State Exemptions Protecting Pet Care, Supplies, and Services During Shutdown
AKC Legislative Alert – Updated April 28, 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.
| States with Shelter in Place and Non-Essential Business Closure | Pet Care Services Exempted (Veterinary services are exempted unless otherwise stated) |
State Directive |
| Alabama | All non-essential businesses are closed to non-employees until 5 p.m. on April 30. 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. Business FAQ , includes groomer information. Personal FAQ | Link Link |
| 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. Questions on essential services may be directed to akcovidplans@ak-prepared.com. | Link |
| Arizona | Pet supplies declared essential, along with “businesses that provide food, shelter and other necessities for life for animals”, including kennels. Veterinarians are encouraged to do telehealth visits if possible. | Link Link |
| Arkansas | Additional limited non-essential business closures are in effect April 6; however, at this time mandated closures do not affect pet-related businesses or veterinarians. Six-foot social distancing orders remain in place, including in businesses. Private and public gatherings outside the household are limited to 10 people. | Link |
| California | California residents are under one of the more restrictive stay-at-home orders in the nation. Its list of essential workers includes those employed in the support of veterinary hospitals and clinics, workers at animal care facilities that provide food, shelter, veterinary and/or routine care and other necessities of life for animals. | Link |
| 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). The state recommends contacting an attorney if you are not sure how your business is impacted. | |
| Connecticut | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Here is a link to what is considered an essential business. For specific questions, email the Joint Information Center at COVID19.JIC@ct.gov, or call the Dept of Economic and Community Development small business hotline at 860-500-2333 | |
| Delaware | According to Governor John Carney, Delaware is not ready to begin the process of re-opening the state. To find the latest updated information visit: https://governor.delaware.gov/. | Link |
| Florida | A stay-at-home order in effect from 12:01am on April 3 through April 30 requires persons to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to those necessary to provide or obtain essential services or conduct essential activities. Essential activities include taking care of pets. Essential establishments/services include pet supply stores, veterinarians, and pet boarding facilities. Essential Services List | Link |
| Georgia | A shelter in place order is in effect from 6:00pm April 3 through midnight April 30, and requires persons to remain at home unless conducting or participating in essential services or critical infrastructure, engaging in maintaining minimum basic operations for a corporation not considered critical infrastructure, or performing necessary travel. Restrictions on certain businesses are eased effective 4/24/20. Veterinarians, pet supply stores, groomers, and other pet-related businesses should comply with measures which mitigate the exposure and spread of COVID-19 as provided in Executive Order 4.20.20.01. For information: Candice.broce@georgia.gov. | Link Link |
| Hawaii | Stay-at-home order currently expected to expire on April 30. | |
| Idaho | Idaho residents are under an order to self-isolate at the residences unless they work in essential businesses. Essential businesses include veterinary services (see full list in the link on the right). You may submit a request to be designated as an essential business. | |
| Illinois | Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other “essentials for life for animals” may remain open, including kennels. View this document for more information on determining essential businesses in the state. | |
| Indiana | Businesses that allow for “food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals” are exempt from the shutdown. For more information on essential businesses, call 877-820-0890 or email covidresponse@iedc.in.gov . | Link |
| Iowa | Some businesses closed, animal services not impacted. Read the state’s guidelines for businesses handling animals and interacting with the public. | Link |
| Kansas | Businesses providing animal food products and services are exmept. If you wish to request to be considered an essential business, visit the Kansas Essential Functions Request Site. | Link |
| Kentucky | Veterinarians and Life-Sustaining Retail, including Pet and Pet Supply Stores, are exempt from the shutdown. FAQ and Compliance Questions | |
| Louisiana | Implemented shelter-in-place through April 30. Veterinarians and pet supply stores are exempt. Veterinarians are exempt from the shutdown. This is effective through April 12. FAQ Critical Infrastructure Examples | Link |
| Maine | Veterinary clinics, animal welfare, and animal feed and supply stores are considered essential and exempt from the shutdown. List of work considered essential and non-essential can be found here. If after careful review it is unclear to you then please complete this form to get direction. | |
