Christine Sauve is hopeful that her pet grooming business can stay open for good.
“I’m really excited and happy, but I’m also doubtful as to how long this will last for before [Ford] says we’ll have to shut down again,” said Sauve, the owner of Pampered Paws Salon in North Bay.
Pet grooming businesses were allowed to reopen on Thursday as was announced by Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Solicitor General.
Groomers can now provide services that prevent an animal from needing veterinary help, and services that are required under the Animal Welfare Act.
Sauve says regular grooming of pets goes beyond making them look nice, in particular for animals with longer fur.
“The matting can not only cause pain but there could be other things going on underneath the matting that you’re not aware of,” she said.
“A lot of breeds need regular ear cleanings, ear pluckings or else they get regular ear infections,” Sauve added.
Sauve, who had to close her business in December during the initial provincial shutdown, says the uncertainty has been “stressful”.
“Everything is so unknown day-to-day. You don’t know if this is going to continue,” she noted. “How do you prepare for that on a day-to-day basis?”
Sauve says she’s worried about the state of some of the animals she’ll be taking care of, noting there were dogs with nails growing into the pads of their paws when she reopened last summer.
Regardless, Sauve is anticipating to be “slammed” with appointments now that she can reopen.
“I’m feeling really excited and I’m really happy. I feel like there’s more hope,” she said, adding she’s empathetic to other small businesses that have not been allowed to reopen.
