The Grooming Rooms Can Finally reopen.

Thursday, May 7, 2020 - Brussels, May 6, 2020 -
GAIA welcomes the Security Council's decision to reopen the grooming salons from May 11, as confirmed by the office of the Minister of Employment, Economy and Consumers Nathalie Muylle (CD&V).
"The Crisis Center has decided to close the grooming salons at the same time as the hair salons, when these are two completely different services," said GAIA director Ann De Greef.
"Without proper care, animals face many often painful problems: ingrown toenails, pyoderma, skin conditions, winter coat that comes off and becomes tangled in the longer hairs ...
The decision to reopen the salons of Grooming is a good thing, but as far as we are concerned, they should never have closed. Especially since it is perfectly possible to maintain the required social distance and to take all the necessary precautions and safety measures ".
In the interest of animal welfare, GAIA has been asking Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès (MR) and regional ministers of animal welfare to open pet grooming salons for weeks.
"It is not so much an aesthetic service as a real question of animal welfare because without proper care, animals face many often painful problems: ingrown toenails, pyoderma, skin conditions, winter coat which detaches and gets tangled in the longer hairs, dog and cat epiphora ...
" Dozens of complaints In recent weeks, the animal rights organization has received dozens of complaints.
Not only from groomers worried about the animals they care for, but also from many concerned owners.
An elderly lady, for example, was unable to clean her dog's eyes herself, which caused the animal to become inflamed.
Nor was she welcome to the vet.
The groomer S.V. contacted GAIA on April 4: "Dear GAIA, I am a dog groomer with 24 years of experience.
I am not satisfied with the compulsory closure.
We have an essential job.
We even had to close our doors earlier than the hairdressing salons when we don't even have to get in touch with people in the exercise of our profession.
Where is the logic ?
You can't imagine what the animals will look like after we close.
Completely tangled, with ingrown toenails, not to mention the dirt of their poop and that of their eyes and ears.
It’s really a shame to label our profession as non-essential. ”
"If the closure had been extended, it would have caused serious health problems for many animals," says Ann De Greef.
"We also had to avoid that some inexperienced people suddenly had to deal with animals.
Groomers are people with specific training.
They often have years of experience.
It's a real profession, not a hobby. "