Pet Sitting, Pet Boarding and Dog Walking Services
Petpals - providing you the real alternative to dog boarding kennels and catteries

British Franchise Association Full Member - Petpals UK Limited

Petpals Wirral West Sponsor ‘Pup Idol’

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 11:02 am

Petpals (Wirral West) recently sponsored the very popular ‘Pup Idol’ dog show in Little Sutton. The event, organised by Sarah O’Flanagan of the Cheshire Constabulary, took place on 28 October, and was well supported by the local community who came out in good numbers to parade their pooches.

Fun was had by all, and an impressive variety of dogs and their owners took part in the different categories. The best of show award, sponsored by Petpals, went to the beautiful all-white German Shepherd, Annouk and her owner Heather.

Petpals (Wirral West) owner, Jim Furlong:

‘It was a pleasure to support Sarah in this venture. We really enjoyed the day, and it was lovely to see the variety of dogs on display.

All the categories were keenly contested, and there was real delight from the winners – even the prize for ‘the owner that looks most like their dog’ was highly competitive.’

Petpals (Wirral West) is your first stop on the Wirral for your dog walking, cat visits, home boarding and pet taxiing needs. They can be contacted on 0151 353 8060 or emailed at: wirralwest@petpals.com

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Missing Parsons Jack Russell – can you help?

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 | Posted by Tracey at 1:13 pm

MISSING

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS DOG

Parsons Jack Russell, Neutered Female and Micro chipped

White Wiry haired with brown patches on ears

Was wearing a brown collar with name tag

Missing since 4th October from Dogmersfield, Hampshire

Is in need of daily medication for cataracts and requires operation

REWARD FOR SAFE RETURN

missing_dog1

Owners can be contacted on

07977 298405 or 07747 761424

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Pet insurance & reducing pets being abandoned

Thursday, October 21st, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 5:03 pm

Customers of Petpals obviously care for their pets a great deal, and know the importance of making sure they get the proper care and treatment. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case for all pet owners, with the RSPCA recently noting an increase of 57% in the number of pets abandoned by their owners. What is the reason for this?

Expert opinion

According to Sheila Stewart, who runs Capricom Animal Rescue Centre in North Wales, the majority of pets being abandoned by their owners is due to them not taking out pet insurance. This seems ridiculous at first, but bare in mind the cost of veterinary treatment and so it seems a reasonable hypothesis.

The answer?

Pet owners should consider taking out pet insurance so that they can pay for their pet to receive the treatment it needs should it become injured or ill. According to Sheila Stewart of Capricom Animal Rescue Centre it may help reduce the abandonment of pets at their centre.

What to look for in a pet insurance policy

Price should not be the only factor when purchasing insurance. You have to consider the things you need covered as every pet and its owner are different. The following is a list of common features which are omitted from certain cheaper policies:

  • Veterinary treatment – This is the most common cause for a claim, with research by moneysupermarket.com suggesting that people are more likely to claim on their pet insurance than on their motor or home insurance. However, some low quality insurers will state in the small print that this is not covered by their policy. Look out for this!
  • The excess – Some policies are cheaper simply because the excess is higher. The average excess is around £40-£50, but if you wish to offer to pay a higher excess in order to benefit from a lower premium do so at your own risk, but please ensure that you can afford the excess for the good of your animal.
  • Third party cover – Some insurers will not pay out should your pet cause damage to a third party (i.e. damage to someone else’s property).
  • Dental cover- Sainsbury’s bank estimates that dental fees for animals cost UK pet owners £28.5 million per year. However, some insurers will not pay out should you make a claim for your pet’s dental care.
  • Commercial events- Some insurers will consider your claim invalid if you are making a claim for an injury your pet sustained when in a commercial event. If you are planning on this, make sure the insurer will cover it.
  • Holiday cover-If you are planning on taking you pet abroad, only agree to a policy that will cover any claims made in different countries. Many insurers will not cover this.

Please Note: This is promotional content provided by moneysupermarket.com. Petpals does not endorse or advocate any particular brand of pet insurance.

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Dog Poison Warning – Please be aware

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 | Posted by Tracey at 10:34 am

WARNING TO DOG WALKERS FROM THE LABRADOR LIFELINE TRUST

http://www.labrador-lifeline.co.uk/

Please be advised that Badger Setts and their surrounds are now being baited with sausages, jacket potatoes and other tasty morsels to attract Badgers.  Sadly it will also attract your dog.  These items are being laced with Paracetamol which, if ingested by your dog in the first instance will cause D & V.  If you think your dog may have been nosing around a known Badger sett or trail and develops symptoms – don’t hesitate get it to a vet and mention Paracetamol.  This is the latest way of destroying Badgers – other ways are the use of rat poison and strychnine.  We are aware of one Labrador death already.

