HELPING HANDS PET SERVICES ©

Hello readers,

Happy New year, I wonder what 2012 will bring for Helping Hands as we go into our 5th Year of business. Its always exciting when a new year comes, already we have bookings for 2013 so thats a great start ! we are also looking for a part time dog walker for Gateshead, this is a lovely little job for someone who wants to work with great dogs, be out in the fresh air and be part of a growing family run business, already we have had a lot of applicants, but we never rush our choice, we are very particular about who we employ.

We walk the dogs in some beautiful places but i have to say i cannot believe the amount of dog poo we see??? I hate dog poo and we always try to avoid over populated places where people walk their dogs for this very reason so im baffled when we go to a rural place thinking it wont have many dog walkers going there to then see lots and lots of poo...Eeeew. The thing is we then come across walkers who scowl at us with our group of dogs thinking its us not picking up after our gang when we do !!!. I dont understand people who dont pick it up, they really are spoiling walks for everyone. Martin went to walk his dogs in a well known part of Newcastle that is popular with runners and walkers and dog walking services. Martin thought it would be a nice change for his gang, but as he was getting his dogs out of the car ready to head off he noticed another dog walking service who ignored the fact that some of their dogs were doing a poo and he noticed they didnt have any used bags either ( the bins are where you park the car ) so they must not of picked any of their mess up??? now if they go there everyday, which they seem to, then those dogs will be running in it and then contaminating their vehicles and possibly their owners homes?? so martin put his gang back in the car and left and went to a walking area that isnt full of poo. I would like to buy a field for Helping Hands dog walking service so we know our dogs can have fun walks without having to stand in other dogs mess, i think we will do that one day. Im waiting for the goverment to start financially punishing pet services with expensive licences or something, i think it will happen and it will be the good services like us who suffer and the rogue one's, the ones who dont pick up the poo or have insurance or pay their taxes because its all cash in hand or have the proper things in place to run a safe service who will get away with it. Crikey somethings never change, ive started the new year with a RANT !

Onto nice things....Toni one of our dog walkers has had her baby... a little girl called Holly and she is gorgeous. Congratulations Toni and Kal. We have had lots of new cats come onto the mobile cattery service over Christmas so a big hello to all our new clients. I love the mobile cattery service, its an extended family of cats to us, we visited Dexter and his brother Sebastian for a full month over December to the beginning of January, they are siamese and adorable....we missed seeing them everyday when the booking finished but im glad to say they have just been booked again for a few days in february so we will look forward to giving them a hug then. The dog walking service is back to full throttle after Christmas, all the dogs get soooooo excited to be with their buddies again, we cant help but laugh at their antics. Its so muddy at the moment that most days the dogs are filthly, especially the labradors, we do shower them down but my apologies for any mud that might creep into their beds when they are dropped off, im looking forward to getting out of my wellies and back into my walking boots so roll on spring. I have intended to spend more time in the office but until we get another person on board to help with the dogs im afraid you might get the answering machine quite a lot at the moment but dont be put off, leave your message and i will get back to you.

Well thats all for now, i hope your all sticking to your new year resolutions, i didnt make any but i have decided to eat healthy from now on....and im taking Paul on this trek with me, ( oh yes the big fella is coming down with me....in size ) so out with the junk and take aways and in with good healthy food. I bought a diet magazine as motivation and a woman who had started a cattery business had the same problem, no time to do anything else as the business was their total focus, so they ate on the run and from take aways, ( i thought i was reading my story ! ) she put on 4 stone before she knew it but she changed her ways and looks great now, so there is hope. No doubt i will keep you updated in my blogs with how its going, i cant give up my glass of wine at the weekend though but ive sacrificed pizza instead, so i think thats a fair trade.

Bye for now

Best wishes from

Dawn