health issues that can be prevented by regular grooming. The majority of people especially those with no pets are not aware that dog grooming goes beyond a simple bath and a cute haircut. Many pet parents have dogs with health conditions that grooming keeps under control with special cleanser shampoos, medicated shampoos, clay masks, regimens that need to be done as often as 3-5 days a week such as skin issues caused by disease, hormonal upsets, and sometimes injury that causes itching, swelling, discomfort, hair loss, and in many cases infections that then lead to surgeries and deeper more invasive and longer treatments equalling to more pain to the pet and more money to the pet parent that right now is not abundant for many due to job loss and no financial help.

Some dogs are prone to chronic ear infections that are managed by a simple groomer task such as keeping the ears clear of hair and regular ear cleaning. Nails need regular trimming, and when not done nails can grow into a dogs paw pad (foot) and cause pain, infection, and even paw deformities that interfere with the dogs' ability to stand and/or walk. Some dogs need help getting their anal glands expressed- when this isn't done glands become impacted and infected and may need surgery to fix. Some of these services are also done by veterinarians at ridiculous rates and that's why many people especially people with low income who still wish to care for their pets properly depend on groomers. 

Many People and articles have expressed reasons why dog grooming is essential, for example, stating that regular grooming prevents dogs from getting shaved to which many reply, "hair grows back" - and it does. However, my reasons go beyond just opening groomer doors and preventing shaving. My reasons revolve around the fact that this country deems pets as family, however, one of the most important services for this family member's overall health besides veterinary services, is being neglected, cancelled, and ignored. Groomers and Veterinarians are a team in keeping pets healthy. Groomers are those second pair of eyes that examine dogs during each visit, treat issues, and send them to the vet when they cannot solve the problem, however, for many skin, coat, nail, and even ear conditions the vet is not the first solution.  

Advising and encouraging pet owners to cut their own pet's hair at home can work for some, but for many it can and has resulted in injury to either or both the pet and the pet owner. Some dogs have growths, ulcers, skin tags, moles that can't be seen due to hair, especially overgrown and matted hair and this can result in terrible and bloody accidents that will cost that pet parent extra money and that pet unnecessary pain. a pet parent that doesn't know how to properly handle a dog for grooming like nail trimming, can get badly bitten by their own pet, in which no-one can place blame on after for reacting. Pet parents that do take it into their own hands to groom their dogs are desperate because they know what the neglect means for them and their dogs. Whether they do a good job or not, they are being the best they can be for their loving pets, but they should NOT have to put themselves or their pets at risk.

Pinellas County is the only county where dog grooming is closed. Many grooming salons were doing everything possible to follow guidelines to keep grooming by offering pet curb side drop off and pick up, having their groomers and staff all wear masks and gloves, taking payments via cash apps, PayPal to not come in contact with personal credit cards or cash. Private home grooming businesses were offering pick up and drop off services (some for free) to and from client doors to their private shops where they groom alone with no foot traffic, no other staff, and no public store front exposure just like, if not safer and more isolated than a restaurant offering delivery services or curb side pick up with no gloves or masks on.

A dog with severely matted hair, neglected skin, ear, gland, nail issues etc. yes, will cost more money at a vets office and/or at a groom shop if left unattended for long, but most importantly, until those pets can make it to either, they will be in pain, uncomfortable with infections and complications that are avoidable. It is imperative that dog grooming is deemed as an essential service so that these animals can be given the care they need. Dog grooming needs to be re-opened, and dog groomers need to be willing to adhere to any guidelines even if it means taking a limited amount of dogs a day. Larger grooming shops with a larger staff may face stricter guidelines than a private home solo grooming business may face. However, the purpose of this petition is to give pet parents availability to services so that they can care for their pets and keep up with their health maintenance. What ever the guidelines may be the focus shouldn't be solely profit, but the overall health of all pets.

Please sign and share this petition to make dog grooming essential, because in reality, it already is. Whether it be through strict guidelines and exceptions for large groom shops and private home grooming business groomers, Pinellas County pets should be able to have a place to receive the grooming care they need to maintain their health and keep out of a veterinarians office. Please consider that many people don't have 100% healthy and easy to maintain pets like maybe you do, think of those pets and how they are the ones that end up the most hurt from it all. Please don't overlook this petition because it doesn't pertain to you. Look at it from my perspective, from the heart to the animals- help and sign. God Bless.