A local dog groomer is pleading with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to allow dog grooming businesses to reopen.
The owner of Posh Paws salon in Harrison Township says she‘s frustrated Whitmer doesn’t consider dog groomers to be essential businesses and says it’s been difficult not being able to take care of her clients' dogs.
"When it’s this many months and now it’s getting so hot out, it’s the dogs' health and safety that’s now at risk," said Suzie Hentschel, owner of Posh Paws salon.
Hentschel says having to close her business during this pandemic has been difficult.
"It is very disturbing when you find out your customer is in need and this little dog that you've known for its whole life is in need," she said.
Hentschel says dog groomers should be considered essential businesses. She’s even taken a COVID-19 certification test to properly handle pets and keep everything
safe.
"We’ve all been trained in proper techniques by the CDC," Hentschel said. "We’ve all set up contactless payment, so we don't have to touch any money or payment card. We are working with anti-viral sprays."
One of Suzie’s clients owns a golden retriever and says trying to groom her dog hasn’t been easy.
"We’ve had to be very, very diligent with her. We brush her daily right now and the brushing takes about 45 minutes to an hour," said Carolyn D'Almeida who
owns a 2-and-a-half-year-old Golden retriever.
D'Almeida says Whitmer needs to give dog groomers the green light to open for the safety and well-being of dogs.
"They can also get bacterial infections close to the skin because all of the winter hair is trapping all of the dirt, debris and bacteria," D'Almeida said.
Hentschel says dog groomers need to open back up and is making her plea to the governor.
"Owners are trying to do what they think is best for their dogs," Hentschel said. "It’s a dangerous situation and it’s going to continue to get even more dangerous for the dogs, for the owners for all of us if we cannot continue our jobs."
Hentschel says she’s all set and ready to reopen she just needs the governor to says it’s o,k to do so.
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