Manx dog groomers: 'Freedom to flourish or destined to fail?'

Mon, 20 Nov 2023

Freedom to flourish or destined to fail? That is a question being asked by dog groomers on the Isle of Man in response to the Pets at Home Groom Room planning application.

This morning (November 20), Shona Leonard from Canine Divine Dog Grooming will be speaking on behalf of many dog groomers on the Isle of Man in opposition to the Pets at Home Groom Room planning application.

The business took to social media to voice its concerns regarding the application saying: “As an island we are constantly seeing local businesses closing due to being priced out by huge corporations or due to the fact they cannot keep up with the ever increasing cost of living on the island."

"I truly hope the government stands with us. This wouldn’t just be a huge win for all of the incredible and passionate dog groomers on the Isle of Man but hopefully many future wins for local businesses of all types on the island.

I have done everything I possibly can to oppose this application, the rest is up to the Isle of Man Government.

Please stand with us and support your local dog groomer, we do not want to be pushed into closing like many pet shops were after Pets at Home opened their pet shop 12 years ago," Canine Divine said. 

It also added that the Department for Enterprise (DFE) has “spent tens of thousands of pounds, possibly 100k plus, on helping new dog groomers open their businesses on the Isle of Man via the Micro Business Grant Scheme".

"The money they have spent includes, but is probably not limited to, grants (on average 5k per business that has gone through the course), mentors hired by the department to help these businesses for a year and the courses held prior to opening. This would be a huge waste of government money to then allow Pets at Home to open a groom room which would definitely force closures of local dog grooming businesses on the Isle of Man.”

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