Walkies with Ruth

31/12/2022

31/12/2022

As 2022 draws to a close, so does Walkies with Ruth.

I cannot begin to thank you all for the love and support over the last 6½ years! It's been such a journey, and I feel so privileged to have been trusted with your dogs, pets and houses over the years.

2023 has new beginnings and new challenges.
I promise to keep you all updated and continue to catch up as I know Nesta is going to miss all her friends even more than I will.

We wish you all the love and happiness in the new year and thankyou, again, for all your support.

Happy new year 🎉 Here's to 2023!

25/12/2022

Wishing all our clients and friends a very merry Christmas 🎄🎅🎁

From Ruth and Nesta x

20/12/2022

Keep your eyes peeled over the next 2 days as I'll be dropping off cards and presents to Nesta's friends 🎁✉️🐾🎅

17/12/2022

These two are just the cutest 😍

13/12/2022

I've been slacking with uploading pictures. He's a selection from the last few weeks and all our guests. It's been a busy one!

08/12/2022

Winter morning walks

04/12/2022

🐯 This is Wilson and Nesta's favourite game every evening! She's going to miss her little buddy when he's back home!

02/12/2022

It's another full house Friday!!
Today, as well as Nesta, we have Wilson, Mocha and Dottie ❤️🐾

22/11/2022

Don't leave the dogs out of the festive fun! 🎅☃️🎄🎁
HM Veterinary Physiotherapy have all natural dog advent calendars for just £15. So every day of December (until Christmas Day) they can enjoy a healthy, tasty natural treat!
You can also get an additional 10% off other treats and toys when you buy one of these advent calendars. So why not get the dogs' presents sorted in one go!

17/11/2022

A soggy week with this one! Lots of rainy walks with plenty of puddles to jump in.

14/11/2022

I just wanted to say a massive thankyou to all of those who have sent well wishes after our big announcement on Thursday. It means so much to me that everyone was so lovely and makes it even harder to bring the boarding to a close.
Me and Nesta will be making the most of the next couple of months and will keep you all updated on our adventures.

11/11/2022

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

For the fallen by Laurence Binyon

10/11/2022

🐾 I have some important news on Walkies with Ruth 🐾

Many of you will now know that unfortunately I will not be continuing home boarding and daycare after 2022. My licence from Mid Sussex runs from January to December, and I have made the decision not to renew the licence for 2023.
This has been a huge decision for me that I have not made lightly. I am letting you know now, so that you have plenty of time to organise plans for next year as I know how quickly places are filling up. I have tried to find ways to keep the boarding open, but it just cannot justify it.

There are many reasons why I have come to this decision and I just want to share them with you so you are able to understand why I made it.
The main one reason is, despite being fully booked for most of the year, that this is not financially viable for me to keep the business going. COVID-19 hit me and the business hard and we never have really recovered from all the lockdown and travel restrictions. I have been trying to work out ways in which to make this work, but sadly I cannot find one that works.

Secondly, this has been a huge ask of my parents to allow me to take over their home with dogs and all the dogs beds, crates, toys and accessories. So with their retirements ever increasingly approaching, I want them to be able to have their house back and enjoy it again.

Thirdly, even though I love this job and wish I could continue, it takes its toll on me and Nesta by working early mornings, evenings and weekends and sharing our space constantly. I need to put myself and Nesta as top priority currently and do the best for us that I can possibly do in terms of supporting myself and Nesta.

Maybe one day in the future when me and Nesta are in our own place, settled and secure we may open up Walkies with Ruth again in the future for home boarding exclusive for your lovely doggies, but for now we will continue the rest of 2022 as planned, providing the best care we can for your dogs and making sure you can enjoy your trips away and days out.

The best place to find boarders is through your local district council and searching for the list of licenced home boarders (some councils you may have to email them to get this).
Mid Sussex District Council:
www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/8026/list-of-all-aw-licences-march-2022.pdf
Wealden District Council:
https://www.wealden.gov.uk/UploadedFiles/wdc-public-register-dog-home-boarding.pdf

I'm happy to pass on numbers of boarders I know personally, but cannot guarantee they will have availability.

