If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that your home is where your heart is…where your dog is… and where you are in control. You control who comes in and who doesn’t, and you also have complete control over cleaning of surfaces and airing of rooms.
For this reason, I think more than ever, the pet services that can offer an in-home service offer true value.
Each in-home service should provide you (the customer) with a comprehensive Covid-19 safety plan which has details about their equipment cleaning, personal hygiene and contact tracing procedures. Since in-home services are 1:1, it means that you and your dog are kept at a distance (literally) from the service’s other customers and this reduces your risk of exposure.
For distancing purposes, you can also set up your home in a configuration that works for you and your dog – while still keeping your social distance from your groomer/therapist/trainer. Again, this is a win for you and also a win for your visiting professional. Distance = safety.
And when your service provider has left your home, you know exactly what areas of your home to clean; I recommend using a main room that has easy access to your front or back entrance door. This means that your visiting professional doesn’t need to walk through other rooms – further restricting the areas you will want to clean when they have finished.
I know that some pet services can’t be provided in-home. But many can. We live in uncertain times. Control of your surroundings can keep you and your family safe.
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 