Peculiar Day with an Insulting Flavour

I went to pick some keys up to walk a dog this week while the owners sister in law is on holiday. This is the 3rd stint I have walked for them.
With me, so far? Good.

Knock knock.
The lady answers and says “Four Paws? “

I look in shock and horror.

She repeats “Four Paws? “

I reply  “I really hope not”

She sees the horror in my eyes. Tries to get out of it, by saying her other half never told her my business name. Fair enough but wait.

I look at my left boob at my work logo on my tshirt, and read I'm Uncle Eric's Pet Care Services.

Now for legal reasons, I will leave it there. But for my local pet business friends they will see an extra level of irony here. And some will be pissing themselves laughing.

Don't worry, I put the lady straight immediately.

STOP LAUGHING

Heat

Its days like this, (as I type, the hottest one of the year so far) I am pleased I walk only 2 dogs max at a time. Its the small things to notice in dogs, if there is a problem. Especially if a dog is suffering in the heat.

Today, a black lab, wasn't walking like his usual self, and I quickly realised he wanted to turn around and go home. If we walked 6 dogs on or off the leash. I might have missed the signs and carried on. And tragedy could have easily happened.

We kept to as many shadows on the way back as possible to keep the sun off him and I made sure he had a drink before I left.

Tomorrow, I'm putting a hat and shades on him. Water spray guns at the ready.

Random pictures (Dry test run)

Just a few random pictures from my phone. Dry run for future multiple picture postings.

Happy 9th Birthday to us

Hello,

We have been so busy lately, we forgot our 9th Birthday

Back on the 10th June 2007 we took the plunge and decided to go self employed and start looking after people's pets.

Our core business service is dog walking and pet care within your own home while you are away. Other services came and went. We tried having dogs stay here but quickly found "house trained" dogs were not at all house trained. So that was quickly scrapped.

We pride ourselves on being dedicated on lead/leash walkers. I have turned away customers who insisted on off lead walks.

One old lady rang me 2 years later forgetting she rang me previously. (Since learned she burnt her way through nearly every dog walker in the area at the time), telling me her previous dog walker was out  walking off lead, and it was involved in a car crash. Her dog walker stopped trading instantly with guilt over its death.

Its comments like this, that make me stick to my guns.

We will ALWAYS only ever do on lead walks.

We thought about homemade dog and cat food. Recipes and nutrition were painstakingly researched, trial batches were cooked. My pets loved it. I even had some customers test them for me with their pets. Most enjoyed them. Not going to lie, some wouldn't touch it.
But the logistics for us to cook so much to make a healthy profit, find premises, getting health and safety certificates. Etc etc.

While we had a good product, we didn't have the capital safety net, to go ahead. Booooo.

Since then, my research has led me to decide raw food is better for my pets, so won't be restarting the cooked food idea back up.

Update

Some reason post reverted to a draft and therefore lost alot of work. Sorry, not retyping all that again, even if I could remember it.

Horrible phone call

Today, I found myself in a horrible situation of having to call a customer while on holiday with bad news.

One of my customers keeps chickens as pets like I do. However their setup is different to mine. Their coop is in an open part of their garden, surrounded only by an electric fence. The outer coop door is held open permanently by a wire catch. The pop hole  automatically opens and closes by a light sensor.

I just go and feed them as and when required. Today when I went to feed them, I spotted the outer door was closed, which never happened before. The strong wind last night must have dislodged the wire catch, causing the door to swing closed. This unfortunately stopped the hens getting into the pop hole and go to bed safely.

It seems during the night while they were locked out, one either somehow escaped the enclosure and was roaming free in the countryside, or a fox had managed to grab it. I did look around the neighbouring area but no sign of it live or dead. No feathers on the ground either suggesting a struggle between a fox and chicken.

There is still a chance of her returning safely on her own, a slim one, but a chance nevertheless. This hen is around 8yrs old, their oldest, and I'm sure her disappearance this will hit the owners hard. Pets are pets, whatever the species.

Side project

Yes. I'm doing it again.

I have yet another side project on the go. I'm writing a book. Yes, we all go through phases where we want to do it. So, with no experience, I am doing it.

Maybe the finished book might be given to the world, or maybe its shite, or only seen by my family and laughed at.

But, it's started.

It's,.... Wait for it..... A murder, revenge against animal cruelty. It's not a whodunit, more a whydunit.

I have unexpectedly got a forensic expert on board to help me with technical stuff. Thank you Twitter. A huge rock of good luck fell my way and landed in my lap.

The amount of science reading ahead of me is scary. Soil. Decomposition. Corpses. Bugs.

I'm also doing an online course on soil. Is this a midlife crisis or what?

And for anyone reading this, who spotted my other "projects", which haven't as yet got off the ground, they are still happening, but yes, on an indefinite hiatus.

Few things tearing into my free time and also things affecting my ability to do the Petologist podcasts. Main problem is a lack of a working pc/laptop.
The tablet apps I tried aren't good enough to edit on it. But the apps are good enough to write on.

