ALEXANDRIA, VA – An open letter from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, along with a coalition of pet care community organizations and companies, urges lawmakers to treat pet businesses as “essential” amid any COVID-19 lockdowns.
“With recent nationwide surges in COVID-19 infection rates, along with holiday travel, the coalition anticipates that larger spikes will result that could trigger renewed lockdown orders such as those that were enacted in the spring,” according to a press release from PIJAC.
Mike Bober, president of PIJAC, said: “Earlier this year, thousands in the responsible pet care community spoke up on behalf of pets and pet owners as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved. It is important that we continue to speak as one voice to remind lawmakers that pet care is essential, so that the businesses that serve the needs of America’s 85 million pets are allowed to remain open.”
The new letter recognizes lawmakers’ previous work to designate pet care, including veterinary, boarding and grooming, as essential and urges them to continue to do so with any new restrictions. Pet business representatives who would like to add their name to the letter, which will be provided to select lawmakers at the local, state and federal levels, can access the letter and the form to sign it here.
PIJAC has also created a tracking spreadsheet that provides links to the government closure orders in each state that impact pet businesses.