The Fairy Petmum

11/10/2026

07/10/2026

🐾 😢😢😢😢😢 🐾

And yet another advert has cropped up, from a 14 & 17 year old couple of young girls who are advertising dog walking to “earn a bit of pocket money”……

Apparently they both have “experience” with dogs & would “love to meet your friendly pets”……

🐾 No canine first aid
🐾 No insurance
🐾 No qualifications

Now I’m all for kids making their way in life, earning their own money by getting jobs outside of school hours, learning the value of money.

BUT this is the reason that professional dog carers, who have all the necessary things in place to legally care for your pets (licences, insurance, DBS check, first aid qualifications, years of experience with all sizes shapes breeds & temperaments, NVQ’s, diplomas…..) are increasingly struggling to make their businesses viable.

We are constantly trying to cover our overheads whilst competing with ridiculous prices of £6 - £7.50 per hour by under qualified inexperienced people who think that dog care is just put a lead on & take them for a nice walk.

🐾 Would they know what to do in the case of a medical emergency…..
🐾 What if a dog got involved in an argument with another dog…..
🐾 Leads / harnesses can break and dogs escape or run off…..
🐾 What if they got injured on a walk - too young to drive to safety…..
🐾 Entering people’s houses without an adult to collect dogs / pet visit…..
🐾 Are they experienced in reading a dogs body language…..
🐾 Another person got injured but they have no insurance - who would cover costs…..
🐾 Dangers to look out for - toxic food dogs pick up, anti-freeze, sticks, weather protocols for both hot & cold days
🐾 Health issues that can deteriorate rapidly & be potentially fatal - could they get your dog to a vet in time…..

I’ve just done my monthly accounts and just for the hours I’ve had dogs, after I’ve taken off my expenses I’ve still earned LESS than the uk minimum wage. This doesn’t include all the extra hours that get put in behind the scenes (cleaning, maintenance, washing, admin, accounts, scheduling, responding to emails & messages etc which are all done out of the day care hours so usually in the evenings, weekends or “day off”). Plus there’s the tax & NI to deduct, cost of electric water & heating, car tax mot & insurance……

It really is time that our industry put more legislations in place, to protect dogs, dog owners, dog carers…..

21/09/2026

Back to school season is here! New faces, new classes, same... picnic tables? 👀

Great to see our Denholme Picnic Tables in action at Cockburn School. Another happy customer making the switch to recycled plastic.

These tables won't need storing over winter, covering up, or any kind of maintenance. They'll stay steady, sturdy, and looking good from term to term, no matter what the weather does - long after the current Year 7s have graduated.

📞 01422 419 555 | 🔗 https://britishrecycledplastic.co.uk/

29/08/2026

I'm coming too

Join Pet Biz Power Week — a free 5-day live training challenge for pet business owners. Guest experts covering goal setting, marketing, audience building, networking and mindset. 7th–11th September 2026.

15/08/2026

Your cat doesn't care that you're going on holiday.

They care that you're leaving their house. 😂

Their sofa.

Their windowsill.

Their favourite sleeping spot.

Their food bowl.

Their routine.

And quite possibly, their absolute favourite human-shaped servant.

Which is why good cat care isn't just about popping in, putting food down and leaving again.

It's about keeping their world as normal as possible while you're away.

Same home.

Same smells.

Same routines.

Someone they can get to know.

Someone who notices if they're eating differently, hiding more than usual, or just generally behaving like something isn't quite right.

Because cats are very good at pretending everything is fine.

Until it isn't.

And that's why I absolutely love looking after them 💜

You go away. They stay home. Everyone's happier. 🐈‍⬛

My books are currently closed, with new client enquiries reopening on 21 September.

14/08/2026

☀️🐾 IT’S A RUFF SUMMER FOR DOG PROS 🐾☀️
We all know how important it is to keep our dogs safe in hot weather — and sometimes that means cancelling walks, changing schedules, reducing outdoor activities or postponing appointments.
But behind that necessary decision is often a small business losing income.
Dog-care professionals still have bills to pay, even when the weather means they can’t safely provide the service. So if your dog walker, sitter, daycare, groomer or other pet professional has had to cancel or change plans because of the heat, here are a few small ways you can help:
❤️ Be understanding — keeping your dog safe comes first. A kind message goes a long way.
⭐ Leave a review or recommendation — it costs nothing and can make a huge difference to a small business.
📅 Rebook when you can — if you’ve had to cancel, booking again when the weather improves helps replace some of that lost income.
📣 Spread the word — like, share and recommend their business. When things are quieter, helping them reach new clients can be invaluable.
🫶 Be patient & kind — this heat won’t last forever, but your support right now can help dog pros (and their businesses) get through a tough period.
We LOVE your dogs. ❤️
We also need to look after the people who care for them.
So this summer, let’s show up for the people who show up for our dogs. 🐾☀️

13/08/2026