In an update for the year to 26 March, the retailer said annual profits would be higher than expected due to the recent spike in demand for pet products and healthcare. They include: Businesses are still able to take online orders and deliver items to people's homes. PET-OWNERS may be panicking about how to look after animals during the coronavirus lockdown, but the good news is that pet stores are allowed to stay open. Consider selling your home to Zillow. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Juggling open houses and last-minute showings is a lot to handle, even without pets. PetCo is also expecting a 4% rise in households that own pets. For fear of a surge in homeless animals due to coronavirus, shelters are thinking outside the box to place pets in new homes. "Pet adoption rates increased both because of a need for emotional support and also just that the opportunity was there. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Pets at Home Group sold five specialist referral practices to veterinary company Linnaeus Group. "We see customers looking for more convenient ways to walk their dogs or maximize the utility of their space," said Bakalar. Pets at Home is classed as an essential retailer and has been allowed to stay open during lockdown. The government has issued a list of which "essential" retailers are allowed to stay open. No-deal Navy threat 'irresponsible' - Tory MP, US faces bleak winter amid worst Covid wave yet, Trump's latest, legal longshot doomed by Supreme Court, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter. Sophie Bakalar, co-founder of direct-to-consumer premium pet gear brand Fable, told "The News with Shepard Smith" that her company has experienced a huge spike in sales this year. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Pets at Home says it is seeing "exceptional levels of demand" amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Due to a major spike in pet adoptions and families spending more time at home with their pets, we've experienced unprecedented growth this year with a 12x increase since 2019, surpassing projections by more than three times," Bakalar said. Pets at Home Group PLC reported Tuesday a rise in pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2021 on higher revenue, despite the coronavirus pandemic. It is a lot easier to have a pet when you're not going into the office as much.". That's the message coming from The Kennel Club, one of the UK's biggest dog welfare organisations. "With traditional retail stores closed, we did see an opportunity for new customer acquisition with people who weren't used to shopping online for pets, which has fueled some of our growth this year.". Video, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter, Zodiac Killer: Code-breakers solve San Francisco killer's cipher, Brexit: No-deal Navy threat 'irresponsible', says Tobias Ellwood, Black Lives Matter: Driver charged after crashing into New York protest, Nigeria school attack: Hundreds missing in Katsina after gunmen's raid, Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill, Covid: Christmas five-day relaxation period 'a mistake', Ruhollah Zam: Iran executes journalist accused of fanning unrest, US Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed bid to overturn election, Alfred Bourgeois: Second death row inmate executed in two days. We want to hear from you. This advice applies to England only. "I think what may have happened is that some of the panic buying that we've seen domestically has been extended for the same reason for people and pets. However, it warned of an uncertain outlook for 2020-21 saying it was not "immune" to the crisis. Coronavirus: Morrisons store staff get bonus for coming into work, Covid: Homeless left struggling for shelter. ; Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. Last week, school leaders criticised Pets at Home for arguing that all of its staff - including non-veterinary workers - should be classed as essential workers so they could access emergency childcare. Photo: Getty Images. Tips to Keep Your Furry Friends Safe During Holiday Celebrations From food safety to knowing about hazards around your home, the San Diego Humane Society is reminding pet … The greater amount of time people have been spending at home for the past few weeks has inspired many to provide new homes for pets, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed. Pet merchandise is expected to be one of the top gift-giving categories, according to a survey by consulting firm Deloitte. The UN secretary general has called on all countries to declare a climate emergency. