BRYAN, Texas — Local businesses are going through a lot of uncertainty right now.
One area of concern for a few business owners in Bryan-College Station: Pet grooming.
By now, most of us have heard the term “essential businesses” as the only ones allowed to be open right now: healthcare, groceries, gas stations and hardware stores, but what isn’t an essential business?
“There wasn’t really anywhere in the city’s stay at home order relating to our industry besides vet care,” said Misty Reed, owner of Top Paw Pet Spa is asking that exact question.
She said, "all of us in town were confused on are we essential or are we not?”
Considering the safety of others, Reed closed her shop on March 23rd, adhering to Brazos County’s shelter in place order, that did not clearly include pet grooming as an essential service.
In the last week, she and other local groomers have sent out inquiries to Bryan, College Station and Brazos County.
“At first it was all universal," she said, "all grooming is non essential and we need to close. But then we find out that the corporate salons, Petsmart was closed but they’re reopened now.”
So there’s been a confusion.
“I got a message today saying that the city pretty much said, oh never mind, as long as you're following social distancing you can work, but that goes against what the county said and what the state said... we’re all closed until the 30th… but we don’t know who to listen to, why there’s no universal way to find out an answer.”
We asked the city of College Station, who said their legal office and police department agreed that if any groomer, local or chain, wants to stay open, they can, as long as it’s curbside drop off and pickup only and complies with CDC guidelines: like social distancing and the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.
The city also added that, “each jurisdiction makes those kinds of decisions for themselves as they think it aligns with the state order.”
While this answer doesn’t seem as clear, Reed’s deciding to stay closed, but that could come at a price.
“If this drags on through the summer, we do have to look at the sanitation aspect of it. Part of good ownership is routine grooming. A lot of clients cant do it on their own,” she said.
So while Reed puts her livelihood on hold, COVID-19 continues to dodge answers we’re all desperately looking for.
KAGS also reached out to Brazos County and are waiting on an answer from their attorney.
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