Our Story

Friends for Pets was set up in the Cheddar area of Somerset in 2008 by Becca Wilson. Always wanting a career with animals, Becca completed an MSc in Animal Science specialising in Animal Behaviour & Welfare. As part of this course Becca worked on a collaborative project between Bristol University Veterinary School and a Working Equine Charity in Pakistan which included helping to train the vets and animal health workers in Pakistan and East Africa. With the political situation abroad changing, Becca took up a lecturing post at a local Further Education College teaching Students in Animal Care. At the same time Becca started doing some dog walking and pet sitting for a few people with the aim of having an animal-based job that fitted around her own pets and her lecturing. Through word of mouth and recommendations, word spread of the new business and soon the dog walking and pet sitting became a full time job. Friends for Pets was born!

Within a couple of months of starting up, rapid growth of the company meant a couple of extra pairs of hands were needed to help with the need for our work (we still have some of these original pet carers helping us!). This growth continued until we had around 85 pet carers covering a large area of the South West. This was proving very difficult to manage from one central office and standards of service were slipping so it was decided to franchise the company so each area could be managed by a person local to the area who could keep the highest standards of pet care and allow a more controlled growth of the company. Each team has a small, long-standing team of pet carers that become extended members of our client’s families. Becca is exceptionally picky with who is awarded a franchise and only looks for animal-focused franchise owners who are driven by the same ethics and standards as herself making us stand apart from other franchised pet companies. A few years on and we have developed an Award-Winning team of expert managers and pet carers who offer the highest standard of Pet Care that we can to local communities.

Recruitment

Bath

Julia in Bath is looking for pet carers that can help with dog walking and pet visits in Lansdown and Weston. If you are in this area and looking for a change of job or want something to fit around your current commitments and love animals and being outdoors, please get in touch with Julia: 07766968397 or email Julia at [email protected]

Cheddar

The Cheddar team are looking for pet carers that can offer house sitting, dog boarding, dog walking and pet visiting. If you are wanting a change in career or have recently retired and have some spare time and would like some pet company, please apply online: https://www.friendsforpets.co.uk/animal-jobs/ or contact Amy/Emily on: 0758405044 or email at [email protected]

Penarth

Penarth have some spaces available for dog walking, pet visits and house sitting in Barry, Sully and Dinas Powys, please contact Steph on 07500876397 or email at [email protected] for more information.

Newport

Sam in Newport is recruiting now for pet carers that can offer dog walking and pet sitting. If you would like any more information on the job role please contact Sam on: 07734955340 or email her on [email protected]

Bridgwater

Kim is recruiting in the Bridgwater area and is looking for pet carers to help with dog walking. pet visiting, house sitting and dog boarding. Please apply online https://www.friendsforpets.co.uk/animal-jobs/dog-walker-job/ or contact Kim on 07802254012 or email her at [email protected]

Dog walking spaces available in the Brecon and Bristol team!

Brecon and Bristol The Bristol and Brecon team have some spaces for dog walking and pet sitting in the following areas Brecon, Talgarth, Bronllys, Hay on Wye, Sennybridge, Erwood and BS6, BS7, BS8, BS9 and BS16 in Bristol. If you need any help with walking your dog or cats visits in these areas please do get in touch with Lucy on 07585504867 or email Lucy on [email protected]

We still have online courses available on the pet academy on the following dates:

K9 first aid level 2 and pet first aid level 2:

Saturday 10th June at 10am

Saturday 16th September 10am

Saturday 18th November 10am

Virtual first aid evening

Thursday 8th June

Thursday 19th October 7pm

If you would like any more information on our courses or would like to book on to any of the above courses, please email: [email protected]

To find out more about friends for pets and franchising download our prospectus now: https://www.friendsforpets.co.uk/franchising/