Soooooo, using the resources I have, I am improvising where and when I can.

Thats my catch up news.

Oh wait. And I am also on an advertising campaign. Got 2 lunchtime dog walking spaces to fill.

Test. Don't comment if it doesn't work as I'm not expecting it to.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7yYSM4A8zjTRmRxVjBWVktseFE/view?usp=docslist_api

Petcast name has been decided

Our new podcast / petcast nearly took the boring Uncle Eric's Petcast route, but I fancied something different.

Quick social media cry for help and Petology was suggested. The twitter version of that name had already gone.

But I liked the name, quick tinker, twitter check and I finalised with

The Petologist

If anyone wishes to suggest a future topic or has an idea, I can be contacted via ThePetologist@gmail.com  and on twitter @ThePetologist

That was the easy bit done. Now for some content.

Announcement. New addition to the Uncle Eric Pet Care brand.

Some people might already know this, or some may have guessed with my out of the blue questions to them.

But our new addition to the Uncle Eric Pet Care brand will be... , drumroll please.

Howay, can't hear you. Louder. LOUDER.

.... a podcast..

A what? I hear you cry with laughter.

Yes. A pet based podcast.. It won't be weekly, at the very best fortnightly. I won't rush it. Each episode will come out when ready.

It will be a mixture of dedicated episodes for specific pets, or a specific episode to a pet based business / career. The latter including interviews with local businesses.

Research is underway for episode 1 and 2. Just need to buy a decent  microphone and headphones , learn about some useful software for editing each recording and then find cheap (preferably free) hosting for the podcasts.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? NOT..

Nothing like a new project to keep the mind ticking away. Or blow the mind to smithereens.

See you on the other side..

I've not even thought a name yet.. GULP.

#Consett #petcare tails

Chicken crowing.

Well. Must be around 3 months since we got our chickens and Ive loved 95% of the time we have shared.

That was until 1 of our hens started crowing. At 1st after research, I claimed to the family that its common(ish) for a flock without a cockerel (don't like using rooster, too USAy), for a hen to take on a male role. That includes crowing. I was kidding myself rather than the family.

I was repeatedly told we had to get rid of him. But Nugget was the smallest one we have. Black Bantam Frizzle Cochin, and the one with most comedy character and I was determined to try everything to keep him.
Since we live in a terrace of bungalows and the coop is in the garden, I knew there was only so long his noise would be put up with.
More research and I came across a chicken website, with a public forum for questions and answers. Look kids, something that existed before Facebook.

By chance I read up on no crow collars. What on earth are these you ask.

http://nocrowroostercollars.com/pages/faqs

Designed to reduce, not eliminate the volume of a crow, by affecting the cockerels ability to fully inflate his air sack.

Well. Being cheapskates we found instructions on how to make our own DIY style.

At 1st, I thought it worked, I could genuinely not hear it as loud. But it didn't last.

Last week I had to rehome him. It tore a huge chunk out of me. In fact messed my sleep up for a full week before he left. You often think no one could look after a pet better than you can.
I must have endured a few panic attacks.

Weird. To some it was just a chicken. To me, I had to give away a pet. Something that I detest others doing. When I get pets they should be with me until they pass away.

I will never make this mistake twice.

What am I like?

(wrote this weeks ago, didn't click post oooooops)

Can't believe it.

Ive had chickens for a good few weeks but forgot to put it in my blog. Plenty Facebook and Twitter post though. Probably far too many for some.

Started with 4,  but following weekend crept up to 6. All different breeds.

So. From really poor memory, we have 1 of each of the following.
Rhode Island Red
Barnevlder
Blue Haze
Speckledy
Frizzle type (oh bugger, always forget this one)
And and AND.. HMM. I'll get back to you.

I didn't expect it to be such fun/relaxing/confusing/terrifying all rolled into one parcel.

We don't know exactly the ages, but all pre egg laying when bought . There are 3 age groups of feed, handy when you don't know an age. One of them for egg layers, which 2 have recently started.

My coop which is sturdy has an arse for a roof. I built into the frame a gentle slope for rain to run off. Alas plastic panels just gathered water and leaked. I replaced that with blue tarpaulin. Again water gathered in certain areas and dripped through. Also the tarp colour prevented alot of natural sunlight getting in.

Next, clear transparent thick tarpaulin with wooden beams under neath. While the leaking stopped. Flipping roof doesn't drain effectively  so holds onto alot of water and therefore weight. This needs fixed prior to winter and the snow it will bring.

Health wise. 1st four either came with or developed a respiratory problem early on. Our local vet which specialises in farm animals, give us plenty of antibiotics for less than a tenner. Couldn't believe how cheap it was.

I managed to fix roof (I think) by inserted wood under the tarpaulin, forcing an apex shape.

RSI in my legs.

Blooming legs have taken a right battering this week. The chaos is set to continue next week as I'm doing holiday walks, where dogs are staying at their grannies. 2 houses, twice a day before and after normal full day.
Plus, I'm covering 1 walk for an other dog walker who is off on her holidays.