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow in the United States, many pet owners are likely worried about what will happen to their animal companions if they fall seriously ill or need hospitalization. There is no message on the Pets at Home website, as of Tuesday, 24th March, 2020 to say that their stores will be closing due to coronavirus. The information in this article may not reflect the most current updates on COVID-19 reporting. Pets Combat Loneliness And Stress For Those Isolated During The Covid-19 Pandemic Jackie Rocheleau Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Some animal shelters are beginning to see an increase in pets who have become homeless after their owner died during a pandemic that has taxed healthcare systems and the economy. The American Pet Products Association projects Americans to spend a record-high $99 billion this year on all things pet, ranging from food to veterinary care. Boss Peter Pritchard said: "I am extremely grateful that our colleagues and operations have shown such resilience and flexibility to meet the recent exceptional level of demand from both existing and new customers. Pets at Home is classed as an essential retailer and has been allowed to stay open during lockdown. © 2020 BBC. Here's how you can protect both you and your pet(s) and what to do if you get sick. "One of the biggest concerns we've heard, especially during Covid, has been around separation anxiety and boredom. Pets at Home Group said it sold five specialist referral practices to veterinary company Linnaeus Group for £100m ($133.9m) in cash as part of efforts to focus on “customer-facing activities.”Pets’ shares were down roughly 1% on Tuesday morning. On average, half of those surveyed plan to spend $90 on pet items. While many pets are soaking up all the extra time at home with their owners amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows that this intensified bond could be … There are an … The pet store and vets group said people had been spending more as pets played an "increasingly vital role in our lives" during the crisis. Direct-to-consumer premium pet gear brand founder Sophie Bakalar said her company experienced "unprecedented growth" and "surpassed projections by more than three times.". If the thought of keeping your home show-ready and getting your pet out of the house before every appointment is too much to handle, consider selling your home to Zillow through our Zillow Offers program. We continue to take all appropriate action in line with government advice and remain vigilant to the potential impact of Covid-19 as we start the new financial year. .css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:bolder;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}}As designated "essential retailers", pet shops and vets can stay open during the pandemic. A Division of NBCUniversal. People are looking for products that will keep their pets occupied while working from home.". Only being allowed to go for one daily walk during the UK's coronavirus lockdown is posing an issue for the millions of people who own pets. Pets at Home - … March 13, 2020. Animal shelters using innovative strategies amid COVID-19 concerns. The anxiety of trying to stay safe through the COVID-19 pandemic is not reserved only for the humans enduring stay-at-home orders and social isolation. There is no evidence that pets can spread coronavirus (COVID-19). "We expect pet adoption rates to continue increasing as work from home and flexible work schedules become more normal," Bakalar said. It said it was seeking to "strike a balance" between providing essential services to the public alongside safeguarding the health of customers and staff. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Are pets especially helpful for mental health during the coronavirus pandemic? © 2020 CNBC LLC. Yes, Pets at Home stores are open although the company has now put measures in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. ", .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Coronavirus: Morrisons store staff get bonus for coming into work, Coronavirus: Sainsbury’s uses ‘loophole’ to keep Argos open, World needs to declare 'climate emergency' - UN. Bakalar said that she doesn't see this as a "short term blip" during the pandemic, because of the emotional value of pets and the fact that people aren't simply returning their animals when the pandemic is over. However, since being officially classed as an essential retailer, the firm said it had moved staff from non-essential parts of the business to essential functions that provided food and medicine. PetCo has filed to be publicly traded on the stock market again on the Nasdaq under the ticker "WOOF." Pets, touch and COVID-19: Why our furry friends are lifesavers Dec 01, 2020 Pets linked to maintaining better mental health and reducing loneliness during lockdown, new research shows Coronavirus: Keeping Your Pets Safe During the COVID-19 Crisis. Pets suddenly are appearing in work conference calls, expecting extra play time and providing comic relief to their owners during a stressful time. All Rights Reserved. Pets at Home remains open across the UK, as it has been designated as an essential service due to selling pet food and other essentials. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. The retailer says only a … Pets at Home said it had now shut non-essential parts of the business such as its Groom Room grooming salons. Advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking after the welfare of animals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, have been reported external icon to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Bakalar said that she doesn’t see this as a “short term blip” during the pandemic, because of the emotional value of pets and the fact that people aren’t simply returning their animals when the pandemic is over. Americans are projected to spend $99 billion on their pets this year. 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