My apologies for not letting you know in person, however it would have taken me a long time to get around everyone individually.
Please feel free to call, text or email me if you have any questions regarding this email. I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

I wish I could look after your doggies forever, but sadly I'm not able to continue and will really miss all the cuddles, walks and playtimes with them.

If anyone has any questions or just wants to talk I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thankyou,

Ruth and Nesta xx

09/11/2022

Last weekend we also welcomed back Coco. She loved her walks and even more, her spot on the sofa.

07/11/2022

It's been such a pleasure having Mocha back, we haven't seen her in a good few months. She settled back in immediately and went straight back to playing with Nesta and evening snuggles.

06/11/2022

Spot the spaniel!

04/11/2022

Full house Friday! We have Nesta, Mocha, Dottie and Coco in.

02/11/2022

Hello. Hope you guys are all keeping well.

I recently have been asked by a couple of people about rehoming dogs.

So if you or someone you know is serious about getting a dog or adding to your furry family do get in touch and we can have a chat if they are suitable.

I'm not going to post them on here as that's not what the owners want and I'm not advertising them.

Thankyou! 🐾

31/10/2022

👻💀🧙‍♀️🧟🦇 🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃 🦇🧟🧙‍♀️💀👻

26/10/2022

We've had the pleasure of looking after these boys for their short stay. Dexter has been before, but this time he brought along his little brother, Milo.

24/10/2022

A reminder that today is the height of the celebrations for the Hindu festival, Diwali, the festival of light, and so there may be fireworks tonight. Diwali lasts until Wednesday, but with it also being half-term, expect and prepare for fireworks every night as we are leading up to Bonfire Night 🎇🎆

21/10/2022

A flying visit from this one this week ❤

19/10/2022

Last week was a different one for me, some house sitting with this little man, Nelson. I've been looking after Nelson for a few years now and he's much happier in his own place with all his own beds, bowls and toys.
We allowed his owners to have a well earned holiday in the sun 🌞!

15/10/2022

Lots of useful calming products and distraction toys and treats at HM Veterinary Physiotherapy in Forest Row!

ITS TIME TO PREPARE FOR FIREWORK NIGHT 🎆🎇

Our new informative window display has handy tips on how to prepare and our top picks for the night including:
🐶 Skullcap and Valerian
-Natural anti-anxiety
-Supports calming pathways in nervous system
-Daily supplement and non-drowsy
🐶 Valerian compound
-Quick acting and calming
-Pure extracts of Valerian, Vervain and Mistletoe
🐶 Licki mats
-Licking is a calming activity and provides enrichment and stimulation.
-Use Peanut Butter, Pate, natural yogurt or Wet food!
🐶 Pet Remedy
-Diffuse to one room for multidog households
-Spray onto bedding, clothes, bandanas etc
-Specifically blended essential oils
-Stimulates natural calming mechanisms
🐶 Nitie Nite Treats
-Tasty evening treat that provides calming skullcap and chamomile
🐶 Calming Hood
-Reduces noise
-Swaddles to reduce anxiety

There will be lots of helpful Facebook posts nearer the time but NOW is a crucial time to desensitise your pets and start your Skullcap and Valerian!

Pop in or call 01342 825545 for more information!

10/10/2022

Snoozing in the autumn sunshine 🍂☀️

09/10/2022

Bracken has joined us this week and Nesta has enjoyed having a playmate in again after our short break from boarders.

07/10/2022

An afternoon of snuffling for Nesta and Bracken. Taking advantage of the long grass for some enrichment.

07/10/2022

An afternoon of snuffling for Nesta and Bracken. Taking advantage of the long grass and getting some enrichment in!

04/10/2022

Hello everyone!

Apologies for the radio silence. Me and Nesta have had a fairly quiet week without any boarding visitors, so I've been making sure Nesta gets her quality time.

We have missed having Nesta's friends in and we are looking forward to getting back to it and seeing you all soon.