Safe And Sound House/Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Services

02/08/2023

⚠️⚠️⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE ⚠️⚠️⚠️
For those of you who don't already know unfortunately I am stepping back from dog walking and house/pet sitting from 31/07/23. It's a long story but basically I've had to make this change for health reasons. My osteoarthritis is getting progressively worse and so I needed to be realistic in finding a job that will be less physically demanding, and take me through the next decade until I can retire and get my state pension! Another job has come along at exactly the right time, so it's time to have faith and go for it!

I would like to thank all my lovely customers (and their humans!) past and present for all the walks, fun, love, mud, challenges, waggy tails and cuddles. It breaks my heart to have to stop something I've loved doing but, after a lot of thought, I had to be realistic about my choices. I have made so many friends, and I hope you will all keep me updated with the news. Thank you for believing in me, and trusting me with your most precious pets (and homes!). My life will be slightly less fun in the future, but I hope to still bump into my fabulous surrogate pets occasionally! Xx THANK YOU. 🥰🐶🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐱🐈🐈‍⬛🐰🐢🐠🏡

16/06/2023

⚠️🥵🔥⚠️Police say if you see a dog locked in a car in case of high heat, take a picture of the dog and the car, call the police, wait 5 minutes and break the car window. This way you will not be charged with criminal damage and will give evidence to the police to take the dog owners to court.
Too many dogs die unnecessarily in hot cars every summer!!! ☀️😔😢
Please copy and paste this information to prevent this atrocity from happening. Thank you. Xx
🐶🐕 🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐾

12/06/2023

Borderline whether it might be too hot for walking Milo today....🔥🤔☀️😎
After doing the "pavement test" we did get out in the shade , and I was reacquainted with Lockyers Wood for the first time in what must be a year! Guessing Milo will crash out now he's back home....🐶💙😴

10/05/2023

My mate Milo 💙🐶🐕
This smiley boy will always pose for a treat, and is the happiest dog to spend time with. So blessed to know him. Xx 😎☀️🥰😊

02/05/2023

Leo is back from his grand European tour to Italy 🇮🇹 and back, and is telling me all about his adventures travelling by car through France and Switzerland to beautiful Tuscany. It's good to see him again, and we're catching up on (((cuddles))). Xx 💙🐶🐕💙

17/04/2023

Back on it today and, after 5 months, normal Milo service has been resumed! I think we're both happy to be reunited. 💙🐶🐕😎☀️Lovely walk in the sunshine with my smiley boy, and the treat deficit has been rectified! Xx 😋😁

13/04/2023

RIP Max....a good, loyal, dependable boy, who I was pleased to meet and look after, and a much-loved member of the Speck family. Sending love to all who will miss him. Run free gorgeous boy. Xx 😔💙

12/04/2023

💟Nessie meditating on sun shadows before the weather changed. This morning we have had wind, torrential rain, sun, hailstones, sun again, more rain....and repeat! ☀️☁️🌦🌧🌨🌫🌪☔️ Somehow managed a dry dog walk though....🦮🐕😁🙏🏻🥾🚶‍♀️
Me 3 Weather 0

11/04/2023

🌄🌅Day in the life of a dog-sitter/walker....
- Going out in full wet-weather gear because it's raining and cold, then feeling like a boil-in-the-bag meal within 5 minutes because the sun's come out and it's boiling hot! 🥵🙄
- Doing 'poo patrol' in the garden in the rain (because the bloody sun has disappeared again) and feeling your finger go through the bag because you're determined to use as few poo bags as possible! 😱🤢💩
- Reassuring the dog who's decided to leave the room you're in to go into the adjacent hallway and is now whining pitifully, because apparently it's YOU that's left them, not the other way round! 🤦‍♀️🐕
- Even though you've been warned it may happen, watching a seemingly intelligent, otherwise relatively normal dog chasing sun shadows, and then randomly licking the walls!?? 🤪🤷‍♀️🦮
It's a strange job sometimes, but never a dull moment....xx 😁🤔🙃

10/04/2023

The sun may be out now, but this morning it was a long wait for a gap in the torrential rain....🙄☔️🙏🏻Then on with the hiking boots, waterproof trousers/jacket (for the first time in many months 🗓), before we managed a decent walk, with lots of mud and puddles, but luckily no rain. With the exception of paws 🐾 we came back relatively dry (for which I am thankful because of Nessie being long-haired! 🙈). Job done! ✅️
Me 1 Rain 0 😁

