About our Award Winning,
Trustworthy Dog Walking Team
Find out if we cover your area
Our Story
Friends for Pets was set up in the Cheddar area of Somerset in 2008 by Becca Wilson. Always wanting a career with animals, Becca completed an MSc in Animal Science specialising in Animal Behaviour & Welfare. As part of this course Becca worked on a collaborative project between Bristol University Veterinary School and a Working Equine Charity in Pakistan which included helping to train the vets and animal health workers in Pakistan and East Africa. With the political situation abroad changing, Becca took up a lecturing post at a local Further Education College teaching Students in Animal Care. At the same time Becca started doing some dog walking and pet sitting for a few people with the aim of having an animal-based job that fitted around her own pets and her lecturing. Through word of mouth and recommendations, word spread of the new business and soon the dog walking and pet sitting became a full time job. Friends for Pets was born!Within a couple of months of starting up, rapid growth of the company meant a couple of extra pairs of hands were needed to help with the need for our work (we still have some of these original pet carers helping us!). This growth continued until we had around 85 pet carers covering a large area of the South West. This was proving very difficult to manage from one central office and standards of service were slipping so it was decided to franchise the company so each area could be managed by a person local to the area who could keep the highest standards of pet care and allow a more controlled growth of the company. Each team has a small, long-standing team of pet carers that become extended members of our client’s families. Becca is exceptionally picky with who is awarded a franchise and only looks for animal-focused franchise owners who are driven by the same ethics and standards as herself making us stand apart from other franchised pet companies. A few years on and we have developed an Award-Winning team of expert managers and pet carers who offer the highest standard of Pet Care that we can to local communities.
How We Work.
- After your initial enquiry by telephone, email or online booking form, one of the team will contact you for a little more information on your pet.
- If, after some more information about us, you would like to meet one of the team we will set up a home visit at your pet carer's home for a boarding booking (so you can see where your dog will be staying) or at your home for all other services. This is free of charge service to ensure you, your pet and our pet carer are happy with the arrangement.
- At the initial home visit you will go through a registration form and other paperwork with your pet carer and go through your requirements in a lot more detail.
- After the home visit your local manager will contact you and check if you would like to confirm the booking.
- Your insured, DBS checked, qualified pet carer will then carry out your booking, visiting your home and/ or transporting your dog in a safe, unmarked vehicle.
- After each visit to your home or after each boarding your pet carer will fill in a diary, or send you a message of what your pet has been up to during the time that you have been unable to care for them and this will be left with you.
- We will endeavour to match you with the same pet carer each time you book so that your pet carer and your pet build up a close relationship. In the exceptional circumstances where this isn’t possible you will be given the opportunity to meet any pet carer that is entering your home prior to them doing so. We strive for the best possible service for your pet’s and always aim to go above and beyond wherever we possibly can.
