COVID-19 update
Update 30th December 2020
Update 26th December 2020
Travelling between tiers for the purpose of visiting an essential retailer and to maintain pet animal welfare
Previously, during full lockdowns, customers no matter their location (within reason) could visit Healthy Pet Store as being an essential retailer. We are still an essential retailer but the introduction of tiers across this region has somewhat complicated matters.
Following a call today with Hampshire Constabulary, we have been advised that travel between tiers is not unlawful. What could be unlawful is the intent or purpose of leaving the tier and the reasonableness of doing so. For example, it would be unlawful to leave Southampton to visit a holiday home on the Isle of Wight for the purpose of ‘getting away from the city’. However, by way of example, the Police would consider it lawful to go to a supermarket in Fareham (at the time and for the sake of the example, tier 4) whilst living in Gosport (at the time and for the sake of the example, tier 3).
Healthy Pet Store also holds a number of single and novel protein and special dietary foods and we cater for customers with cats and dogs who are maintained on specific diets, often at the request of their veterinary practice. Not being able to buy these foods within a reasonable distance would be considered a welfare issue. The Police therefore advised that we could offer to provide a customer coming from another tier to Totton (tier 3) with an email explaining their need for the journey. Please email info@healthypetstore.co.uk should you need one.
Hampshire Constabulary also wanted to express that their primary remit here is engagement and communication, not necessarily enforcement.
We hope this goes some way to helping our customers outside tier 3 understand under what circumstances they can cross tier boundaries to visit Healthy Pet Store for their dog’s or cat’s specific requirements, or to assess the reasonableness of their journey to the store.
We would always recommend addressing further enquiries to 101, option 4. They have been very helpful in respect of this.