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Pupils to pooches, Neston couple launch pet sitting service

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010 | Posted by Tracey at 3:29 pm

About my Area – Neston Local News Published: 29th September 2010 09:17

After teaching for 18 years, Jim Furlong and his wife Jayne, decided to turn their love of animals into a business and they have just launched Petpals Wirral West, based in Neston.

Jim and Jayne Furlong who have launched Petpals Wirral West

 Jim said: ”It was a big decision for us both to give up our careers. I was running 5 departments as a Head of Humanities, and Jayne was a professional librarian. However, we both love animals and we decided to start this new business as a result.

“With the busy lives people have today,  there is a real need for our services.

“Late hours at work means people cannot always get back to walk their dogs, and more people are preferring to leave their cats in their own homes while on holday instead of putting them through the stress of catteries.

“We are fully insured and police-checked for peace of mind.”

For more information about Petpals, visit their website here, or you can contact Jim and Jayne on 0151 353 8060 or email them at wirralwest@petpals.com.

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New Franchise – Petpals (Wirral West)

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 | Posted by Tracey at 3:30 pm

We are pleased to announce the opening of  Petpals (Wirral West) in September 2010 and would ask you to join us in welcoming Jim & Jayne Furlong to the network and wish them every success.

After 18 years of wDSCN0984orking in education, and reaching a Senior Teacher level, Jim decided he wanted to combine his love of animals and the great outdoors with owning his own business. Jayne, a professional librarian, has joined him and they now cover the Wirral West area for Petpals.

Animals have always been a key component in our lives. Jim grew up with German Shepherds (his father was a breeder) and Jim and Jayne’s cat, Pixie, was with them for 16 years, even enjoying living in the Middle East with them. Currently, they have both Bella and Buffy, who are two delightfully crazy ex-rescue cats.

Our goal is to deliver high quality and professional pet services by providing reliable and flexible solutions for all your pet care needs. Our range of services include pet home visits, dog walking, cat sitting, dog sitting, dog visits, dog and small animal boarding – all with the aim of providing your pets with the same love and affection they receive from you. Therefore we offer a particularly popular alternative to catteries and kennels, for day trips or long breaks. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, especially in school holidays.

We are always on the look out for new host families for our clients dogs, so email us if you would like to offer your services or know of anyone who might be suitable.

For more information please contact wirralwest@petpals.com or visit the Petpals Wirral West area page here.

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Jasper’s Pet Blood Bank Appeal For Pet Blood Bank UK

Thursday, September 16th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 7:22 pm

Sal & David (and of course Jasper) of Petpals Darlington and Tees Valley are very very passionate about supporting the Pet Blood Bank in their region. Petpals Tees Valley & Darlignton have been supporting the PBB almost from the beginning of donations in this region and Jasper is now providing his 12th donation on Wednesday 29th September at Vets4Pets in Stockton.

Several of Jasper’s friends regularly contribute including Finn, Eddie, Molly, and Kevin. Unfortunately, the latest drive is again struggling for suitable donors and we are appealing for more people to come forward and help support this life saving charity. The facts of the matter are very simple – if blood levels run low your pets are potentially at risk – how are you going to feel if your dog ever needed a life saving blood transfusion and due to the lack of response there wasn’t any blood or plasma available.

The PBB laboratory is based in Loughborough and the donations can only take place within a two hour travelling criteria due to the time constraints in processing the collected blood. Once at the lab the blood is split into red blood cells and fresh plasma. Each donation has the potential to help up to four dogs. All of the donors receive a thorough examination by one of the charities experienced vets to ensure they are in tip top condition and all receive a thorough screening as a result of the tests. That process in itself is worth a great deal and in the case of Chad (our walker Suzanne’s dog) highlighted a potentially serious health condition that was likely to have gone unnoticed.

The donation process from start to finish usually takes about an hour the first time – mainly due to ensuring the dogs are completely relaxed and calm from start to finish. An experienced donor like Jasper strolls in, rolls over in anticipation of the affection coming his way and usually donates in less than 10 minutes, eagerly awaiting his goody bag of toys and treats and his bowl of delicious grub (as well as proudly showing off his PBB bandana!) To donate your dog should have a good temperament, be aged between one and eight years old, weigh more than 25 kilo’s and should not have travelled abroad.

