Coronavirus

Jul- 2020 -

22 July

Kennel Club Charitable Trust receives new boost

Renowned dog photographer, Anna Szabó, has donated proceedings from a recent photoshoot to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which has set up an emergency relief initiative to support organisations through the crisis. The donation from Szabó, who fought coronavirus earlier this year, will go towards charities and organisations who work…

20 July

Footfall sees ‘most modest’ decline since lockdown

Footfall rose by 4.5% last week against the week prior, according to the latest figures from Springboard. The group said this rise was largely driven by high streets and shopping centres, where footfall rose by 6.8% and 4.7%, respectively, while slipping 0.7% in retail parks. While this recorded rise was…

14 July

Face coverings to be compulsory in shops from 24 July

Wearing a face covering in retail shops and supermarkets will be made compulsory from the 24 July, it is set to be officially announced later today (14 July). It is thought that those who are found to be flouting the new rules may be faced with a fine of up…

13 July

Businesses must remain Covid-secure, warns HSE

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses that they must ensure they are Covid-secure as lockdown measures ease across the UK. According to the authority, inspectors will be “out and about”, spot-checking employers that they are complying with health and safety law. HSE defines “Covid-secure” as being “adaptable…

13 July

Puppy smuggling trade continues during lockdown, says Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust is warning the public about the perils of buying dogs via online adverts after rescuing dozens of smuggled pups since the start of lockdown worth tens of thousands of pounds that were destined to be sold on to unsuspecting UK buyers during the peak of the lockdown puppy-buying…

13 July

Footfall suffers despite June reopening

Footfall in June saw a “significant improvement” against the 73.3% decline reported in May, but was still less than half the level of last year, with an annual decline of 56.6%. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall fell by 65.1% in high streets and 62.3% in shopping centres,…

10 July

Footfall decline eases amid ‘sluggish’ recovery

Footfall across the UK rose by 19% in June against the month prior, but was still down by 62.6% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the BRC. In the first two weeks of the month, footfall decline averaged 77.1%, but this improved to 53.3% in the remaining three weeks…

10 July

PIF urges government for clarity on VAT reductions

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has called on the government to include commercial kennels and catteries in the tourism businesses who will be able to pay lower rates of VAT from next week. The federation said businesses in the pet boarding sector (kennels and catteries) have experienced a huge drop…

9 July

PetsPyjamas launches campaign for hospitality sector

PetsPyjamas is calling on dog owners to help generate £2bn for the hospitality industry by taking holidays in the UK this year. The pet travel company said that the amount could be generated if 10% of the UK’s 9.9 million dog owners took a regional holiday in 2020. In light…

8 July

Battersea issues advice on post-lockdown routines

Animal charity Battersea has issued advice on separation anxiety and post-lockdown routines. The charity said with coronavirus restrictions slowly being lifted, owners may have to start leaving their pets home alone as they return to work, it has issued advice to make the transition as “smooth as possible” for the…