Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter – A Review
Introduction
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter presents a selection of hilarious and heart-warming true stories of a pet sitter.
Laura takes us on her journey describing the immense joy that the animals have brought into her life. But it’s not all fun and games. With sometimes as many as ten dogs around her home, things can get somewhat hectic. Not to forget the everyday challenges faced in keeping the pets happy and safe when out walking. Luckily, she is not alone in her quest; her unusually dominant Golden Retriever ‘Brecé’ is always by her side. Brecé earns her keep by convincingly playing the part of the alpha female, ensuring harmony amongst the pack.
At times, the responsibility that Laura faces becomes overwhelming. She may think she has everything covered but that hand of fate could quite easily swoop down, creating havoc for her and the dogs. Laura has endured many close calls and teetered on the precipice of disaster may a time. The longer she continues with her pet sitting enterprise, the more likely hood that total disaster will actually strike. Is she tempting fate? Laura Marchant is the Bridget Jones of the pet sitting world!
Review
As an animal lover who has shared (and continues to share) my life with numerous dogs, and other creatures, the premise of this book appealed instantly. Laura’s story begins with anecdotes from childhood, recounting some of the escapades of Frisco, the family dog. She then moves to an introduction to how Brecé came to join her family, which ultimately leads to her decision to set up a pet sitting business.
As the chapters build, so does the sense of Laura’s connection with her charges. She cares deeply for the dogs she looks after; working hard to secure their safety and happiness. The book focuses on individual characters, both dogs and human, that Laura comes across through her work. Some chapters include interesting notes on canine behaviour and physiology, which are summarised at the back of the book. Other chapters take time to build on the descriptions of dogs and their people, as part of the evolution of the core customer group. At times, there was a little more detail than was perhaps needed in respect of the human characters. But that’s just my personal preference for content. Laura doesn’t dwell on the practicalities of setting up her business, but in a sometimes brutal world of sole traders, it was refreshing to read of the camaraderie and mutual support between so many of the pet sitters Laura encounters.
In her easy to read style, Laura takes us through highs and lows of pet sitting. All set against the evocative background of the Lancashire coast around Lytham St Anne’s. This is an enjoyable read which will appeal in particular to those who appreciate the joy of sharing one’s life with pet companions.
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About the Author
Laura Marchant was born in 1959 in the seaside resort of Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire, England. Both her parents were born in the same town. As a child, Laura and her siblings were fortunate enough to own shares in the family’s pets. Unbeknown to Laura at the time, her love for the animals formed the blueprint for a large part of her life. In 2011 she finally found her vocation, and in the comfort of her own home, set up a pet boarding business. For the next 7 years she shared her abode with a pack of dogs. A lot of this time was spent watching over the animals and observing their behaviour, which in turn inspired her to write her first novel ‘Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter’.
Connect with Laura on social media here:
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Many thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for hosting this blog tour, and offering me the chance to review Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter. Thank you to Laura Marchant for gifting me a copy of the book, in return for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.
