State Exemptions Protecting Pet Care, Supplies, and Services During Shutdown
AKC Legislative Alert – Updated April 22, 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 | Animal Food Manufacturing, Other Animal Production, Support Activities for Animal Production are exempt from the shutdown. Any information for businesses can be found here. | 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. Critical infastructure includes veterinarians and pet supply stores.Guidance and FAQ here. For information: Candice.broce@georgia.gov. | Link Link |
| Hawaii | Exemption made for “businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals”, including kennels | |
| 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 | 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. Information for businesses can be found 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 | Veterinary services, not to include elective procedures, are specifically exempted from stay-at-home order. Pet supply stores are implied to be deemed essential. 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 from April 3 through April 20. Non-essential businesses are required to cease operations. 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 not exempted. 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 submitted with 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 | Pet Supply and Pet Care services are exempt from the shutdown. | 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. | |
| 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 resolutionsfor 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 | Pet and feed stores are exempt from shutdown. Information can be found 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 | Business restrictions are ordered incrementally eased commencing April 20 at 5:00pm, subject to Emergency Rules regarding occupancy rates, social distancing practices, and sanitation as provided in Executive Order 2020-28. | Link |
| 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. | Link Link |
| Texas | Veterinary services and pet food and pet supply businesses considered essential. 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 | Pet and feed stores remain open. Questions regarding Virginia closures can be found here. Non-essential brick and mortar business is allowed to operate if they can meet social distancing and other CDC guidance criteria. | Link |
| Washington | Veterinary services and animal feed businesses are exempt. Application available for other pet services not included | Link |
| West Virginia | Businesses that “provide food, shelter, or other necessities of life for animals” are exempt. Information can be found here. | 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 22 2020. Filed under Breaking News.
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