TORONTO — Pet groomers across Ontario can reopen to provide certain services, the province said Thursday as it clarified its pandemic regulations surrounding animal care.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones' office said groomers can reopen to provide services necessary to prevent "foreseeable and reasonably imminent" veterinary care.
Groomers can also provide services if an order has been issued to a pet owner under the province's animal welfare act.
The services must be by appointment-only, through curbside pickup, and groomers are only permitted to take one animal at a time.
Pet grooming businesses were ordered closed when a provincial lockdown took effect in late December.
The province had said, however, that pet grooming was allowed when required for an animal's health and said a vet could provide those services.
Some cities said that the province's rules led to confusion for businesses and pet owners.
Earlier this week, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton-area mayors and chairs asked the government to clarify the rules.
Mississauga, Ont., Mayor Bonnie Crombie had said her city would not issue fines or take other enforcement action against pet grooming businesses that operate using a curbside pickup system.
She had called on the province to amend the rules to clearly permit the services.
Some pet groomers had said their businesses help keep animals healthy and noted that vets may not be able to take animals for grooming-related needs because of limited capacity during lockdown,
The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association said some vet clinics have longer wait times for appointments due to a backlog of cases from earlier in the pandemic and COVID-19 safety protocols.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2021.
The Canadian Press
