Safety first

The American Pet Products Association (APPA), the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) and the World Pet Association (WPA) conducted a survey of over 500 retailers, manufacturers, distributors, dog groomers, owners of kennels and veterinary surgeons. Their aim was to learn what coronavirus-related factors and challenges confronted the service suppliers and how they reacted to these.
The response to the survey indicates that the respondents have adapted quickly to the "new normal". They have found a way to ensure safety at work and the safety of customers as well as offering them products and services.The survey has shown that the pet sector is finding innovative ways of supplying pets and their owners responsibly with products and services to ensure their wellbeing.

Over 75 per cent of those surveyed said that they had been able to continue with their business, but had concentrated more than ever on safety. 76 per cent had expanded their cleaning and disinfection routines, 72 per cent provided their employees with personal protective equipment, 61 per cent installed hand sanitiser stations and 56 per cent restricted the number of customers or visitors permitted on the premises at the same time. Furthermore, respondents stated that they had increased the spacing between workplaces, changed the working times of staff and cut their opening hours to devote more time to cleaning.
Respondents also recounted how they had been able to give something back to people in their region during this period. This included providing care packages for families with pets, for example, or the use of 3D printers to produce protective masks for first aiders.

With regard to how business routines might change following the pandemic, retailers and manufacturers alike expect the demand for new e-commerce options, collecting pre-ordered goods and home delivery to continue well beyond the quarantine period.
"The pet sector is a key element in the daily lives of millions of American households and their pets," commented PIDA president Celeste Powers. She is convinced that by the swift reaction of all involved parties to the crisis and the guarantee of continuous secure…