Pet retailers should still be able to operate during the covid-19 breakout by adopting social distancing measures and adequate hygiene protocols, the Pet Industry Federation said today (Monday).
The decision to remain open is entirely down to each individual business and their own circumstances, however.
“Pet retailers still have a crucial role to play to the millions of pets and their owners, even during this covid-19 outbreak,” PIF says, recommending that retailers should consider adopting the following measures:
1. Limiting customers in your shop at any one time (the exact number is difficult to determine as it depends on the size of the shop but the decision should be based on being able to maintain protocols in point 2
2. Asking customers to observe a two-metre distance from any other people
3. Card payments only to be taken
4. Hand sanitiser provided to be used upon arrival and upon leaving (to reduce the risk of any handled products being exposed to the virus)
5. Door handles, doors and payment areas should be disinfected regularly.
2. Asking customers to observe a two-metre distance from any other people
3. Card payments only to be taken
4. Hand sanitiser provided to be used upon arrival and upon leaving (to reduce the risk of any handled products being exposed to the virus)
5. Door handles, doors and payment areas should be disinfected regularly.
All customers should be made aware of these protocols verbally and with notices in the shop.
Pet retailers provide essential food and supplements to their local communities and PIF – along with other welfare groups and trade bodies – has already lobbied the government to ask them to consider pet retailers as an exempted business in the event of a lockdown.
PIF will be monitoring the situation closely and will update this guidance as necessary.
