Pet grooming salon owner argues business is ‘essential’

By Jose Negron
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Local businessman Norm Candelore’s message is clear: Pet grooming salons should be open.
Candelore, the owner of three Candelore’s Barking Beauties salons in Elizabeth Township, White Oak and Finleyville, said all three locations have been closed since March 20, a day after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life sustaining businesses to close in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Just under six weeks after the business last operated, Candelore is still wondering why pet grooming establishments were among the businesses forced to close with no notice of when they could open again.
“This doesn’t make any sense to us,” Candelore said. “I don’t know how it is for other industries, but our business isn’t classified as essential and it needs to be. People have pets and we have a lot of elderly people who have dogs in their homes, and these folks need help with their pets.
“It doesn’t have to be a haircut or a complete grooming, it could just be toenail trimmings, ear pluckings or ear cleanings. This all just needs to be taken care of and the longer this goes on, the worse it’s getting.”
Candelore understands the nature of the situation and gets that safety precautions are needed during a time in which the coronavirus has affected thousands of people statewide.
“We get that there is a virus going around and that there are people getting sick and unfortunately some people are dying, we don’t want to be a part of that, but we should definitely have the opportunity to open up,” Candelore said. “There is no place safer than a dog grooming salon.”
Pet grooming salons don’t regularly draw the same large crowds as grocery stores and other establishments open during the pandemic, he said.
Candelore said each of his locations might have a customer every 20 or 30 minutes.
“They drop their pets off and then they leave,” Candelore said. “There is no congregation of people.”
Candelore admits the sudden closure of his business has been financially devastating. It’s also put nearly a half dozen employees out of work.
“We have 21 young people that work for us that need their jobs,” Candelore said. “People say, ‘Oh, well they’re getting unemployment and they’re getting this and that,’ but that’s not what they come to work for. They come to work to have a career. This is something they put their heart and soul into.”
With the state scheduled to lift some stay-at-home orders in the northwest and northcentral Pa. regions May 8, Candelore said he plans to open each of his three locations on that date. That is going to occur with or without permission from the state, Candelore added.
“My mind is made up. If it means fines, citations, whatever it takes, we’re opening up the salons May 8,” he said. “We just can’t wait any longer.”
All three locations will be taking proper precautions to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.
All requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are in place, Candelore said.
Plexiglass screens have been placed in front of registers, curbside services have been installed and a one-customer-at-a-time limit will be implemented at each location. Additionally, customers will no longer be allowed to wait inside each of the establishments and masks will be required for all employees and customers. Social distancing will also be practiced.
“We’ve done everything we have been required to do by the current CDC recommendations,” Candelore said. “If they add something else, we’ll follow the rules.”
Area pet groomers and salon owners aren’t the only ones who see their services as essential during the current pandemic.
State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler, recently introduced legislation to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs. House Bill 2436 would allow animal grooming services to resume under social distancing guidelines.
“I’ve been hearing from dog groomers, really not just from my district, but all over the state that have been shut down during this COVID-19 crisis,” Mustello told members of the media Tuesday. “Being on the agricultural committee, I decided to talk to the chairman and say, ‘I’d like to introduce a bill. As we’re starting to open up the economy right now, let’s not neglect and forget about our four-legged friends out there that have really been neglected during this period of time.’”
According to Mustello, the bill passed in committee Monday. It will now head to the House floor.
“I’m thankful to the supporters of the bill and really the co-sponsors that helped push it through,” Mustello said. “I’ve been hearing a lot from pet owners who have dogs that haven’t had their nails clipped in a while, and that’s very dangerous. I’m all about the health of everybody, even our four-legged friends. I really look forward to full passage of this bill so we can reopen dog groomers.”
State Rep. David Rowe, R-Lewisburg, is one of the co-sponsors for Mustello’s bill.
“Countless pet owners across the district have expressed concerns about the well-being of their furry four-legged friends,” Rowe said via his Facebook page Monday. “Routine grooming is important for an animal’s long term health and is a business model that can easily meet CDC standards for safety and prevention.”
Candelore is eager to see his three locations open up next week and is thankful for the support of the loyal customers who have stood by the business during this tough six-week period.
“We have the best customers. The support, the trust and the love that my family and my business has received over the last several weeks is absolutely overwhelming,” Candelore said. “Sometimes I don’t have the words to say thank you. We appreciate everyone so much.”