Dog walking network launches for Norfolk and Suffolk towns and villages
Four friends and animal-enthusiasts have launched a dog walking network catering to villages and towns along the Norfolk and Suffolk border.
Yvonne Ling, Paula McQue, Hannah Defoe and Maddie Askham-Flood set up the service to share resources as well as recommend each other to potential clients.
Yvonne, a former zookeeper at Banham Zoo, said: “We are technically separate businesses but our network allows us to share work and support each other.
“We have all got a massive amount of experience and a brilliant back-up system between us. Everyone of us has a background in animal care and we are all fully insured.”
The quartet recently obtained the Level 3 Pet First Aid for Pet Professionals certificate at the LC Training and Consultancy in Attleborough.
“Clients can be sure their animals are in safe hands as we all have had sufficient training and experience,” said Yvonne, 36.
The network was launched by Paula McQue, from Winfarthing, who had the idea while recovering from an operation last year.
She said: “I couldn’t find local dog walkers with space to help me, so I decided, during my convalescence, that I would advertise to help anyone with their dogs.”
Paula was soon joined by her daughter Maddison, who offers home boarding, pet sitting and dog walking.
Yvonne gave up her full-time role at Banham Zoo in March and decided to start dog walking, where she met Hannah, who walks the same dog as Yvonne.
“I thought it would be quite nice to start my own business working with animals,” said Yvonne, who covers for Hannah, who specialises in sighthounds, on her days off.
“Having just acquired a puppy, it meant it gave me more time with my own dogs who I get to take to work with me,” she said.
She currently looks after seven dogs on a regular basis and sells small animal feeds.
“It’s been really good,” said Yvonne. “We’ve been able to pass work around and it’s great to have a support network.”
To contact them, call Yvonne on 07501423266 or alternatively, email thepetnannynorfolk@gmail.com.
