State Exemptions Protecting Pet Care, Supplies, and Services During Shutdown As of April 1st

AKC Legislative Alert – Updated as of April 1st 2020

The following chart provides information on COVID-19 shelter in place/closure orders with respect to rules impacting access to pet care, supplies, and services.  This document will be updated to reflect changing circumstances as new information becomes available.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many states are shutting down all but what they deem to be essential services and businesses.  This can impact dog owners and breeders in a wide variety of ways, including but not limited to: the ability to obtain sufficient, proper food and supplies and ensuring that animal owners can travel if necessary to care for their animals. Additionally, we are urging consideration for essential employees such as health care workers so they do not lose options for kenneling or pet care at a time when they may be required to work long or unscheduled hours.

Please visit AKC legislative alerts  (www.akcgr.org) to view some of the actions we’ve taken and to learn what you can do to help.

Alabama -All non-essential businesses are closed to non-employees until 5 p.m. on April 17.  Non-work related gatherings of 10 persons or more and non-work related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between people are not allowed.  Pet stores and veterinarians are excluded from the list of non-essential businesses. Link: https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/03/Amended-Statewide-Social-Distancing-SHO-Order-3.27.2020-FINAL.pdf

Alaska - Veterinary services declared essential, other businesses may remain open so long as there are no more than 10 in the business at a time. Link: https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/03232020-COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Attachment-A.pdf

Arizona - Pet supplies declared essential, along with “businesses that provide food, shelter and other necessities for life for animals”, including kennels. Link: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/03/list-essential-services

California - Workers supporting veterinary hospitals and clinics, animal control officers and humane officers, pet and animal feed processing facilities; Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, etc.; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated regulatory and government workforce, are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/19/governor-gavin-newsom-issues-stay-at-home-order/?mod=article_inline

Colorado - Veterinary services and pet supply stores will remain open.   Specific exemption passed on 3/21 allows animals to be transferred to a foster home without inspection (currently required). Link: https://www.colorado.gov/emergency-exception-passed-colorado%E2%80%99s-pet-animals-need-foster-care

Connecticut - Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7H.pdf?la=en&mod=article_inline

Delaware - Animal Food Manufacturing, Other Animal Production, Support Activities for Animal Production are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://news.delaware.gov/2020/03/22/governor-carney-issues-stay-at-home-order-for-delawareans/?mod=article_inline

Florida - Veterinarians and Pet Boarding facilities are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO-20-68.pdf?mod=article_inline

Hawaii - Exemption made for “businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals”, including kennels.

Illinois - Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other “essentials for life for animals” may remain open, including kennels. Link: https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/21288-Gov._Pritzker_Stay_at_Home_Order.pdf?mod=article_inline

Indiana - Businesses that allow for “food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals” are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/Executive_Order_20-08_Stay_at_Home.pdf

Iowa - Some businesses closed, animal services not impacted. Link: https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Public%20Health%20Proclamation%20-%202020.03.26.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Kansas - Businesses providing animal food products and services must allowed to remain open. Link: https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EO20-16.pdf

Kentucky - Veterinarians and Life-Sustaining Retail, including Pet and Pet Supply Stores, are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20200322_Executive-Order_2020-246_Retail.pdf

Louisiana - Implemented shelter-in-place. Veterinarians are exempt from the shutdown. This is effective through April 12. Link: https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/93?mod=article_inline

Maine - Veterinary clinics, animal welfare, and animal feed and supply stores are considered essential and exempt from the shutdown. It is not clear that “pet grooming services” would be considered “animal welfare” and will be exempt. Link: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6818423-An-Order-Regarding-Essential-Businesses-and.html#document/p1

Maryland - Pet food manufacturers and distributors, retailers, and veterinary services and supplies are exempt. Clarification from the Maryland Office of Legal Counsel states this includes pet supply stores. Link: https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/03/23/governor-hogan-announces-closure-of-all-non-essential-businesses-175-million-relief-package-for-workers-and-small-businesses-affected-by-covid-19/

Massachusetts - Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/ma-update-governor-orders-closure-non-essential-businesses/

Michigan - Exemption for businesses needed “to perform tasks that are necessary to….the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets).” Link: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-522625–,00.html?mod=article_inline

Missouri - No statewide orders, multiple cities and counties instituting separate orders.