| Maryland | The re-opening date is unknown, but Governor Hogan has issued a “roadmap to recovery” that will serve as the guide for re-opening. He has been adamant the state would not begin its reopening process until its daily number of new cases decreases for 14 straight days. Governor Hogan said a one-day spike would not prompt an automatic reset of the count, but that if the overall trend of new cases is down for a two-week span, he would be willing to begin the reopening process. The recovery plan can be seen here. | Link |
| Massachusetts | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function should only be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance found here. To request designation as an essential business, please click here. | Link |
| Michigan | Exemption for businesses needed “to perform tasks that are necessary to….the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets).” Veterinary services are restricted to only essential services, and in-person appointments are to be avoided if possible. | Link |
| Minnesota | Stay-at-home currently expected to expire on May 3. Employees in certain agriculture, industrial, and office settings are allowed to return to work starting April 27. Businesses not considered an “essential service” may ask the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for reclassification here. | Link |
| Mississippi | Shelter in place is ordered through 8:00am on April 27. Businesses restrictions have been eased to allow retail sales by non-essential businesses and operations limited to drive-thru, curbside, and/or delivery services provided such non-essential businesses and operations implement precautions including 6-foot social distancing, no gatherings of more than 10 people, and proper handwashing and hygiene. Veterinarians are designated as essential businesses. The Governor’s office advised AKC that pet supply stores and boarding kennels may continue operating. Grooming businesses are considered non-essential. FAQ | Link |
| Missouri | Order in place until at least April 24. Exemptions for all businesses listed by CISA, including pet food/supply, veterinary care, and animal transport. Other businesses may remain open so long as they practice social distancing, limit to 10 persons in business (employees and customers). Businesses are encouraged to check local orders, which may be more restrictive. A waiver request may be submittedwith the MO Department of Economic Development. | Link |
| Montana | Montana has declared a state of emergency and residents are under a stay-at-home order. The order exempts certain essential functions from the stay-at-home order. The state is following federal guidelines for essential businesses as detailed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. This list includes those employed in veterinary health, pet food, and pet supply. | Link |
| Nebraska | Numerous counties under state’s Directed Health Measure (DHM). Businesses may remain open as long as social distancing recommendations are practiced. Contact your county health department or county officials for more information. | LinkLink |
| Nevada | Veterinary Services and Pet Stores are exempt from the shutdown. | Link |
| 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. This Essential/Non-Essential business list represents common inquiries. For a comprehensive list of essential functions, please refer to Emergency Order #17, Exhibit A. | |
| New Jersey | Stay-at-home order in effect since March 21. | Link |
| New Mexico | Emergency veterinary services deemed essential, other pet services and businesses not listed. For questions, call the Coronavirus Information Hotline: 833-551-0518 | Link |
| New York | Businesses relating to the care of animals are exempt from the shutdown.To request designation as an essential business, complete the form on the Empire State Development site. | Link |
| North Carolina | Pet services are exempt. If you wish to be considered an essential business, submit an online request. | |
| North Dakota | No stay-at-home order statewide, but other restrictions in place. | |
| Ohio | “Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals”are exempt from the shutdown, including kennels. View the state’s information on dispute resolutions for determining essential businesses. | Link |
| Oklahoma | Exemption for pet food and veterinary services. This includes grooming services as long as they are operating in a veterinary office, pet store, or shelter. All essential animal services must comply with social distancing guidelines. For clarification on essential businesses, follow the Department of Commerce guidelines, and then complete an online form. | Link Link |
| Oregon | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | Link |
