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25
Mar 2021
'Insult to injury': Ripley dog groomer misses out on vital covid grant
A dog groomer in Ripley says she is struggling to pay the rent after she was denied a £2,000 covid grant at the last minute.
The government says dog grooming services can stay open but pets can only be groomed if it’s absolutely necessary for the animal’s welfare.
This has put businesses like Sirius Dog Grooming Parlour in Ripley in a difficult position. Owner Catherine Cowling says she is technically open but has lost 95% of her customers.
She received an email from Harrogate Borough Council earlier this month saying she was eligible for a £2,000 Local Restrictions Support Grant for businesses that have been forced to close due to covid.
She said the money was even pending in her bank account ready to be paid in.
But then a couple of days later, the government issued fresh guidance to local authorities to say dog groomers were not eligible for this grant, and she never received the money.
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Cat said she now hopes to be eligible for a £500 Additional Restrictions Grant but is yet to receive it.
She said the dog grooming industry has been hit hard by mixed messages sent out by the government.
She added:
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said:
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