Happy Pawz

07/11/2024

Hi everyone!

Thought I'd quickly hop on to just update on availability for 2024.

We currently have the following available, if anyone is looking for a last minute mini break or Christmas Shopping trip 🎄🎁.

13th/15th/17th November
20th - 27th November
2nd December - 4th December
7th-12th December

Thanks Tina

04/11/2024

Hi all!

Just a quick note, we have limited availability for the first half of 2025, so please do get in touch should you have any specific dates you are after. Please check with me BEFORE booking your holidays as I'm not always able to just squeeze an extra dog in.

Thanks Tina

17/10/2024

Shared from another group!

Licenced or Unlicensed...which should we as owners choose to leave our dogs with?

I speak for thousands of licenced businesses, particularly home boarders up and down England when say the following....

We appreciate some humans are first time dog owners, or are new to home boarding as opposed to kennels & we appreciate that many, many, many owners are unaware that anyone who charges a fee for looking after your dog in the businesses home (not owners) requires to be licenced by law, by their council, compliant to government regulations and inspected by their councils animal welfare team.
Animal welfare regulations England 2018
Scotland & Wales also have animal welfare regulations.

Many owners are also not aware that the majority of carers on Rover, Bark, Pet Backer, Pawshake, Tailster, Holidogs and other such 'canine caring' platforms also require to have an individual licence pertaining to their own home and business.

Just because these platforms say the carer is insured by them, they are NOT, if the individual does not have a licence.
These platforms also DO NOT CHECK the individuals home is suitable or safe to board a dog.

It's simple: NO LICENCE = INVALID BUSINESS INSURANCE =INVALIDATES OWNERS own DOG/PET INSURANCE.

Only by using licenced service you protected by the business' insurance.

Always ask to see that person's licence...do not assume they have one just because they say they are registered or fully insured, or licenced.

Many multiple people falsely claim they are. And to show an owner that they are registered with companies house does not mean they are licenced.

Recently someone even told me that they don't need a licence because they board less than 6 dogs or 4 dogs.
It doesn't matter how many dogs they board. If they receive payment...they require to be licenced.

Others suggest that because they don't earn more than £1k/ year with boarding or day care, they don't need a licence... because that's what the regulations state.
The £1k comes down to... the amount you can earn before declaring earnings to the HMRC if you are self employed only without any other income.
FACT

So... if they are a dog walker, a babysitter, a plumber, sell cakes, groomer, a private carer, a trainer and if they are part time or fully employed, and or, paying tax, they are required to have a licence regardless. Some councils enforce it...sadly others do not.

If you haven't seen that licence then they are not licensed.
If you used a licenced service last year, or whenever your dog last used them, ask to see it again...do not assume they are still licenced!! Always check the expiry date.
This is the same for day care providers and kennels.

Glendee Kennels in Hertfordshire traded without a licence for 2 years and yet hundreds of owners kept using them & recommending them to others. But they were not legally trading nor insured. They were prosecuted for running a kennels without a licence. The other of Woburn Kennels under Central Bedfordshire in 2023 was convicted for running a kennels without a licence as it was revoked the year before.
2024 a kennels in Central Bedfordshire was shut down with an immediate effect for not having a licence, & was boarding dogs.

Whether you as an owner knowingly or unknowingly use an unlicensed service, you risk your dogs health and safety & welfare. Fact.

When it goes wrong, who do you get in contact with?
Who pays for your damaged or dead dog?
Who is accountable for any harm coming to your dog?
Do you report them to the council licensing team?
Did you even know you could report an Unlicensed person? Well you can. If you choose not to report someone because you don't want to get them in trouble...then you are colluding with them & allowing that person to carry on breaking the law & committing a criminal offence.

Look after your four legged family members.

14/10/2024

Deposit requests sent in the last month.

Please note that the initial £100 deposit is due no later than 18th October please.

I have a reserve list of people wanting dates, in particular peak months.

I am unable to hold dates indefinitely without a deposit, can anyone not yet paid please do so to avoid your dates being offered to other customers.

11/09/2024

CHANGES TO BOARDING

Hi

I hope everyone is well!

I'll try and keep this short and sweet, as I'm aware we've touched on this before.

For various reasons there are a few changes taking place in 2025, which I need to advise you all of.

My licence is due for renewal in 2025, which will coincide with Izzy turning 13. My current licence allows me to accept 4 dogs plus our resident dogs. The intention is to reduce my licence to take just 2 dogs plus my own. I will be boarding just 1 dog and allowing for a day or so overlap or daycare slot should the need arise. I am also anticipating the Council restricting my numbers due to Izzy's age, as this was lightly discussed on my last inspection. I am also conscious of lots of my customers getting older and wanting a quieter life.