| Pennsylvania | A phased re-opening targeted May 8 start. The administration will categorize reopening into three phases: red, yellow, green. Phases will be assigned based on conditions in a county, counties or region. The administration will first study conditions in the north-central and northwest regions with a target of moving from red to yellow on May 8. Additional monitoring will take place and direction will be provided in the next week. To decide when to move to a new phase, the administration will use Department of Health metrics and a data tool developed by Carnegie Mellon University. The red phase, which currently applies to the whole state, has the sole purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing, non-life sustaining business and school closures, and building safety protocols. The full plan is available here. | Link |
| Rhode Island | RI closing all non-essential businesses as of March 30. Pet supply stores are considered “essential” under the order. The Dept of Business Regulation guidance on essential and non-essential businesses is listed here. For questions please submit your questions online or call 401-889-5550. | Link |
| South Carolina | A shelter in place order is in effect from 6:00pm April 3 through midnight April 30, and requires persons to remain at home unless conducting or participating in essential services or critical infrastructure, engaging in maintaining minimum basic operations for a corporation not considered critical infrastructure, or performing necessary travel. Restrictions on certain businesses are eased effective 4/24/20. Veterinarians, pet supply stores, groomers, and other pet-related businesses should comply with measures which mitigate the exposure and spread of COVID-19 as provided in Executive Order 4.20.20.01. For information: Candice.broce@georgia.gov. | Link |
| South Dakota | No stay-at-home order statewide, but other restrictions in place. | |
| Tennessee | Businesses and organizations that provide non-essential services are closed to the public from March 31 to April 30. 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. Retailers in 89 counties may begin opening at 50% capacity on April 30 under Retail Industry Guidelines. Davidson, Shelby, Hamilton, Knox, Sullivan and Madison Counties are not included in the state reopening plan. These counties will individually determine reopening timelines. | Link |
| Texas | Stay-at-home order expected to expire on April 30. Businesses not considered an “essential service” may ask the Texas Division of Emergency Management for reclassification here. | Link |
| Utah | No statewide directive at this time. Salt Lake City has issued directives. The city exempts businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals, including animal shelters, boarding, rescues, kennels, and adopting facilities from the order. | Link |
| Vermont | Veterinarians and Life-Sustaining Retail, including Pet and Pet Supply Stores, are exempt from the shutdown. Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development has issued additional guidance for businesses that includes important clarifications relating to Gov. Scott’s Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order. Updates will be made to this webpage. To request additional guidance, fill out this form here. | Link |
| Virginia | The re-opening date is unknow, but the plan includes a phased approach that is grounded in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and has specific goals to contain the spread of the virus through increased testing, personal protective equipment and supplies, and medical capacity. Virginia will be looking at a wide range of public health data with key indicators that will include a 14-day downward trend of confirmed cases and reduced COVID-19 hospitalizations. More information is available at: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/april/headline-856337-en.html | Link |
| Washington | Veterinary services and animal feed businesses are exempt. Application available for other pet services not included | Link |
| West Virginia | Re-opening in West Virginia will begin in phases once the state has experienced three consecutive days maintaining a cumulative percentage of positive test results below 3 percent. Week one will all for elective medical procedures and other healthcare providers to reopen as well as daycares with restricts. Week two will allow for small businesses with proper PPE will be able to reopen. Including hair and nail salons, barber shops, etc. which will be allowed to open their doors by appointment only and masks will be required to be worn by both employees and customers. Outdoor dining at restaurants is also under the week two umbrella as are church services and funerals with a limited gathering size and proper PPE. The following businesses are included in weeks three through six: office and government buildings, specialty retail stores, parks, gyms and recreational centers, dine-in restaurants, hotels, casinos, spas and any other remaining small business. For more on the plan: https://governor.wv.gov/Pages/The-Comeback.aspx | Link |
| Wisconsin | Essential veterinary and animal healthcare, businesses that provide “food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals” are exempt. For clarification on whether a business is declared essential, visit wedc.org/essentialbusiness/ | Link |
| Wyoming | No statewide directive at this time. |
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Posted by chesliepickett
on Apr 28 2020. Filed under Breaking News.
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