03/19/2020
Hi everyone! So, I will.be contacting everyone on my schedule individually to discuss options for the upcoming weeks. The only reason I haven't done so already is that I'm waiting on the results of a coronavirus test. I should have results by Friday, Saturday at the latest. The likelihood of me having it is very low with the symptoms I'm showing (much more like a common cold) but they wanted to test me because of my cough and my stage of pregnancy. Thirty-three weeks this week!
So, if I test negative, the biggest issue I am dealing with is that my son's daycare is closed. My husband is working from home but he can't do his job and do childcare at the same time. Currently, we are still paying for our daycare as we hope this is temporary and that means we can't afford a babysitter for while I'm away. Ronin can come to some appointments but not all of them. It's asking a lot for a toddler!
What I have been considering is offering a pickup and drop off service. I can come by in the morning, pick your dog up, groom them at my home and bring them back when I'm done. That way, my kiddo can be supervised in his environment and your dog still enjoys the quiet, calm experience of a home based groom. I understand that this isn't possible for some dogs, especially any who stress in the car. Just an option I am considering.
I plan on doing cats in their homes as cats almost always stress during travel and I honestly cannot stop what I'm doing in the middle of a cat groom to help my son with a potty break! I may need to schedule cats on weekends or later in the day so that Ronin can stay with his dad. I will discuss options with all cat clients.
I am doing my best to stay in operation and to protect everyone! What I need from all of my clients is to know how you are doing? Are you in a high risk group? Please let me know! Are you in quarantine due to exposure? We can reschedule! Are you staying home to limit exposure? I can do pick up/drop if you're more comfortable with that!
What am I doing to help mitigate exposure? Since I have a lingering cough from my bout with Influenza Type A 3 weeks ago, I will be wearing a mask. I am disinfecting my equipment between grooms and would like to maintain the recommended 6nfoot space as much as possible, even in client houses. I would prefer for clients to provide towels (usually 1 or 2 per dog/cat) so I can limit what I take out of people's homes and into my car. I am taking my temperature twice a day. If my temp rises above 100.5° during my morning check, I will have to reschedule grooms. If my temp is over 100.5° at my evening check, I will contact you with a heads up and we can either reschedule your groom right then or you can wait for an update on my morning check. I'm also checking my husband and son's temperatures twice a day and we've all been normal so far!
Sorry for such a lengthy post. This has been a lot to absorb for all of us and the near future feels very uncertain. Not going to lie, this has impacted our plans for the impending birth of our son in approximately 6.5 weeks. My mom and MIL likely won't be here to help and currently, my son won't be allowed in the hospital at all while I'm in labor and recovering. We are arranging childcare and I think we will be fine but boy, a pandemic is quite a monkey wrench to deal with! I cannot thank you all enough for your love and support through all this. I care deeply about you, your families and your pets. We will figure all of this out together. Thank y'all so much!