09/04/2023

Got these two looking after me for the next week while their humans are away. All good so far! Xx 🙏🏻
💟🐕 Tilly the border terrier and
💟🦮 Nessie the flat-coated retriever....
both lovely dogs, even if they do take up the whole sofa (unlike Leo), so I'm squashed into a corner! Looking forward to some muddy walks this week if we get the rain that's forecast. ☔️🙄🐾 What fun! 😊🥰

31/03/2023

I was finally reunited with this cheeky boy this afternoon after 5 months! Xx 💙🐶🐕🐾⏳️
I think it's safe to say he remembered me, and the fact I am an eternal treat dispenser! 😋😋
We've got some catching-up to do but, hopefully it WILL stop raining soon so we can get on with the occasional walk. 🚶‍♀️👟🥾 Home now, slightly wet and covered in dog hair, but I'm so happy to be back in (S)Milo's world....xx
As the fridge magnet says, 'Time spent with dogs is never wasted.'
🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐕

29/03/2023

Such sad news this morning. 😢
A lovely man, and the greatest advocate for all the Battersea rescue dogs and cats. RIP Paul. Xx 🐾

11/03/2023

Back to doing what I love after 6 difficult months.....onwards and upwards! 😊👏
💙🐶 Leo before and after our long, sunny walk down the beach which did us both the world of good 🐕😎⛱️☀️🚶‍♀️👟🥾 xx His tummy is now full of chicken 🐔 and he's cuddled up to me asleep. Here's to the next 5 days.....xx 🙏🤞

25/02/2023

Trial run with Leo this morning to see how he would cope in my car, and with a walk on the beach in the sunshine... ☀😎⛱️ There were loads people and dogs around,which he gets very triggered by, but he really tried to be a brave boy, and the walk did us both good. Xx ✅️🥾👟🚶‍♀️🦮🐕

29/01/2023

I've just been to visit the beautiful and incomparable Leo. Xx 💙🐶😁 He climbed all over me and covered me in doggy "kisses," so safe to say he remembers me after a four-month gap. It's sad to think how much he's going to miss his big brother, Aston. Along with Sharon, I really hope he's going to be okay without Aston giving him the confidence he needs. Be brave, Leo the lion! Xx 🐶🦁💙

25/01/2023

Sad news today.....RIP Aston. Thank you for your companionship and love over the past 16 months. It was my pleasure to look after you, walk you and share many cuddles and laughs (and a bed!) with you. Run free now, sweet boy. You will be missed greatly. Xx 😢🥺😔💙🐶💔

05/11/2022

This may not help every dog frightened by fireworks, 🎇🎆🧨but it worked a couple of years ago with the lovely Skollie, who was terrified of them....xx

This year, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA to create our Pet Classics programme. The show will be packed with the most soothing and comforting classical music, handpicked by Classic FM to help calm and settle any anxious pets. Charlotte Hawkins hosts our much-loved show filled with classical music to help keep anxious pets – and their owners – calm and relaxed this fireworks season.
**Pet Classics with Charlotte Hawkins will be broadcast on Saturday 5 November from 5pm to 9pm, on Classic FM.**

19/10/2022

Pleased to hear that my sponsored Guide Dog, Sprout, has now qualified as a Buddy Dog. Well done, Sprout! Xx 🎉👏🎆💙🦮 As my sponsorship of him is now at an end I'm pleased to introduce my new Guide Dog puppy.....Albus....is he cute, or what?! Xx 😊💙🐕

10/10/2022

Autumn with my mate, Milo.....xx 😊🥰😎💙🐶🍂🍁☀️

22/09/2022

12/09/2022

For those of you who have been supporting me, rooting for me, and praying for me over the past year or so, today I finally have some good news to share. At my hospital appointment this afternoon not only was I put on the waiting list for a hip replacement, but it is the priority one. One small step nearer to getting my life back, and being able to resume the job I love. 💟🐶🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐱🐈🐈‍⬛🐢🐠🏡 A glimmer of hope in what has become a daily stuggle......thank you everyone for your ongoing love and concern. Watch this space! Xx 😁😘🥰🙏

01/09/2022

✴ Just a little reminder that, due to circumstances beyond my control, sadly I am unable to take on anymore customers or work at this present time. 😢 Please continue to follow this page though, and I will keep you updated as much as I can. Many thanks. Xx 🏡🐶 🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐱🐈🦮🐇🐰🐢🐠🏠🔐✴

18/07/2022

18/07/2022

Save a life this summer! 🐶🦮🐕 ☀️☀️🥵⚠️😎
Keep dogs indoors ✅
Provide water and shade ✅
Look out for distressed dogs, contact the vet if necessary ✅
Avoid hot pavements 🚫
Never, ever leave a dog in a parked car in warm weather 🚫