To register your interest locally to us simply contact Joanne Broadhurst at PBB on 01509 232222 or find out more at www.petbloodbankuk.org for a location near you and let your pet become a life saving hero

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Jaspers Advice – New Puppy Getting All The Cuddles

Thursday, September 16th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 7:08 pm

Dear Jasper,

I wonder whether you can help me? My owners have just purchased another pup (a smaller but less cute version of my beautiful Labradoodle self.) The pup seems to get loads of cuddles and I get sent to my bed if I try to muscle in. If I ignore him they say I’m jealous, if I play with him they say I’m too rough. Me rough? He’s the one chewing my ears and nipping my tail! If he yelps I get told off, if I yelp they all laugh and call me a wuss.

What can I do? Should I advertise in the classified section for a new owner or what?

Lorimer the Labradoodle

Dear Lorimer,

A new puppy eh?

Wow that’s hard. On the one hand they are cute little bundles of play. And on the other they are nothing but irritating, pooping and weeing ankle biters.

Don’t go looking for a new owner just yet. Here are a few tips. When puppy is getting cuddles, resist the urge to go barging in, instead walk up close to your owners, walk in a circle then flop down in front of them with a great big sigh. Look up at them with big eyes and that should get you an invite into the love fest.
However if that doesn’t work and little Rover is still getting all the attention then it’s time to play dirty.

Next time you have a drink, take a big mouthful of water but don’t swallow it. When they are not looking spit it out somewhere they are going to walk and watch them blame the pup for one of his little accidents.

Then when they are out, chew up the free paper and scatter it in the pups bed, better still if you can get him to join in, but as soon as you hear the key in the lock, dash to the other side of the room, leaving pup amongst the paper. Yawn and stretch when they enter as if they have just woken you up. Frowning critically at the pup with a slight shake of your head cements this ruse. You should be back to being top dog in no time. Warning, if pup is in a crate, this trick WILL NOT work!

Good luck.

Love from Jasper x

Ps. Also please remember that new puppies can turn into best friends if you let them.

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Petpals Cramlington Donates to Benton Dog and Cat Shelter

Friday, May 28th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 7:06 pm

Animal lover launches pet-sitting /dog walking service

Petpals Cramlington and Benton Dog and Cat Shelter Picture

Julia Holland an animal lover has launched her pet-sitting business by making donations to local animal welfare charities. Genna Reece who is the development Manager accepted the cheque on behalf of the Benton Dog and Cat shelter.

Julia has started Petpals from her home and will take in any kind of animal while its owner is away. Her services also include cat sitting and dog walking,
To mark its launch, Ms Holland has made donations of £100 to the Dog and cat shelter, in Benton. She hopes to hold fundraising events for this charity in
the future.

She said, “I have rescue dogs of my own and when the opportunity came along to start Petpals I decided to go for it. It’s a total change of career for me, but I’m looking forward to it.

While the credit crunch has had an impact on many other service sectors, Petpals’ franchisees are enjoying healthy turnovers as pet-owners clamor for a trustworthy, reliable service for their animals.

Petpals is seeing business increasing despite the current state of the economy. Managing Director Kevin Thackrah said, “In spite of the recession our average revenues are still increasing year-on-year, with people still happy to spend money on their pets even though they may have cut costs elsewhere. For pet-owners, reliable pet care is as essential as child care.”

Our services at Petpals include :

DOG WALKING

Making use of the many areas found locally, dog walking aims to give your dog a stimulating and enjoyable walk in a safe environment. These can be individual visits for your dog(s) and/or multi walks with up to four dogs at a time, transported in our purpose fitted vehicles.

CAT SITTING AND CAT VISITS

Petpals have proven to be very popular with clients that want to leave their cats at home, in their own environment, with familiar smells and comforts- particularly with elderly cats and cats that need medication. Our cat sitting service allows clients to go away on holiday or to work, safe in the knowledge that Petpals are visiting their cats to feed, clean litter trays if required, play, along with providing lots of TLC.

Petpals Cramlington and Benton Dog and Cat Shelter Picture

PET SITTING AND HOME SITTING

Our home based pet sitting service is a real alternative to kennels; your pet can remain in their own familiar surroundings, with their own routines and food while you are away.

Call Julia Holland on 07544248760

cramlington@petpals.com

www.petpals.com

If you are thinking about your holidays – don’t forget to book any pet care requirements at the same time. If you want us to look after your dogs with our Home

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Petpals Richmond & Northallerton Pet ID Microchipping

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 9:34 pm

Petpals Richmond & Northallerton have launched their new pet micro chipping service.  This invaluable service allows your pet to be ID’d using a micro chip and then when it is found the tracking information on the chip will enable the safe return of your pet.  For more information on this service, please visit the Petpals Richmond & Northallerton page on microchips.

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