AKC Legislative Alert: State Exemptions Protecting Pet Care, Supplies, and Services
AKC Legislative Alert
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) | Additional Information |
| Alaska | Anchorage has issued business restrictions, exempts businesses providing pet supplies. No statewide order at this time. | |
| Arizona | No statewide orders at this time. | |
| 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. | |
| Colorado | Businesses including “grocery stores and other retail” exempt from the shutdown, but no specific guidelines. Specific exemption passed on 3/21 allows animals to be transferred to a foster home without inspection (currently required). | |
| Connecticut | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Delaware | Animal Food Manufacturing, Other Animal Production, Support Activities for Animal Production are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Florida | Veterinarians and Pet Boarding facilities are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Illinois | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Indiana | Businesses that allow for “food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals” are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Iowa | No statewide order at this time. | |
| Kansas | Major cities enacting restrictions, no statewide order | |
| Kentucky | Veterinarians and Life-Sustaining Retail, including Pet and Pet Supply Stores, are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Louisiana | Implemented shelter-in-place. Veterinarians are exempt from the shutdown. This is effective through April 12. | |
| 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. | |
| Massachusetts | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Michigan | Exemption for businesses needed “to perform tasks that are necessary to….the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets).” | |
| Missouri | No mandatory business closures at this time | |
| Nevada | Veterinary Services and Pet Stores are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| New Jersey | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| New Mexico | Press conference expected afternoon of 3/23. | |
| New York | Businesses relating to the care of animals are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Ohio | “Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals”are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Oklahoma | No statewide order at this time. | |
| Oregon | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| Pennsylvania | Pet supply stores are included in the list of “life-sustaining business activities” | |
| Texas | Dallas County under shelter in place order, effective tonight through April 3. | |
| Utah | No statewide directive at this time. | |
| Virginia | Update Expected 3/23 | |
| Washington | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | |
| West Virginia | Businesses that “provide food, shelter, or other necessities of life for animals” are exempt | |
| Wyoming | No statewide directive at this time. |
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Posted by chesliepickett
on Mar 25 2020. Filed under Breaking News.
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