Nebraska - No statewide order at this time.

Nevada - Veterinary Services and Pet Stores are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-03-20.Declaration-of-Emergency-Directive-003.pdf?mod=article_inline

New Hampshire - All businesses and other organizations that do not provide Essential Services shall close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public and cease  all in person operations as of 11:59 p.m. on March 27, 2020 and shall not re-open to workers, customers or the public or resume in person operations before 12:01 a.m. on May 4, 2020. Link: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-17-ex-a.pdf

New Jersey - Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-107.pdf

New Mexico - Emergency veterinary services deemed essential, other pet services and businesses not listed. Link: https://cv.nmhealth.org/stay-at-home-essential-businesses/

New York - Businesses relating to the care of animals are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/update-new-york-declares-pet-services-essential-businesses/

North Carolina - Pet services remain open. Link: https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO121-Stay-at-Home-Order-3.pdf

Ohio - “Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals”are exempt from the shutdown, including kennels. Link:https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/media/news-and-media/ohio-issues-stay-at-home-order-and-new-restrictions-placed-on-day-cares-for-children?mod=article_inline

Oklahoma - Exemption for pet food and veterinary services. Link: https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/1919.pdf

Oregon - Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://govsite-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/jkAULYKcSh6DoDF8wBM0_EO%2020-12.pdf

Pennsylvania - Pet and feed stores are exempt from shutdown. Link: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#StayatHomeOrder

Rhode Island - RI closing all non-essential businesses as of March 30. Pet supply stores are considered “essential” under the order. Link: http://www.governor.ri.gov/documents/orders/Executive-Order-20-13.pdf

South Carolina - Non-essential businesses ordered closed to non-employees beginning April 1 and continuing for the duration of the State of Emergency unless otherwise modified, amended, or rescinded. Veterinarians and pet stores are not listed among the closed businesses. Link: https://governor.sc.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/Executive-Orders/2020-03-31%20eFILED%20Executive%20Order%20No.%202020-17%20-%20Closure%20of%20Non-Essential%20Businesses.pdf

Tennessee - Businesses and organizations that provide non-essential services are closed to the public from March 31 to April 14.  Pet supply stores; operations that provide veterinary care; and businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals, including animal shelters, rescues, shelters, kennels, and adoption facilities; are exempted. Link: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee22.pdf?fbclid=IwAR01xI6xCWOSQz7v4DgX-GyymbTL7AUxM_saqAerSmZmi2cpxNKieCnY7EA

Texas - Dallas County under shelter in place order, effective tonight through April 3. Link: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6817019-Dal-Co-Amendment.html

Utah - No statewide directive at this time.

Vermont - Veterinarians and Life-Sustaining Retail, including Pet and Pet Supply Stores, are exempt from the shutdown. Link: https://governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/files/documents/ADDENDUM%206%20TO%20EXECUTIVE%20ORDER%2001-20.pdf

Virginia - Pet and feed stores remain open. Link: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-53-Temporary-Restrictions-Due-To-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf

Washington - Veterinary services and animal feed businesses are exempt.  Application available for other pet services not included. Link: https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/washington-application-available-pet-services-not-declared-essential/

West Virginia - Businesses that “provide food, shelter, or other necessities of life for animals” are exempt. Link: http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Governor’s+Stay+At+Home+Order+3-23.pdf

Wisconsin - Essential veterinary and animal healthcare, businesses that provide “food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals” are exempt. Link: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WIGOV/2020/03/24/file_attachments/1409408/Health%20Order%20%2312%20Safer%20At%20Home.pdf

Wyoming: No Statewide directive at this time

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=181329

Posted by chesliepickett on Apr 1 2020. Filed under Breaking News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.