Who We Are

I have been around animals all my life since I was able to walk, I cannot remember a time where I did not have animals around me. I used to spend all my school holidays on my grandad and nans small holding in the middle of nowhere. My grandad had any animal. He could rescue animals varying from Geese, Sheep, Pigs, Goats right down to the fluffy Rabbits. I enjoyed spending the time with my grandparents but mostly the animals. My grandparents have always owned dogs, even way before I was born but the newest member was a German Shepard named Ringo. As the years went by my grandad became ill and could no longer do his small holding so I took it on with my gran until 1995. On the 9th March 1995, my grandad sadly died. 

My gran sold up the small holding and moved closer to us in the next street in fact where Ringo came too. My gran was getting on in her old age too so no longer a spring chicken. Every morning I would get up before catching the school bus to go and walk Ringo down our local canal. He loved his walks in the morning and I would do this again in the evenings after school. As you have probably noticed I never had a dog of my own well that’s because mum and dad would not let us no matter how much we pleaded; Mum preferred her cats. Still I had Ringo to walk who enjoyed our adventures together who was such a great dog. Sadly, Ringo passed away in August 1999 the year I left school; gran never got another dog. 

Leaving school, I went into Health and Social Care after seeing all the care they gave my grandad when he was poorly and wanted to return the favour and I’ve never looked back. I really enjoyed my job, then I met my children’s father and the relationship turned abusive, so I decided to stay clear of men for a while at least. I concentrated on my children with the help of my gran being there for me looking after the children whilst I still went to work. In 2005 there was something missing in my life and that was a dog. After looking around I couldn’t find one so I started to give up hope but then a friend had to sadly rehome her Staffie x Lab, so Toffee joined our little family! We were enjoying walks again down our local canal, but it didn’t stop there. I got a companion for him, a Kennel club registered Staffordshire Bullterrier bitch, named Honey. Furthermore, I got two more Staffordshire bull terriers because I just loved the bull breed. Honest, loyal and when raised correctly are a smashing dog.

Sadly in 2011 my Gran passed away, heaven had gained another angel but not just my gran but my beloved Honey too. Life went on and 3 years later I met my current partner Jim who I married in 2016 and we have been together 5 years and treats me like a princess (I am not going to lie I enjoy it!). We moved to a new house from a village to the countryside in 2017 with even more lovely walks to enjoy with our dogs. Sadly, on November 11th 2018 we had to take Toffee to the vets. I knew that morning on the way in the car I would be saying my goodbyes to the most loving, loyal companion and never forgot that diamonds being a girl’s best friend is in fact a dog. We drove him home with tears in our eyes, where we found a nice spot in the garden to lay him to rest, that beloved dog had been through so much with me.

2019 came around and I was still in care working industry where things started to change a lot in the care sector, and I had just about had enough, so I decided it was not for me anymore. In December one night at the dinner table, I spoke with my family and explained my plans and that’s when Winnies Pawporium was born. And a tribute to my Gran Winnie. So here we are a 5* Walking, Grooming and Pet sitting service ready to walk, groom and look after your fur baby as if they were one of our own!