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<p>There has been no change in the status of kennel and cattery businesses. Under
the current restrictions veterinary services, animal rescue centres, and animal boarding
facilities may stay open. Continued access to animal boarding facilities at this time
is important for animal welfare purposes, including where required to enable critical
workers to go to work or to allow owners to attend medical or vaccination appointments.</p><p>
</p><p>Local authorities have been allocated £500 million in discretionary funding
via the Additional Restrictions Grant to support businesses that are significantly
impacted by the restrictions even though not required to close. This is in addition
to £1.1 billion already allocated in November 2020. Local authorities have discretion
to use this funding to support businesses in the way they see fit. For example, this could
include businesses which supply the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, or businesses
in the events sector or businesses outside the business rates system, which are effectively
forced to close. Businesses which cannot maintain their workforce because operations
have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) can furlough employees and apply for
a grant to cover a portion of their usual monthly wage costs, more information on
eligibility can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#who-can-claim"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#who-can-claim</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government has issued advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking
after the welfare of animals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This includes
guidance on how to access animal boarding facilities safely and is clear that you
should only access these facilities by appointment and recommends that you ask the
facilities if they provide a collection and drop-off service. More information can
be found at: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals&data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ccdb47b630757448d00e308d8c6b349ed%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637477820629969763%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mxkLP22r5dSOqrjTZUrEgEXXa865J4yjnU7KPk9P3v8%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-people-with-animals</a></p><p>
</p><p>The Canine and Feline Sector Group has also issued advice for pet businesses,
including animal boarding establishments, on how to operate safely within the new
restrictions. This includes a protocol for the handover of pets and may be found online:
<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfsg.org.uk%2Frepository%2F360%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ccdb47b630757448d00e308d8c6b349ed%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637477820629979758%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Lv0ltm7otHRRm7rC69TMolIwHHXsAZ%2FP5hU8B6W9HEo%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.cfsg.org.uk/repository/360/</a></p>
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