With this in mind please ensure that you request any particular dates in plenty of time to ensure we are able to accommodate your dog.

Any bookings for 2025, will require a 50% deposit to secure your dates. Lots of you book well in advance to get the dates you want, I appreciate money is sometimes tight just after Christmas, so please pop me a message and I will happily agree for the deposit for bookings after May to be paid over a couple of months. Daycare will continue to be paid in full at time of booking and is non-refundable.

There will also be some amendments to our T&C's as follows:

Dogs are to be checked in and collected within our designated times (between 8 and 9am or between 5 and 6pm). This is to avoid disruption to the daily routine.

Weekend drop off/collection times will continue to be 9.45-10.30am and 5-6pm.

Weekend bookings will require a minimum of 3 nights stay to allow me to utilise my new licence numbers, this may be flexible during off-peak months so please do ask should you require any different.

Just a reminder to please ensure that you arrive at your agreed time as dogs are put away, late arrivals mean that dogs are put away for an unnecessary amount of time. Late arrivals may incur a £10 charge.

And, once again can I thank you for your continued business and I look forward to many more years of caring for your furbaby's.

Thanks again.

Tina xx

08/09/2024

Bookings for 2025

I've had a good few requests asking me to hold dates for 2025, predominantly the peak months.

To save me having to turn customers away unnecessarily, can anyone who has provisionally booked dates next year and not paid a deposit please let me know asap if these dates are required.

Thanks Tina.

08/09/2024

What a rollercoaster of a week!

Yesterday we sadly lost little Honey at the amazing age of 13 1/2 yrs.

Honey was a little sweetheart who never put a paw wrong in all the times she stayed with us (unlike her naughty little brother who loves our Dining Table 😉 🙈).

Our condolences to Gill, Paul and Georgia ###

02/09/2024

Hi everyone!

Hope you've all been enjoying your summer.

Just a quick post to let everyone know there will be a letter coming out in the next few days regarding a Price Increase which will take effect from 1st October 2024. This is not a decision we've taken lightly but is necessary given the continually increasing costs we have incurred over the last few years. |

Other than a few odd days September is fully booked with limited availability for October. We do however have plenty of availability November onwards for anyone looking to book some Winter Sun.

Thanks Tina

30/08/2024

A few from the last couple of weeks...

21/08/2024

OWNERS OF SENIOR DOGS

We have had the pleasure of looking after many of your dogs for a number of years and are conscious that many are reaching their senior years where sadly their health deteriorates.

There have been a number of dogs that have stayed with us in recent months, where we have not been made aware by owners that they have either developed a new condition or there has been a change in the dogs health.

Can we please stress that we MUST be made aware of any changes prior to your dogs stay (and not at the time of drop-off) in order that we can assess whether your dog is still suitable and comfortable with staying in our home.

There have been a number of cases in recent months where dogs have developed incontinence/dementia and suchlike illnesses, or even something like they've become hard of hearing. This has led to a stressful situation both for ourselves and our guests for a number of reasons which I don't need to elaborate on. It has also been necessary for us to get a professional carpet cleaning company in due to accidents on our furnishings.

With immediate effect should we not be made aware of changes to your dog, owners will incur an additional charge of £25.00 per night / minimum charge £100.00 to cover additional cleaning costs etc, and you may also be asked that your emergency contact collect your dog prior to the agreed collection date.

We would like to continue to accommodate the more senior dogs for as long as possible (we all need our holidays after all), and we ask that you work with us to achieve this.

I'll also send over to everyone on WhatsApp incase anyone happens to miss this post.

Thanks for your understanding

19/08/2024

These two are funny x

13/08/2024

* September Dates available as just had a cancellation due to illness *.

14th September - 21st September

Also a cancellation for October.
6th October - 12th October

I know there were a couple of people asking me for September/October dates which I was unable to help with, but can't remember who they were.

Thanks Tina

12/08/2024

* September Dates available as just had a cancellation due to illness *.

14th September - 21st September

Thanks Tina

07/08/2024

This week is all about Cavaliers 😍

06/08/2024

Due a cancellation we now have 6th October (or 5th if needed) - 12th October free.

04/08/2024

04/08/2024

Love this time of year!

03/08/2024

These little munchkins have been keeping us busy this week 🐾🐾