ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — At The Doghouse in downtown St. John’s, manager Faith Warren has her protective gloves and a creative plan for making sure customers get what they need while maintaining social distancing.
If for any reason someone can’t come in the store, Warren said Thursday, people can call, pay ahead of time and flash an ID through the window while picking up the bags left outside for them.
The independent, locally-owned pet store is retail, but for pet owners with particular diets, pet stores are essential.
During Snowmageddon when grocery stores were the only ones allowed to open as restrictions were first relaxed in the state of emergency following the Jan. 17 blizzard, many pet owners were left in a dilemma.
We wanted to inform our loyal customers that The Doghouse remains open during our regular business hours. We are...
Posted by The Doghouse on Monday, March 16, 2020
Kevin Parfrey stocked up on three bags for his beagles, Tim and Stan, on Thursday, remembering that lesson.
“During Snowmaggedon, we ran out. It was stressful. But we were able to get some within two hours,” he said as he loaded the food into his car.
When he ran short in January, he had to pick up grocery store pet food, which he said over the long run would be hard on their intestinal tract.
Warren said customers have been stocking up, but not hoarding, in light of the COVID-19 crisis.
Stocking up is sensible, she said, so the best thing to do is take what you need and leave some for others to buy, which has not been the case for some items in the human food world at grocery stores.
“We want to keep the staff definitely safe and the public safe." — Faith Warren
Warren said there’s no issue with the pet food supply chain — The Doghouse sources its food within Canada.
Since the public-health emergency was declared, Warren said, she hopes if there are any more restrictions in the coming days or weeks that pet stores will be given some leeway.
“We want to keep the staff definitely safe and the public safe,” she said.
After Snowmageddon, Warren said, the public support for local stores ramped up, and The Doghouse, which has been open 19 years this summer, has a loyal clientele.
Veterinary services
As for pet health care, the Newfoundland and Labrador Veterinary Medical Association said the association supports the decision of individual practices to limit the scope of their practice as needed to ensure safety for their teams and clients.
President Dr. Margaret Brown-Bury said pet owners should contact their local practice to enquire about their specific protocols at this time.
She said veterinary services continue to follow social-distancing recommendations. and already practice outstanding facility cleaning and infection control, as patients can be both contagious and at risk with compromised immune systems.
“The protocols clinics have in place to minimize disease risk will help them at this time, and are being further strengthened to ensure staff and client safety as well,” Brown-Bury said.
In its state of emergency policies, Prince Edward Island has included veterinary clinics and pet stores as essential services.
The association, in partnership with the College of Veterinarians of NL, has written to the provincial government to request veterinary services be considered essential, as receiving that designation will guide them in how to proceed shoud a full state of emergency occur.
There has been no response yet.
Meanwhile, in a news release, the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers issued a challenge Thursday to members across the country to find ways to deliver services remotely — whether interactive online classes and videos, or offering phone consultations.
The association also advised pet owners to keep at least three weeks of food and any prescription medicines on hand for their pet, and to remember that puppies age eight to 14 weeks of age, a critical socialization time, should get outside and see a variety of people and vehicles and situations, while their owners maintain safe social distances.
Brown-Bury also emphasized exercise is important for humans and for pets, but people should keep a couple of metres away from other walkers.
"Your dogs will be unimpressed if you work from home and don't walk them. … At least, my dog has been giving a lot of side eye today," she said.
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