A difficult job sometimes

[Andy]

Having a Pet Shop can be a difficult and emotional job sometimes especially having had it for 20 years. Some of the children that were coming in with their parents when we first brought the shop are now the parents bringing in their children. Being a relatively small town we know a lot of our customers personally. We know their pets and know a lot about their lives. We have lost quite a few customers that have past away over the years including the son of the people we brought the shop off who was younger than me and died on Christmas Day. Many people think more of their pets than they do people. We’ve had customers in tears telling us that they had lost a favourite pet. We’ve had customers that we hadn’t seen for a while come back in after getting a new pet saying that they hadn’t been able to come in the shop after losing their last one because there were to many memories at the time. We heard this evening of a customer who lost his wife to cancer a few years ago who has lost his old dog today. The dog was his wife’s and the last link he had to her.
We have to listen and comfort customers from time to time. There are a lot of happy and enjoyable things and we have a lot of very nice customers. We have dogs that try getting into the shop for a treat even when we are shut. We are more than just a shop at times and here for our customers when they need us.

[Murray]

I understand what you are saying, Andy.
I managed service stations for 30 years off and on, and on many occasions when I was on my own in the shop I had people open up and tell me the most amazing, personal things.
I guess I was just the "bloke at the service station", I wasn't going to judge them or repeat what i was told. Or maybe people just trusted me. My office door was always open, and all the time I had customers wandering in and telling me about what was going on.
I think it is a privilege to be regarded as someone more than just a person at a shop.

[MIL]

Many people think more of their pets than they do people.

Had dogs all my life. Dogs are loyal. They love you, respect you and always greet you excitedly

They never talk about you behind your back

[Buster121]

Fully understand where you are coming from Andy, for some folks shop people are the only ones they see all day and tend to indulge with conversation

[Andy]

I think this is one of the great things about your high street independent shops. You don’t get it from the big stores or supermarkets. We have time to listen and get to know our customers. Many come to us with issues with their pets and very often we can advise and sort out problems they have without the need for them to go to the vets saving them a lot of money. With a lifetime of experience with many different types of animals and years in farming where I done most of my own veterinary work plus 20 years of experience in the pet trade I think we can give good advice.
We have a very diverse range of customers. We have film stars, tv personalities, sports stars and well know people as customers. We have a lot of Navy and Army as one of the housing estates is MOD. We have some very rich customers but we also have alcoholics, druggies and those without much money. We have old people who have to be helped in and out the shop or those served in their disabled buggies in the doorway. But all are treated the same with compassion and respect.

[Devo1956]

I would say in this day in the world, you are very lucky that you are treated with respect in a nice village where you live Andy. Up and down the country small shops are having a bad time, not only with the young members of the public, robbing and just walking out without paying for goods. There is also global robbers that just don't care what they take, Yes it can be be stressful at times, but I can see where you are coming from. I would not go back to running pubs again, while I can breathe. But life is a test in its self.

You have both worked hard through some differcult times, so lets hope things move a long to the big day. And you can both run free through the country fields.

[Andy]

I would say in this day in the world, you are very lucky that you are treated with respect in a nice village where you live Andy. Up and down the country small shops are having a bad time, not only with the young members of the public, robbing and just walking out without paying for goods. There is also global robbers that just don't care what they take, Yes it can be be stressful at times, but I can see where you are coming from. I would not go back to running pubs again, while I can breathe. But life is a test in its self.

You have both worked hard through some differcult times, so lets hope things move a long to the big day. And you can both run free through the country fields.

Thanks mate. Still hoping to sell up and retire in the next year or two.

[Andy]

We’re certainly not free from crime in the town but probably better than a lot. We have a big problem with drugs and drug dealers. The local Co-Op are often targeted, lead stolen off some of the old buildings etc. mainly down to a couple of families and those from other countries.
One night there was a massive fight that spilled out from the pub opposite consisting of around 30 people in the middle of the road. There are fights and arguments regularly outside the pubs both opposite and next door to us, mainly drug or alcohol related. We have no local police so it’s more often than not sorted itself out before the police arrive.
We have had a shoot out between police and an armed robber and a murder where the body was cut up and hidden at a local farm. But that’s over the 20 years we’ve been here so on the whole not too bad.

[Buster121]

I think this is one of the great things about your high street independent shops. You don’t get it from the big stores or supermarkets. We have time to listen and get to know our customers. Many come to us with issues with their pets and very often we can advise and sort out problems they have without the need for them to go to the vets saving them a lot of money. With a lifetime of experience with many different types of animals and years in farming where I done most of my own veterinary work plus 20 years of experience in the pet trade I think we can give good advice.
We have a very diverse range of customers. We have film stars, tv personalities, sports stars and well know people as customers. We have a lot of Navy and Army as one of the housing estates is MOD. We have some very rich customers but we also have alcoholics, druggies and those without much money. We have old people who have to be helped in and out the shop or those served in their disabled buggies in the doorway. But all are treated the same with compassion and respect.

And that is it all in a nut shell

[Buster121]

We’re certainly not free from crime in the town but probably better than a lot. We have a big problem with drugs and drug dealers. The local Co-Op are often targeted, lead stolen off some of the old buildings etc. mainly down to a couple of families and those from other countries.
One night there was a massive fight that spilled out from the pub opposite consisting of around 30 people in the middle of the road. There are fights and arguments regularly outside the pubs both opposite and next door to us, mainly drug or alcohol related. We have no local police so it’s more often than not sorted itself out before the police arrive.
We have had a shoot out between police and an armed robber and a murder where the body was cut up and hidden at a local farm. But that’s over the 20 years we’ve been here so on the whole not too bad.

Sounds like here but on a regular basis not over 20 years