Hi there I’m Kelly and I live in Richmond with my two cats, George & Mildred. Having grown up with both dogs and cats, I’m unable to answer the dog vs cat question – to me, all fur babies are equal! I’m one of those odd (yet genuine) people that will cross the road to fuss after your dogs or talk to your cat, with absolutely zero shame or self-consciousness. But I am also fairly decent with dealing with humans too, I am an all rounder I suppose! Looking after people’s pet companions and having keys to peoples houses is a personal thing and I pride myself on building solid relationships with my clients based on reliability and trust. Many of my client have become good friends. They rely on me to be there for them when they are away, to look after their most precious possessions, and hold keys to their home. It’s a big responsibility and one I don’t take lightly.
A bit about me…. My career spanned 15 years in media and retail sectors, working as a marketeer at with big 6 agencies on global clients such as Proctor & Gamble and most recently I took a leap into a more corporate role at retailers such as Superdrug and Coca Cola. Although perhaps impressive on paper, my career felt unfulfilling and in the end actually really stressful. It didn’t make my soul sing, I didn’t get out of bed with a spring in my step. I’ve always had an affinity with animals and wish I’d studied to be a vet when i was younger, but I’m also great connecting with people ( especially fellow animal lovers)! To me, animal companions are precious and innocent like children and need to be protected and loved just like children. In 2008 I took a 2.5 year career break and travelled solo around Central America, from Mexico to Panama, whilst volunteering at several animal welfare projects and charities along the way.
I spent several months volunteering at Casa Lupita, a streed dog & cat shelter in Grenada, Nicaragua, which had a huge impact on me. A far breeze from UK shelters such as Battersea, I felt overwhelmed and powerless in the face of so much suffering – knowing all I could really do was provide some temporary relief and comfort to these animals. Nicaragua is a a poor country and many people cannot afford to eat. Life there is hard, and animals aren’t treated with the same compassion as they are in the UK. It was completely heart-breaking in many ways, but working with these abaonded and unloved animals taught me valuable lessons – that life is more meaningful when you share and care. Even though these animals never had enough to go around, they never hesitated to share their love with me and others. They really are pure beings. They taught me to always be on the lookout for new opportunities! These beings weren’t survivors for nothing. They grabbed every single opportunity they saw and made the most of what they had. This work also showed me that even though I can’t save the world, I can make a difference even if that is improving the life of just one dog or cat. And that does make a difference, when we all do our bit. Although maybe less painful to turn a blind eye to it all, I believe every little does really help! This is why I committ to donating to animal charities each year, and have for many years even before starting my business. To give back to our animal companions, they give us so much. They are truly precious, egoless and even though sometimes mischievous – they are worth their weight in gold. Pure hearted – and many are treated badly and neglected and worse.
These lessons and experience gave me the inspiration to start Waggle & Purr which brings meaning and joy into my life in a way that my previous career did not. I decided to take all I’ve learned in my career and apply it to something I really care about. They say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life and it’s true! I feel very lucky to finally be in a place where my work and my passions naturally come together. I really do have a passion for what I do, and don’t dread the alarm clock going off each day. I look forward to seeing the faces of my furry clients, and also the sense of community and affinity with connecting with other animal lovers. We know who we are! I spend my days smiling these days, because I’m genuinely happy to do what I do. And that means so very much to me.
Pets are precious and innocent much like children, and I promise to look after yours as I do my own!
Kelly x