Following today's lockdown update I can confirm we will be resuming a staggered return to work approach for our 3 groomers enabling them to work through any welfare grooms prior to the lifting of lockdown and the return to our normal aesthetic grooming schedule.
We will start contacting customers this week using a traffic light system to assess the urgency for a welfare groom and getting your dogs booked back in.
RED - dogs are overdue for their routine groom, they are wool coated or non shedding and require urgent attention.
AMBER - dogs that are overdue for their routine groom and have one or more minor issues that if not attended to could create more serious problems.
GREEN - dogs that are not yet overdue or are short coated easy to maintain breeds, these aesthetic grooming appointments will be scheduled from 12th April onwards.
We have approximately 200 cancelled appointments to reschedule from January and February and ask customers to bear with us whilst we contact customers on our cancelled list. There is no need to call us. Welfare appointments are limited as our groomers will not all return to work at the same time.
Once we have worked through and booked in all the dogs on our list we will open the diary and let customers know any remaining availability for welfare grooms.
We have not yet had a DEFRA update, however based on the information we have at the moment we know the Stay At Home order is in place until 29th March and that non-essential retail/hairdressers will re-open on 12th April. For now we will be using these dates as guidelines to plan our welfare grooming schedule.
We need to retain an audit trail including photographic evidence showing why we deemed the groom essential incase we are challenged by Trading Standards, Stockton Council or the Police so please be honest with us.
If you would like your dog to be booked in for a welfare groom* :-
You must be an existing customer and your dog must have been groomed with us at least once in 2020.
Your dog must be already overdue on its routine grooming schedule or had an appointment cancelled. (We can check dates on our booking system).
Your dog must be already knotty or matted, in one or more areas of the body, severe matting on the ears, legs & tail will be considered as this can restrict blood flow.
Or - Your dog must have a pre-existing skin condition and have a prescription shampoo supplied by your vet.
Or - Your dog must have overgrown or ingrown nails making it difficult to walk or causing pain digging in the pad.
We will also accept requests from elderly or disabled owners with high maintenance breeds who are physically unable to groom their own dogs.
If you feel you can put off grooming until after lockdown we can postpone your appointment just let us know when we call. In addition to booking welfare grooms for existing customers we will also be able to book welfare grooms for new puppy's who may be suffering with hair in the eyes, dirty bottoms (hygiene areas) or overgrown nails. We will post more information ASAP regarding puppy welfare grooms. *Note at the current moment no aesthetic grooms or spa treatments are available and your dog will be trimmed into a short and tidy easy to maintain style. Matted dogs will be shaved short for their own welfare. Strict Covid safe guidelines are in place in the shop and salon. We thank you for your patience and continued loyalty during this difficult time.
