Dog walkers not needed while the whole family is home

When everyone is home, pets get more attention.

That's good for the animal, but bad for the companies whose revenue is based on the care of those animals.

Prairie Path Pet Care has been walking and grooming dogs and cats since 2012. Based in Wheaton, the company employs about 50 experienced and trained dog walkers who cover large areas of Kane, Cook and McHenry counties.

"Our walkers aren't making as much money as they were," said Marsha Thomas, Crystal Lake branch manager. "They don't get paid unless they are walking dogs."

Business is down 70 percent since last fall, mostly because of the stay-at-home order in place since March 21.

"I see whole families walking their dogs now when I am out with a pet," said Thomas. "They just don't need us now."

Thomas says the company still cares for the animals of first responders and health care workers, and is doing everything it can to be safe by wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and using social distancing. And the small business has been approved for federal stimulus help.

"That should see us through," said Thomas. "And some people are just being nice about it and still asking us to walk their dogs."