I must remember to look at my diary management skills since they are lacking in the ability to allow me to day no.

Poo bags

They don't make them like they used to. Horrible mental feeling knowing your finger has gone through the bag while scooping up some poo. If I don't look at it hasn't happened right? RIGHT??
Well I did look. So it happened.
Get back to my car, and someone moved my antibacterial handgel. FanFLIPPINGtastic.

Vet Rant

Fecking vet.

Im not going to name it as its unfair too. As I suppose one bad experience with one vet within a practice shouldn't tar them all. Especially as I rank one of the other vets outstanding.

My 15 year old cat. Never been vaccinated in his life, went because he had a rash. Vet 1, gave him antibiotics to clear up after effects of a bout of fleas. Our house has only ever had 2 flea attacks in all that time. Latest few weeks back, house all clear.

Today, for the follow up consultation. Vet 1 wasn't there so my wife saw Vet 2. This vet was pushy. All he was interested in was selling a monthly package which highlighted a monthly antiflea treatment. MONTHLY?? Also my 15 year old has bad teeth. Vet 1 wouldn't stress my cat out or run the risk of anesthetic due to his age. Vet 2 however was all for giving quotes for the non essential treatment.

Really angry doesn't cover it. I hate pushy people, especially ones who push for very expensive, non essential treatments

Ooooo

Just looked through older blog postings and I forgot we had a lovely one about feeding her cats.
Totally brain freeze moment.

Kind Testimonial

Some days you get right cheesed off with things. Its little things like this which make it all worth while   "Having just seen 2 vans full of dogs on a hot summers days I am once again thankful that I chose to use Uncle Eric's Pet Care Services. My dog is given the 1-2-1 tailored care and attention that she deserves. From the moment of stepping outside of her home, her walk commences, there is no fear of her being driven around the County in a van full of strange dogs or having to share her walk with several other dogs which may intimidate her or worse. Her walk is tailored to her needs and I know she is in very good hands. She is safe and secure as she is always kept on a lead which is an extended lead to allow her some freedom whilst still remaining secure. She has Eric's undivided attention, and if there are any problems or concerns with her health and well being, I know I will receive a call or text swiftly from Eric to keep me informed. On returning home her paws are cleaned if needs be, water is checked and she is left with a treat. I really value Eric's dog walking service and cannot recommend him enough. I allow very few people to walk my dog and I have full faith in Eric's sensible and sensitive approach. Claire B"

Final one.

Youngest child is 16 today. She is more interested in her badge than her money.

What a topsy-turvy day its been.

Days can change quickly.

I was happy as the preverbal Larry towards end of my last walk, then I saw something, and I knew it wasn't good. Man walking his jack russel off lead. Yes, it ran across the green towards me barking and yapping, and went straight for one of the dogs on lead. (Notice, his dog offlead, walked dogs were on lead) 

After THREE failed attempts of me to use my right foot and saying clear off. It just kept attacking. Owner was useless, he didn't even try to recall his dog (really hope he reads this, as I'm on the hunt for him.) As a last resort I had to kick the attacking dog off. I had to yell at the clown to get his sodding dog on his lead. His only concern was because I had to kick his dog off. Not the fact his dog was attacking another.

His description. Male. Less than 6ft tall. Glasses. Black bomber type jacket. Black beany type hat with Sunderland FC logo on it. Guessing 40-50ish.
Dog description. Jack Russell. Nasty barking variety. Wearing a red neckerchief.
Location. On the green behind Fellside, Delves Lane.

If anyone knows this person, please tell me, as he has a date with a nice Policeman soon.

Luckily, the attacked dogs owner checked over her dog thoroughly and there is no injury. But this could have been very very worse. What if a young child had been in charge of their pet? I at least have big feet with 16 stone weight behind me. The child could have been badly bitten.

Regardless of what injuries occurred to either dog , the off lead walker is purely financial responsible. Law is clear. Dogs MUST be under control at all times. I tried to explain this (ok badly amongst my swear words) to this idiot. He didn't take any responsibility, his only other comment to me was to call me childish.

Ok. Dummy spat across the field. My toys have been chucked out of my pram.

However. My day changed mood again. Half hour after I got home, I got a phone call. While I can't say what the conversation is about, its very possible I could become part of a new business venture. I foresee a few meetings and brainstorming sessions ahead for me.

Planning to Plan plans for this year.

I've plans galore for 2015.

Allotment needs dug over and planted.
Garden Shed needs built
Chicken coop needs built
Deciding on which chickens to buy
Beekeeping course
New business development and its marketing
New courses upon courses to stimulate the brain

And that is all so far.

But first, another hr in bed. Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Allotment

Quick recap.

Loads of plans / jobs / projects to do.

But they never happened as planned. Last week the allotment fence started with help of a friend but we didn't finish it due to my shockingly out of shape body.

Today I plan to try and clear the ground of rubbish a bit more. If it looks in use, then my neighbouring allotment holders may stop chucking their rubbish in mine.

I think I can actually fix rear fence just be reusing some of the rubbish there. Here's hoping.

Pics from last week.