Freeze frame: April 24

Canine Hair Design and Pet Sitting owner Donna Elston grooms a dog.

Daniel Sewell / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

Pets well taken care of during pandemic

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette T he recent escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic has people taking every necessary precaution in efforts to keep themselves, their families, and our society safe.

This has left many pet owners wondering exactly how safe it is to have animals around and what the rules are when it comes to pets and selfisolating.

“There is still much we don’t know about COVID-19 and, while the priority is to bring the outbreak of the infection caused to people under control as soon as possible, we are concerned for animal welfare with reports of animals being abandoned or killed because their owners fear that they might carry the virus,” said World Small Animal and Veterinary Association (WSAVA) President Dr. Shane Ryan. “There is no evidence that this is necessary and we urge our members to ensure owners follow our guidance and keep themselves and their companion animals safe.”

Locally, the pet supply and grooming industry is experiencing many of the same hardships as other small businesses. With Public Health Order 20-24 being signed by Governor Polis, some things within the industry had to be adjusted.

According to that order, a Non-Critical business is required to reduce in-person work by at least 50 percent and follow social distancing requirements as defined in the order. A reduction of in-person work can include telework, staggering work schedules, or other measures to reduce the proximity of workers to each other.

Businesses deemed as Critical are exempt from the order and are not required to reduce in-person work, but must still comply with social distancing requirements. Critical services detailed in the order include “animal shelters, animal rescues, zoological facilities, animal sanctuaries and other petrelated service facilities, such as boarding facilities.”

All other pet services licensed under the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) would be considered non-critical businesses and thus subject to the order. This would include groomers and retail facilities.

“I am the only one in the shop,” Canine Hair Design and Pet Sitting owner, Donna Elston, said.

She was recently in contact with an inspector from the PACFA Program and was informed of precautions that are being taken.

The PACFA Program is a licensing and inspection system dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of animals in facilities throughout Colorado.

“It is curb-side pickup and drop-off,” Elston said. “It’s 20 seconds of washing your hands and 30 minutes washing the dog and then we take them right back out to their owners.”

Owner of Estes Park Pet Supply, William Welborn, says his store saw an initial blitz on See PETS, pg. 26