PET-CARE company Best Friends is expanding in Guernsey and hoping to become established in Jersey. The local business, which provides a dog walking, training, pet feeding and care service, has recently taken on two new staff to cope with demand.

Some 4,500 dogs were walked last year, belonging mostly to workers unable to get home during the day or people away on holiday.

‘We go to people’s homes and look after their pets there, which is a far better way of doing it than kennelling,’ said Stuart Milton, who set up the business with his wife, Mandy, four years ago.

They also offer a pop-in service, visiting and walking a dog four times a day, from early morning to late evening.

It has five vans based in different parts of the island so that dogs can be taken to areas for walks with a minimum of travelling. The vehicles are equipped with air conditioning and one has a heated floor for transporting arthritic dogs in winter.

The service caters for a variety of animals including cats, guinea pigs, horses, snakes and birds.

The company also provides a house sitting service to keep properties secure while the owners are away which even extends to plant watering.

Two ex-veterinary nurses in Jersey are investigating setting up a branch in the island, where Mr Milton understands there is no similar service.

He has already looked after llamas in Jersey and is very excited about the prospect of branching out.

Taking on the two new staff – making a total of four full-time staff with plans for a fifth – should allow him more time to work on the Jersey business.

Corrie Hodgkinson, who runs stables in Baubigny, has been taken on as the equestrian expert and Carol Turner as the dog care specialist.

Mrs Turner is a qualified canine beautician and judge who has kept German shepherd dogs for 32 years.

She formerly ran A Dog’s Life parlour in Victoria Road and Pooch Parlour on the Bridge.

A member of the Guernsey Dog Club, she also helped to run a club in England.

She has been a dog trainer for many years and offers this as part of the service.

She also advises on grooming, teeth and diet, which can improve an animal’s skin and even control hyperactivity.

She enjoys her job, believing in a kind yet firm approach.

‘It’s very rewarding when you see how much the dogs have been looking forward to you coming to take them for their walk.’

The Miltons set up the company after they found they had nowhere to leave their Springer spaniel when they went away.

Mr Milton comes from England and used to run a courier company there and previously worked as an IT sales manager in Guernsey.

He has experience working with animals in South Africa, where he ran kennels, worked at the Transvaal Snake Park, which has given him his specialist knowledge in reptiles and exotic animals, and part-time in game reverses.

Mrs Milton, who is local, was an auxiliary nurse for 18 years.

The company works closely with the aquarium, Route Isabelle Veterinary Practice and the GSPCA to ensure the animals’ welfare.