Pandemic forces dog kennels into closure
A Perthshire dog kennel owner has hit out after she was denied access to emergency COVID funding - forcing her to close.
Gallowmyre Kennels, near Pitroddie, shut for business on Saturday until at least May 1 due to the financial strain caused by the pandemic.
Sarah Will took over the kennels, which can house 60 dogs, last January and despite reopening in June after lockdown, only saw a maximum of 20 dogs housed at any one time during peak periods.
The kennels were due for an influx of 30 dogs around Christmas time, but mass cancellations followed the government’s tightening of restrictions with only eight staying in her care.
Sarah’s attempts to keep the kennels open saw her turn to the strategic framework business fund and selfemployment income support scheme - but she was deemed ineligible for both.
After a difficult 12 months, where her workforce was reduced from over 20 to just three, Sarah is now calling on the government to step in and set up grants to help save not just her business but others just like it.
“Dog kennels must be one of the worst affected businesses out there,” said Sarah, who had only one dog left in her care when it closed.
“In June we opened again and picked up business and got more over the summer but we never got enough to take 60 dogs.
“In the summer at our peak we struggled to take 15 to 20 dogs when we would normally be at maximum capacity at 60, so we have really struggled.
“November and December are normally busy but we have not had that just now either and January and February are the lean times.
“Christmas looked like it was going to be busy then everything was cancelled last minute.
“Everybody was told not to travel and not to see family then we only had eight dogs in and we thought it was going to be around 30.
“So most of my customers that came in this year were getting hospital treatment or, in long-term cases, were because they had been flooded out of their houses.”
After applying for strategic framework funding, PKC replied to Sarah in an email stating her business “does not qualify for this scheme under the level four categories laid down by the Scottish Government in the strategic framework covering the Temporary Closure Fund”.
She was also told restrictions funding does not apply at level four for any business.
Sarah feels the two grants she applied for should cater for kennel businesses.
“We have been knocked back and they don’t explain why, you just get a generic email,” she said.
“And I can’t claim for self-employment because I only took the business over in January and they require three years of books.
“So although my staff can get furloughed I have been working a sevenday week and often a 12-hour day with nothing to show for it.
“Having been knocked back for the funding I have just had to say ‘I just cannot carry on anymore’.
“I don’t want to close because there are customers out there who will genuinely need somewhere to put there dogs for work or if they have to go into hospital.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The strategic framework business fund provides grants to businesses required by law to close or to significantly change their operations due to COVID-19 restrictions.”
Perth and Kinross Council’s response was to refer to the guidance on the Scottish Government website.
The guidance states: “Boarding kennels and catteries may operate normally, provided the rules on physical distancing are followed and measures are taken to minimise the risk of the incidence and spread of coronavirus on the premises, for example limiting close face to face interaction and maintaining hygiene. This should include maintaining physical distancing for their staff and owners when animals arrive or are collected.”